DI O CE S AN H I S T OTR I E S .

W O R C E S T E R .

BY T H E

E V I Y I R . R E R MT H M . . G GO S , . A ,

V I LAR OF GREAT MALV ERN ; PREB EN DARY OF H EREFORD ; E"AMI N I NG ’ CH I N T T H E LO R D B I HO OF D AV I D s U HO APLA o S P ST . ; A T R “ " OF CH C E I I C OF CH I I N MO LI Y ARA T R ST S R ST A RA T , “ ” HO UGH ON ED UC I ON E T C E T C . T TS AT , .

AN D T H E

V PH I PP N L W M R E . S O S O . A. ,

RECTOR O F U PPER SAPEY.

W MAP IT H .

I T H E DI I O F T H E A MMI P U B LI SH ED U N DER RECT ON TR CT CO TTEE .

LONDON M G H A K W S OC I E TY FO R PRO OT I N C R I S T I N NO LE DGE ,

U MB E L VE U E C I G C O w c N O RTH R AND A N , HAR N R SS, . . ’

EEN I C O EE E C . 26 . EO E CE H YDE K U V I . G G PL P 43, Q T R A STR T, ; , ST R S A , AR

CO NE AN D 1 NO H EE B I GH ON R R ; 35, RT STR T, R T .

N E W Y K : B . YO U G a co . O R E . a J. N

1883 .

T O T H E

D . D . V . H I P T T R I G H T R E H E N R Y P L O ,

’ E M E F T C HE I NE CO E E C MB I D E L O S . LL G G AT AST R AT R S , A R ,

CH PL I N T O H . R . H T H E L E P I NCE CON O A A . AT R S RT ,

E T C . E T C . E T C .

T H E RE VERE D S U CCESSO R

' F T H E LO G R O L L O F B I O P RECO R E E R E I O N SH S D D H N ,

TH I S

‘ iaifitury a t the 58 6q2 a t Mut t estzr

I S RES PE CTF U LLY D EDI CATED

H I F I F U L V N BY S A TH SER A TS ,

M H I . G R E G O RY S I T ,

P H I PPS ONS LOW .

P R E F AC E .

T H I S sketch of the history of the diocese of Wor cester is an attem pt to combine the individuality Of local features with something of a larger prospe c

m o f tive , and so to ake the history the diocese

E n la n illustrative of the history of the Church in g d . T his diocese is singularly rich in ancient charters

T h a rtu la riu m H min i in . e C e and chronicles g , for

a &C . stance , is valuable collection of charters , , codified soon after the Conquest . Many of the monastic chronicles have been carefully edited in

h Pr the Rolls S eries . T e a tte nt on and H a bingdon f A MS . o S S , in the library the Royal ociety of nti

u a rie s m m m is q , are an al ost inexhaustible ine of ’ l f Mrs. ce lla n e ou s in ormation . Lawson s exce lent little “ ” volum e ( Records of Upton - on - S e ve m ) shows what may be done for history on a larger scale by collecting all that can be known about particular parishes . It is unnecessary to enumerate the ordinary books o f f re erence for the history of the diocese , as the

of T &c. m works homas , Green, Nash , But we ust W E E viii O RC S T R . acknowledge our special obligation to the writings f f m o S . Pro essor tubbs and Mr Free an , which supply a clue, without which less expert explorers than they

I n would be lost in the labyrinth of the past . the

f n fifteenth and ollowing ce turies , we have found pre ’ “ m S tr e s o f A e inently useful , yp Life rchbishop

’ ’ Parker, Narcissus Luttrell s Brief Relation , Bliss s ” “ a H e rn ia nae Reliqui e , Letters relating to the ” ’ S o f uppression the Monasteries, White Kennett s ” ’ “ r Regist y and Chronicle, Lloyd s Inquiry by Parliament into the Election o f and (in ff ’ “ ” MS . ) Mistress Joyce Je eries Diary in S tanford 1 “ A o f o f Court Library ; ccount Visitation Parishes ,

o f m Me lsu ' R e v . by order Cro well , lent by p Hill

f . o A . D 1 6 6 Census Province of Canterbury, 7 ” S S Diocese of Worcester, in the alt Library, tafford ; Account of Penances in Hanbury Church ” with m . . Es . some fa ily letters , lent by H F Vernon , q

’ Mr . Noake s antiquarian publications , especially his d ” Monastery and Cathe ral of Worcester, have been

of continual service . We have had much and valuable assistance from

many quarters . More particularly we tender our

m - thanks to the Earl Beaucha p, Lord Lieutenant of

f ir o S . the county ; the Bishop Worcester, F Win

in n a rn n to . . E s . W . B e b g , Bart H F. Vernon , q . H y ,

S ta nford Court wa s p a rti a lly d e stroye d by fi re while th e se e e e th e r e pag s w r in p ss . P FA RE C E . ix

E s of m q; the librarians severally La beth Palace,

S of A Worcester Cathedral, the Royal ociety ntiqua S ries , the Phillipps Library, Cheltenham , the alt

r S Lib ary, tafford, and the Registrars of the diocesan

of and capitular archives at Worcester, for the loan

an ou r . books, d for guidance in researches Many of the clergy in the diocese have kindly helped us wi with useful suggestions and other se , particularly the

- T T . Revs . Canon Winnington Ingram , W . horn, . P

S . . Wadley, W. J . ymonds , E R Dowdeswell ; also

. . S . Bishop Hobhouse , Canon Jones , the Rev F Lea ,

. Da r ll T . wa . the Rev. Leicester J ; and Messrs J . T Noake , W. J . Hopkins, . Burgess, J . Grainger,

J . Nott, W . G. Fritton . We are indebted to the Rev . A . S . . . G W. andford for the index ; to the Rev 0 f “ — o x. Archer for most the materials for chapters i xii .

E s . to J . H . Hooper, q, for the appendix on the l of R e v. r hera dry . the see ; and to the Professo i S tu bbs for one help , such as no else could have

given . T hough the com pilation of this History O f the Diocese o f Worcester has been to us a prolonged m labour, we cannot but be conscious of any defects

in I f of u r it . any our readers will call o attention

rr to faults, which can be co ected, should a second

edition be called for, we shall thank them cordially .

C O N T E N T S .

CHAPTER I NTRO D U CTI O N

TH E C O N VERS I O N O F TH E WI C C I ANS

TH E ME RC I AN S U PREMACY

TH E DAN ES AND DU NSTAN

TH E N O RMAN C O NQ U EST

AFTER THE C O N QU EST

U NDE R TH E P LANTAG EN ETS

B I H TH E BAR O N I AI . S O Ps

PAPAL U S U RPATI O NS

B E FO RE TH E R EFO RMATIO N

TH E DI sS O LUT I O N O F THE W E D ARD VI .

MARY AND E LI ZAB ETH

C I V I L S TR I F E

TH E R E STO RATI O N

TH E N O NJU RO RS

TH E E I G HTEENTH C E NTU RY APPE NDI"A APP END I" B APPEND I" C

WO R C E S T E R .

I NT R O DU C T I O N .

T H E see of Worcester has an importance of its own of , in the history both civil and ecclesiastical

- m on e . England, as a border see in ore senses than It wa s originally co- extensive with the territory of H wicca s or Wiccii the , a province of Mercia , itself “ - w a March land, thrust in ( it has been ell said) w o f like a wedge, bet een the powerful kingdoms N orthu mbri a . and Wessex In the days , when England n e was not yet consolidated under o ruler, it was exposed to the vicissitudes o f a debatable land in T h e the midst of contending forces . boundaries of the provi nce were frequently changed by conquest or m i migration. S till m ore emphatically was this a see on the frontier w bet een east and west, until Wales was united to

. T h England e Welsh were rude neighbours . Mercia wa s of the youngest , for many years the weakest, the T m eutonic settle ents in England . Even at a later period, after the victories of Offa and Harold , Welsh forays were a frequent anxiety to these western B o 2 WORCES TE R .

T he f counties . responsibility of de ending the marches

devolved in part on the bishop , who presided over a

district adjoin ing the lower S evern . More than once f n a bishop o Worcester, not as bishop, but as havi g

civil authority, had to take his place in repelling the incursions of the wild marauders from the moun r tains . Worceste and Gloucester gained in this way m f political i portance, and were requently visited by of English kings . Gloucester was a place meeting

for the Witan . For sim ilar reasons the diocese has been the scene of many a battle and skirmish in ou r civil wars ; in the of for n wars the Roses , i stance, and in the troubles f . a r t of the sixteenth century Lying so wes ward, it m ight have been expected to enj oy com parative imm unity from the havoc o f the Danish invasions ; but their ruthless hordes forced their way from various of directions , as the annals the see testify, even to

Worcester and its neighbourhood, ascending the T S f rent and the evern in their light cra t, according

to their custom , so far as these rivers were navigable. m m Fro first to last it was a stor y presidency, the

charge of this see .

- f Ecclesiastically too , this was a border see rom its

position and its origin , and thus a cause of con tention to the archbishops of northern and southern 1 T he m of England . pri acy Canterbury over England m of was not expressly defined till the ti e Lanfranc,

1 h a e e r of the Ar h h Bis op Midston , by ord c bis op of Ca nte r e mm a e th e Ar h h of for ha bury , xco unic t d c bis op York ving a r r e e f e him h e e a nd for e c oss bo n b or in t is dioc s , bl ssing the e p e opl . I N RO D U O RY T CT . 3

' i su fi ra a ns though York, hav ng only three g , naturally T h . e i held a lower position Danish inroads , m ve rishin of off po g the see York , and cutting Mid n m E gland fro the southern metropolis , tightened the connexi on between York and Worcester. S everal of m m bishops Worcester were pro oted to York , so e m of them retaining their former prefer ent . of It is curious to Observe , that the diocese Worcester retains to this day many characteristics of a border m land . Mercia was a n agglo eration of several in sig n ifi ca nt H wicca s wh o tribes , and others , were later f ou r T h than their ellows in reaching shores . e diocese of Worcester has still a population in which 1 S A m British , axon and nglian ele ents are blended m m m together, and co prises within its li its the ines and of factories the north as well as the pastures , corn

fi e lds of . , and orchards southern England Looking or n m at the map, argui g from the provincial idio s of on e m m Worcestershire, ight al ost hesitate whether to n f T h call it o e o our northern or southern counties . e very con figuration of Worcestershire tends to give m “ it a co posite character . Wherever you stand in f fe w m Worcestershire, you find yoursel within a iles ” Of another shire . A nother interesting characteristic, which enhanced m r n not a little the i po tance of this see in days lo g past , m f T h was the nu ber o its abbeys and priories . e old proverb As sure as Go d is in Gloucestershire is a quaint indication of this exuberance of m onks and T h e of monasteries . natural fertility the valleys of

1 Am ong th e tr a ce s of th e Britons in this dioc e se a re th e m e e Pe n e thl P e ncra i a e r a &c . n s P ndock , g y, g , M lv n, B 2 W E E 4 O RC S T R .

the S evern and the Avon was an attraction to those T h who sought in the Cloister a life of restful ease . e 1 arduous work of clearing away the vast forests , which “ ” e the of cover d ground so largely, the chases

m m &C . Malvern , Feckenha , O bersley , , had a charm

for m e n enterprising and adventurous . Even the perilous proxim ity to the Welsh mountains allured o f m n those a really issionary spirit, lo ging to plant f T he of a garden o God in the wilderness . vales Worcestershire and Gloucestershire vied with the great plains of East Anglia in the m ultitude and 2 f T he grandeur o their conventual institutions . task f m of o controlling these often utinous communities, keeping them in due subordination to the episcopal o f crosier, and quieting the quarrels , which were f m continually arising ro their mutual j ealousies , was no light on e for the bishops of Worcester before the

Reformation . S om etim es the bishops seem to have fallen back on the policy of playing on e lordly abbot

against another, as the only escape from these com

. of m plications In the luxuriant Vale Evesha , the churches connected with the abbey at Evesham m f m asserted their exe ption ro episcopal authority . In this respect the old Worcester diocese presents a rem arkable contrast to other parts o f the king

d om o f - Mercia . North western Mercia was sin u la rl o f m f g y bare onastic oundations , though well

T he se fo re sts g a ve r ise t o fre qu e nt dispute s b e twe e n the w t h fe a r c ro n in e ud l pe iod . 2 T he Wiccia n m a on ste ri e s we re fre que ntly unde r the f r a e S t . e e e . a o . r e e r p on g P ; g , Wo c s , Glouce s e Bre don t t r t t r, , — ” a h &c . S A hae a a . 2 1 B t , tubbs , rc ologic l Journ l , xix p . 4 . I N TRODU CTORY . 5

' S ta fi ord supplied with collegiate churches , as at , m T h S &c . Wolverha pton , hrewsbury, e princes o f Wiccii the , both personally and through their influence of f with the kings Mercia, seem to have avoured m not monasticis , only as assisting to civilise and christianise their land, and as an encouragement to study, but also as providing a shelter from the turbulence of the times for those of their own fam ilies who needed it . T h e cathedral at Worcester was originally one o f l . T he the monastic cathedrals rule was, probably, f h o . T e Benedictine, a lax kind title of prior was 2 f not used till the Conquest . In the ourteenth century “ ” of the prior assumed the title Lord Prior, with

of - the mitre and other insignia quasi episcopal rank . T he priors of Worcester were sum m oned to parlia

’ m . a ent in the reign of Henry I I I with the a bb ts. But the priory of Worcester had other and better claims to distinction . If the church in Mercia could A A f or f not boast a Bede, an lcuin, an el ric , a Boni ace, it produced in Worcester priory a school of English r for histo y, learned and patriotic , to which we owe, “ instance , the valuable chronicle (the chronicon ex f ch ron icis of Florence o Worcester . It is remark a able that monastery, whose annals are so troublous, should have been so eminent in literature .

“ h e f e a e th e n e w f a m h m re T e s , o t n c ll d ound tions , ig t o ” e r prope rly b e ca ll d conve te d . 2 “ H se b e h rt wh o h m e f A a t th e S o f y , signs i s l bbot ynod ’ w a of t l sh o 80 A. D . a s S . a r e e ove . C , 5 , prob bly M y s, Worc st r ”

S r e e r a he a &C . . I . tubbs , Wo c st C t dr l , , p 7 6 WORCES TE R .

T h e limits of the diocese have varied considerably ou t O f at different periods . When first shaped the huge of Lichfi e ld m diocese , conter inous with the kingdom m of S of Mercia , it co prised Gloucestershire east evern , o f about a third, the southern, part Warwickshire “ ” l called the Fe ldon as well as the county o f 2 f m o f Wiccii Worcester, all this or ing the province the . At the Reform ation it was reduced to m uch sm aller m di ensions, the Gloucestershire portion being sepa f m 1 8 6 rated ro it . In 3 it was again enlarged by the

addition of northern Warwickshire . In its present m di ensions , and as it was before the reign of f V . o n Henry I I I , it is an extensive field labour for o e

bishop . of Gloucester was , perhaps , the seat a bishop in

- the Roman British Church , subordinate with other “ ” sees in Britannia S ecunda to the archbishop o f

- on - m of M n Caerleon Usk , or, as so e have fancied , e e via ’

t . ff (S David s) . But all this was e aced by the tide of

T h e e r -e a of the A wh h e op n g ound , south st von , ic s ve rs it

fr m th e f re of Ar e a e a a e e e th e C orn a vi o o st d n , n utr l l nd b tw n i a nd D ornu bii of a e r a T h e a r h h r h nci nt B it in . p is c u c of B ra ile s “ ” h a s e e a e th e a h e a of t he e f m b n c ll d c t dr l F ldon , ro its siz e a nd e a b uty. e th e a he th e e a e r o f r f Exc pt p ris s constituting d n y Bu ord, in th e r h - e e r r e r o f th e h h h a e e e no t w st n co n county, w ic v b long d H e re f r e e e rh a a s e a ra e fr m r i to o d dioc s , p ps s p t d o Wo ce ste r d o e e th e r e r T e m e a n d the A r e h c s by iv bbe l y ills , p e rh a ps a s a a he m e m a e the e e of H e re f m tt c d to so on st ry in dioc s ord , ost a a s e a r of th e Wiccia n r a T h prob bly not b ing p t p incip lity . e S e ve rn wa s (lowe r down ) th e bounda ry be twe e n the t wo dio h L m Ce se s . Possibly t e old fore sts a d so e thing t o do with e a n . dioc s divisions.

W 8 O RCE S TER .

diocese and the churches , small in proportion to their f T he f o . o parochial area, the other preponderance f rectors in Here ordshire , and Of vicars in Worcester

shire, Gloucestershire, and southern Warwickshire , bears witness to the greater number of monasteries

in the latter diocese . T he bishops of Worcester were well s u pplied with

- 1 palaces and manor houses . Besides the palace in d Worcester, now occupied by the ean , they had S a London house in the trand , a favourite site

for o f r o in days long past the houses g eat pe ple ,

T m S - between the e ple and the avoy, country houses

A m - at lvechurch , Blockley , Ha pton (Hampton Bishop,

- Ke m se or alias Hampton Lucy) , y, Wyke Wick , near f of Worcester, and, as eudal lords , the castle Hartle

- l - n n . S o f bury S t . Mary e trand is said to have bee e o

of a ft r the appendages Worcester priory, shortly e the '

Conquest, and probably at an older date , when the revenues of the priory and of the bishop were n ot as yet distinguished . T he diocese n ow comprises (the archdeaconry of Coventry having been detached from the see of Lichfi e ld and added to this see by an order in 1 8 6 of council, 3 ) the two counties Worcester and l Va rwick of (excepting the deanery Burford, in the of f county Worcester, which is in the diocese o f w of Here ord) , together ith the parishes Rowley Regis, R e dda ll Am of S ta f Hill , and blecote, in the county

I t h a s b e e n thought th a t th e p a la ce stood or igin a lly n e a re r “ ” th e a h e ra ha t h e re e n e a e r e e H r c t d l t n p s t d n y (Gr n , isto y,

&C . bu h f t . , p . t is is doubt ul I N TRO DU CTO RY . 9

of S of f ford, and hennington , in the county Ox ord . T he m m f see nu bers a ong its bishops two martyrs, our a saints , several lord Ch ncellors and lord treasurers , one on e - lord president, vice president of Wales in O C a ntilu e ff n , Dunstan , swald, Wulfstan, p , Gi ard, m Cobha , Hooper, Bilson , Prideaux, Gauden , S tilling fl e e t &c . , Lloyd , Hough , Hurd , T he present bishop , Henry Philpott, who was con se cra te d on a th 1 8 6 1 I o z n d s March , , is the Occupant ' T he of ex o f of the see . Bishop Worcester is j a o A f T h chaplain to the rchbishop o Canterbury . e see ’

1 6 5 . d. is valued in the king s books at 3 % , and is worth a year. c It can scar ely be repeated too often , while mis statem ents are so rife on the origin o f what is term ed “ ”

the Establishment in England, that the . English Church was welded into on e organisation through the length and breadth of the land by the efforts of Arch

in bishop T heodore the seventh century, many years before the several kingdom s were united under one f king . England had her dioceses be ore there were w counties , her archdeaconries and parishes hen coun 1 O f ties and m anors were beginning to b e . N ca re ul studen t o f history can fail to see this in the rise and t oo progr ess of the Church in Mercia. He will see, , what is often forgotten by factious disputants, how the various endowm ents of the Church , here as in other m parts of England , were not voted by any for al decree

1 h h r T h e d e a ne r i e s corre spond e d to t e undre ds . P octors f r h o f the h e a a s a s e xiste d b e o e knig ts s ir , convoc tion soon m p a rlia e nt . I O R WO CESTER .

of the legislature, but were the gifts of individual A benefactors , kings, nobles, and others . right under standing of these two fundamental facts gives a solid answer to the vague and plausible misrepresentations which sometimes pass unchallenged . WORCESTER . I I

A CH PT ER I .

T H E N N F T H E WI C C I AN CO VERSIO O S .

T H E glim pses which we gain of British Christianity in the region which became in the seventh century o f H wicca s or Wiccii the diocese the , , and under the m of . Nor ans the diocese Worcester, are faint and few H S ere and there, as at edgeberrow, Bredicot, Norton , k T e w e sbu r &C . Malvern , Worcester, y, , traces may be o f r of m m discerned Druidical worship o Ro an ca ps . f if m Worcester itsel , not a Ro an town , seems , at any T on e m . rate, to have been of the Ro an outposts here Ke m se were , apparently, similar fortifications at y, ” f sa lin ae or not far rom Worcester, near the , salt of works what is now Droitwich , and where the

w S . little to n of Upton spans the evern But, after I S all, little known positively of the days when a tangled forest stretched from the Malvern beacons S of to the evern , with a cluster here and there wattled huts , and when the ancient Briton in his canoe “ m o f th e paddled up and down the strea , the flood ” S e a . S evern , then wider and shallower than it is now A century after the landing of Julius Caesar the fierce 1 S . T ilures were still unsubdued here were, perhaps , ' of r su flra a ns of bishops Worceste and Gloucester, g

1 “ ” r f R h his e a a es th e S e P o . ys, in C ltic Brit in , pl c ilur s in nm h h e t he Dobu nni the e a a of the S e e r M o out s ir , on st b nk v n . I 2 WORCESTER .

1 or -ou - Isca, Caerleon Usk , in the fifth century, when

- f the Roman British Church , left to itsel by the with d ra wa l of m the Ro an legions, was beginning to be n the Church of the nation , instead of bei g the Church T h o f a Rom an colony in the island . e signatures of British bishops at the Council o f Arles seem to n ot show that their jurisdiction was , as in Ireland, tribal or patriarchal , but territorial in its character . T h of e growth Christianity, however, among the Britons was soon checked by the sword o f heathen

invaders from beyond the Germ an S e a . T he fam ous conference under an oa k early in A the seventh century between ugustine , with his

comrades , and the British clergy, seems to have o f H wicca s on taken place in the province the , m the borders o f Wessex and Mercia . S o e writers o n of S m place it the banks the evern, so e in the o f m m forest Dean , so e near Hartlebury, so e at

S . . Rock, in hropshire But it was in vain Nearly a century was to elapse before the reconversion of

: m in these western districts and it ca e at last, as f m northern and central England generally, not ro

or f ort h u m ria f m Kent Wessex, but rom N b ; not ro an Italian but a S cottish source ; n ot from Can t e rbu r or e y Winchester, but through Lindisfarn , f m T ro Ireland and Iona . hus the ancient Church of l Britain , indirectly and circuitous y discharged its debt by christianising and civilising its con r T h e ou t of m qu e ors. cloud rising the sea ca e

down again in showers to fertilise the land . By

1 ’ T he e a h a e e e a e o f Dub ritiu s a t ff r is s id to v b n c ll Guy s Cli , n e a r Wa rwick . T H E N N O F T H E WI C C I AN CO VERSIO S . 1 3 that tim e the questions in dispute between the British and Latin rituals had been settled by the con 6 A D . 6 T he ference at Whitby, . 4 Mercian Church was happily spared th e necessity of j oining in the struggle . T he materials extant for the early history of the

- A . Mid nglian, or Mercian, kingdom are scanty indeed T hough in the eighth century it stretched, under Offa , m T f m fro the hames to the Humber, ro the Fens to f the S evern , it was at first merely an aggregation o m insignificant tribes ; and , even when it beca e the most powerful of the kingdom s com posing the Hept of archy, the King Mercia did not assume the title T he m o f of Bretwalda . kingdo Mercia was founded about a century after the landing of Hen gist and Horsa another century elapsed before it became

Christian . T he valley of the S evern was opened to the

- f S A. D . 1 o . West axons , 5 7 , by the battle Deorham C e a wlin r , shortly afte wards, won Gloucester and S Cirencester, and forced his way up the evern to

S hrewsbury . But these conquests were not lasting . Penda seized the S evern valley for his Mercian m kingdo . But , brave and victorious as he was , T h Penda was a bloodthirsty pagan . e fury of his warriors was specially directed against monks and of m clergy, from a superstitious dread the as wizards , or fro m an exaggerated notion of the value of their sacred T vessels and other treasures . hese persecutions pro voke d - m a deeply rooted resent ent, which kept them back from trying to convert their conquerors . It is a curious illustration of this long-lasting estrangement 1 4 WORCESTER .

that the monk , Florence of Worcester, centuries of later, speaks almost in a tone triumph about the f massacre of the monks o Bangor .

Christianity came slowly to the Mercians, but it m m ca e at last . By the iddle of the seventh century almost all England had been christianised afresh , T except Mercia . his was the last great stronghold o f T of the worshippers hor and Woden ; and here, old r m under Penda, the idolat y ade its last great wa ll on r . a d st uggle for existence With C , a strange

for m A. D . 6 ally a Mercian king, Penda triu phed in 3 3 f m o . over Eadwine, the Christian king Northu bria B ut this disaster was avenged by the victory of

Win oe A D . 6 w d . . Oswald , at , 3 5 With the defeat f and death O Penda heathenism expired . His son and successor P e a d a became a Christian and as in those days the conversion of the prince meant the of conversion his people, Mercia within the year pro f T n essed Christianity . his rapid, almost instanta eous , conversion of the kingdom was permanent . Mercia never relapsed into heathenism . I n . Mercia, as in Wessex, the introduction of Chris tia nit m m flin i ie s T he y was ade easier by do estic a t . new alliance between Northumbria and Mercia was cem ented by the m arriage of P e a da with the daughter of m Pe a da the Northu brian king . was baptised at or thu mbria n the N court by Finian , and thence brought f T back our priests to evangelise his Mercians . his i ntim acy with Northumbria influenced n ot a little Wiccia n s the progress of Christianity am ong the . T wo Wiccia n of orthu mbria n princes, apparently N E a nfrith E a nhe re extraction , and , were baptised

1 6 WORCESTER .

’ m r a n ha lh . S t e e s field Hilda s famous onastery at , n o w Whitby, surrounded by its wild moors and T a t frith wilder waves , supplied , well qualified by age , r holiness , and lea ning, to be the first bishop of the T Wiccia new see . hus the connexion between and

Northu mbria was riveted again . T h e choice of Worcester for the seat of the new bishopric was hardly in accordance with the custom T of our English forefathers . heir habit was rather to select rural places for this purpose and consequently their bishops were less in danger than their brethren on o r a the Continent , their own medi eval successors ,

of r . degenerating into g eat local potentates But, Lichfi e ld unlike , Worcester had already a church to m ’ t . welco e her first bishop on his arrival . S Peter s f S a xu l h Church , founded a little be ore this time by p , Lichfi e ld of bishop of , was the centre a little cluster of clergy at work am ong the people o f Worcester and

the neighbourhood . H ere were to be the head quarters of the Wiccia n bishops durin g their m is siona ry cam paign s ; and here they lived together as m one fa ily, the bishop and his clerks . WORCESTER . 1 7

CHAPT ER I I .

T H E U MERCIAN S PREMACY .

AT FR I T H T died before his con secration . His imme O ftfor m diate successors , Bosel and , ca e , as he did , ’ — from the Cloisters of Hilda s sem inary the light of — house, it has been called , our northern coast and , m n f f e o . tfor like him , were piety and learning O had for had other special opportunities study, at Rome and Ar T m r . unde chbishop heodore , before beco ing bishop m He is said to have left some ho ilies , which perished f in the invasions o the Danes . Both bishops passed f away quickly . Bosel, a ter holding it about ten years , resigned his episcopal office a precedent which was Wiccia n vine followed more than once by bishops , n ftfor and others . O , his coadjutor, especially in the f m f itinerant preaching, which then or ed a chie part ’ 6 2 A D . of the bishop s work , was consecrated . 9 by f of m of Wil rid Hexha , the see Canterbury being

f . vacant . He died soon a ter consecration m m a n n ine, next after Bosel , was a re arkable . Even in the dimness of a period so remote he stands

ou t promin ently as a great and good bishop . Unlike Wiccia n if his predecessors , n ine was a by birth ,

- of we may trust his legendary biographers , noble,

n ot . if royal , parentage One Mercian king intrusted to him the education of his sons he was the of of f chosen companion another, and Of a, king C 1 8 WORCESTER .

A m m of the East ngles , in the pilgri age to Ro e, which ended in these princes taking monastic vows a n there . He was earnest and eloquent preacher ; and there is a story of his being mobbed at Alcester or u r m m by the rough miners , q ar y en, who , like John f Wesley centuries a terwards , he went to convert to o f Christ . In those days the first thought a devout f person in high position was to ound a monastery . n ine wisely chose the lovely vale of Avon for his ' T 0 2 h f purpose . here , in 7 , e ounded the monas t e r m y, soon to beco e the rival of his own see, and one of the grandest among the many magnificent abbeys T and priories of western England . hither he retired,

A. D . 1 7 4, to end his days in peace ; and there he 1 o f died , three years later, the first abbat Evesham .

Probably, when he brought back from the Pope special privileges and imm unities for the aggrandise

ment of his abbey, he did not foresee that he was sowing the seeds o f discord in years to com e between those who should succeed him in the offices of bishop

and abbat . If it is true that n ine was at one time o f m m accuse d grave isde eanours , but acquitted . on P o ne h w appealing to the ope , it is instance more o liable men in high places are to misconstruction and f misrepresentation . But probably the story aro se rom m f of so e con usion him with his friend Wilfrid of York . H e was subsequently canonised, and the reputed of m author several iracles . T he other Wiccia n bishops during this period were Wilfr . ith or f men of less mark , Wil rid, had been

I n a a s e rma a t h me a h Engl nd , in G ny, t is ti bis op som e time s h e ld a lso the offi c e o f a bba t; T H E C N U C MER IA S PREMA Y. 1 9

a r ch plain and coadjuto to n ine, and naturally

1 . succeeded his patron in 7 7 He died in 7 43 ,

' ’ about twelve years after the close of Bede s life and Milre d labours . Wilfrid and his successor, , were o f E th lba ld men piety ; but e , then king of Mercia, was one of those licentious princes who sought

' to atone for their sins by la rge donations to the

Church . He exempted the churches and monas t e rie s m m in his do inion fro all taxes , except the triple “ obligation ( trinoda necessitas of contributing to the bridges, national fortresses , and military service. T he evil influence of his exam ple on his subj ects pro voke d n m m from Bo iface, in the idst of his issionary n work in Germany, a letter of severe rebuke to the ki g T h of o n and his people . e vicious habit nuns going pilgrimage to Rome was condemned in the Council love sho of C , at that time probably under Mercian ’ r . j urisdiction , a yea before Wilfrid s death We re m u nd held his office for only two years ;

T ilhe re e . , previously abbat of Berkeley, scarc ly longer T he H a h r name of e t o e d, who presided over the see 8 1 8 m n from 7 to 7 9 , is ainly co nected with disputes about Church lands and Church privileg es . In spite of the tenacity with which he contended for his fl' O a r A f m . rights , w ested Bath bbey ro him By way ' of com e n sa tion O fi a K e n u lf su c capricious p , , and , his m Wiccia n cessor, bestowed any grants on the diocese of T ilh e r H e a thore d during the episcopate e and . ia r Merc , beginning to be g eat under Ethelred, ' a of r fi att ined the summit her g eatness under O a . S f eventeen counties owned his sway, rom the Mersey and the Humber to the T hames and the C 2 2 0 WOR CESTER .

S A f m the omersetshire von , ro the Fens to great dyke h w ich bore his name, midway between Wye and T h m S evern . e ti e of the Mercian supremacy was m not a time favourable to the Church . But Offa see s of to have had a partiality for the principality, which he had been viceroy before becoming king o f the 1 Mercians, and , like his predecessors , he made liberal ’ Wi i S t . cc a n grants to Peter s , Worcester, and other m monasteries , though so etimes he extorted conces m him sions from the . Under the diocese had rest from the predatory incursions of its neighbours in

’ Wales and Wessex: Probably O fi a was actuated by political rather than ecclesiastical motives in raising hfi A 8 . f Lic e ld D . o , 7 7 , to the rank an archbishopric, for the Archbishop of Canterbury was suspected of t in intrigues with Charles the Great, and wha ever creased the im portance of Lichfi e ld increased the

- preponderance of Mercia. It was but a short lived

- m f r f i hfi l f pre e inence o the see o L c e d. In fi teen years the old order was restored by the Council of 2 C love sh o De ne be rht , at which Bishop was present,

A D . 8 0 . 3 . All f of this time the little amily, as it was called, ’

t . ecclesiastics by S Peter s Church , in Worcester, was T steadily developing itself. heir church was the

1 H is a m e e rh a e ff h r h e a r e a m . n , p ps, surviv s in O c u c , n L ington 9 H e wa s a a t t he o f h a l h th e e rha he e a lso Council C c y , p ps C ls , ’ r K n f e e wu l A. D 806 t e e m e he wa s und King , . . S . K n l s w ll ( f e r of h m e a e e a th e e h l m a r ound Winc co b Mon st ry) , n r Cl nt il s, ks th e wh e e th e h e e m of K e n wu lf a spot r c ild K n l , son , is s id to ’ h a e r h e e e a e m r e e S t . e e m h e v b n t c rously u d r d . K n l s s rin , in

h m e A e wa s a fa r e e of r m . Winc co b bb y, vou it r sort pilg i s T H E N MERCIA SUPREMACY . 2 1 m f other church o the diocese . When the parish ’ ’

t . A churches of S Helen s and S t . lban s were disputing in the eleventh century about precedence and com a ra tive p antiquity, it was decided , that neither had a n y claim to be called the mother church o f

Worcester, that title having always belonged to the ’ bishop s church only, all other churches being merely ’

. S t . chapels under it In this , Peter s , monastery, monks and clerks , regulars and seculars, dwelt together as one com m u nity till the m iddle o f the of eighth century, under the fatherly presidency i n o r of . . Wicc a the bishop , his delegate When the

f A. D . 6 see was ounded, in 7 9 , there were no monasteries in England exempt from the bishop’ s m of . control , this exe ption being an abuse later date f T hen all were subject to the bishop o their diocese . At m Worcester, as elsewhere in si ilar cases , there was one m m f for co on und the bishop and his chapter, of m down even to the time the Nor an Conquest, and Whatever possessions were granted to him and to

m . them , were co mon property ’

m . S t . Peter s society was called a onastery But the term was then used loosely to include a mixed o f m society onks and seculars and , though the North umbrian origin of ou r Wiccia n Christianity might f ’ avour the idea, that the bishop s chapter at Worcester m would consist of onks only, the prepossessions of T heodore , who was probably more concerned than any one in the foundation of the see, must have told of in the Opposite direction . In 7 4 7 the Council C love sho of , simultaneously with the revival a on stricter monasticism the Continent, enforced the 2 2 WOR CESTE R .

At Benedictine rule on all professing monks , the m m of hrode a n sa e ti e the rule C g g, backed among the Franks by the authority of the emperor best known ' as Charlemagne, was reducing to order and dis ci line m r p , under the name of canons, the co pa atively irregular associations of unmonastic clerks . From this time, apparently, the composite society at Worcester A branched ou t into two distinct institutions . monas t e r y, in the more precise sense, sprang up under the ’

f t . S t . tutelage o S Mary, beside Peter s, destined, f o f be ore the lapse little more than two centuries , to supplant, and eventually to absorb into itself the 1 ’ 6 0 S t . r older institution . In 7 Ma y s Church rose,

of . T almost on the site the present cathedral hus, till

Dunstan , the sister societies grew side by side, not F r always in a sisterly spirit of union and concord . o m so e time the older foundation continued, as often Wiccia n happens , to enjoy a prescriptive preference, the r princes being still laid to rest in its g aveyard . Duke Wigfe rth seems to have buried his wife and children

8 . n f there in 7 9 But the growing importa ce o S t .

’ ' Mary s Monastery is perhaps attested in the re cords

h D . 8 0 f love s o A. of . o the Council C in 5 , where the ” of H se be hr t of name y , abbat, stands first, the title V prior not being yet in ogue in England . m During the seventh and eighth centuries onasteries, of in the laxer sense the word, sprang up in every f Wiccia n m h r i part o the diocese . S o e were t e c e a t on

“ of Wicc ia n m of Mercian kings , some dukes, so e of o f wealthy thanes . In the last quarter the seventh

’ fi m e e h S t . a r m a e e e M y s on st ry is rst ntion d 743 , und r Et l r a bu g .

2 4 WORCESTER .

Milre d ; Fladbury in the reign of Ke n u lf ; Bredon A D 8 8 f . . 4 ; Ripple, about fi ty years later. Perhaps m so e, at least, of the number were founded on the r condition that, after a ce tain time , they should be vested in the bishop . WORCESTER . 2 5

A CH PT ER III .

T H D AN U E AN ES D D N STAN .

T H E ninth and tenth centuries were a period of con f Wiccia n usion and distress in the diocese , as else in f . o where Early the ninth century , the dark cloud T h e Wiccia n Danish incursions broke over England . T h see did not escape it . e S evern and the T rent gave the m arauders easy access to the heart of the T h e of A province. rich valleys the von and the m A S evern attracted the . bove all, the monasteries, already numerous and opulent, provoked alike their T cupidity and their rage . hey hated the clergy and the monks as beings endowed with super natural powers they were eager to spoil the holy places of whatever they could find in the way of booty. T he Danes left the traces of their devastation b e T he of ff hind them . revenues the church su ered m ofl severely from heavy taxations, someti es to buy

the Danes, sometimes to levy troops against them . E a dbe rht Ae lhu n e Bishops and , in the ninth century, granted away Church lands to purchase protection A lhu n e K m from the Danes . e built a chapel at e se y to celebrate what proved to be only a short respite in b e long guerilla warfare with these untiring assail 26 . WORCESTER .

’

. S t . ants Peter s, Gloucester, was twice sacked by n of the Danes before the reig Edgar, once under m m o f Ethelred . Fugitives fro the fla es Deerhurst sought a refuge further west in the pathless thickets f o Malvern Chase . Danish pirates sacked Bredon T h e Monastery very early in the tenth century . name of R a ve n shill recalls the day when their black n flag floated o its crest, while their savage hordes 1 were carrying fire and sword into the cathedral city. T h e Welsh took advantage of the confusion to harass

f . of the western rontier. Probably the influx immi r a f om g nts r Wessex into Gloucestershire, in the ninth of century, was caused by the pressure a Danish invasion . T h e consequences , political and social, of this incessant fighting were very disastrous . Bishop We re frith m a n o f for , a studious habits, ill fitted the “ turm oil which raged round him during the of greater part his long episcopate, fled to France A D 8 A f m . . 7 5 . l red restored co parative tranquillity to the diocese . Under his sheltering care Were “ frith tra nslated the Dialogues of Gregory the ” - - f A . in o Great into English Ethelred, son law lfred, of him E th e lfla e d and governor Mercia under , with ,

re bu ilt ‘ the his wife, shattered walls of Worcester ; they were liberal benefactors to the churches there . A f m l rick , near Worcester, suggests perhaps the me ory

T a t e h ow h e a a o f ra al Da e r dition lls, , w n b nd pi tic n s we re e r t o h e r a th e S e e a f e r a r e e r r tu ning t i bo ts on v rn, t pill ging Wo c st , one of h e m e r e h his fe wa s a h h t , ling ing b ind llows , c ug t by t e e m of the a he ra a n d fla e a e a nd h ow citiz ns co ing out c t d l y d liv , his wa s a e h f h h a skin n il d to t e door o t e ca t e dr l . T H E D N AN D DUN N A ES STA . 2 7

“ A of of lfred and his daughter, the Lady of the M ” ercians . E the lsta ne n A Under , the illustrious gra dson of lfred, the Wiccia n see enj oyed the calm which follows a Kin w l . e o d tempest Good Bishop , a little before the of middle the tenth century, restored the monastery at Evesham, which had been ravaged by the Danes, and, though himself a Benedictine monk, placed s H secular clerk there . e was commissioned by the king to bear friendly greetings and costly gifts zt o

. the famous Benedictine monastery of S t . Gall (in

' S witzerland) I t wa s at the court of Ethe lstan that a Norwegian prince was entertained, Hako, who became subsequently the first Christian king of

Norway . T he Danes were slow to amalgamate with the S o m English . late as the eve of the Nor an Conquest, . Danish thegns in Worcestershire are mentioned in a deed of Bishop E a ldre d as a distinct class . Not till the 1 time of Canute were they really settlers in the la nd ; ’ and though , like Xavier s Indian converts , baptised in of s crowds, they retained many the superstition which they brought to our shores . Few Danes appear in Wi cia ns the high places of the Church am ong the c .

. - n . r T his part of E gland, unlike the no th eastern coun m ties, never beca e Danish . h T e general disorganisation , which was a natural consequence of the protracted struggle with the Wiccia n Danes, loosened the tie which bound the r l Aldu lf bishops to their rightful met opo itan . , bishop

D a s imu nd 3. a e e a me a. h h a a a f e e i S , n , b c C urc v ss l , t r s rv ng r f f e a a soldie r und e Leo ric o M rci . 2 8 WORCESTER .

of o f Worcester, in the last decade the tenth cen m tury, never made the custo ary profession of obedi on e ence to Canterbury . He was of four bishops of of Worcester, during the later half the ten th of century and the earlier quarter the eleventh, who f were, one a ter another, raised from Worcester T h . e to York, and who held both sees together for i only apparent excuse the plural sts is , that both sees had been im poverished by Danish depre

dations . Another far more serious result of the Danish f disorders was a reaction in favour o monasticism . Me n had had enough and too much o f licence and a fa vou ra ble m irregularity . It was mo ent for Dunstan and his adherents to enforce a stricter rule of life for m on clergy living together, the ost part in separate houses , under rules which varied much in different localities, and which were so lax and so feebly administered as practically to be almost no rule at all . Dunstan was a statesman as well as an eccle sia stica l reformer, not exempt, apparently, from that love of power which is the alloy in the fine gold of noble enterprises . Monachism has been a powerful lever for good and evil in the hands of ambitious politicians . Dunstan aimed at forcing the rule of on Benedict, then generally accepted in Europe, all n the religious communities in England . But ma y of the English clergy were married ; and this, though f perhaps the greatest, was only one o many obstacles to be surmounted . Dunstan , however, had the f influence o the crown with him . Edgar is said to have instituted no less than forty monasteries, in the T H E D N AN D D N A ES U STAN . 2 9

of f strict sense the word , in various parts o , the m u nifi ce n t kingdom . Probably his many and gifts to Worcester Cathedral were partly due t o his s pecial regard for Bishops Dunstan and O swald . Dunstan had also on his side several of the m ost influential m e n for bishops , as zealous as himself the monastic E the lwa ld revival ; Odo , , and , not least , O swald, his o wn im m ediate successor on the throne of the

W n icc ia see . Dunstan was scarcely three years at Worcester ; for the latter half o f this tim e he was burdened f of with the charge o the see London also . It was m t oo short a ti e for him to effect his purpose there .

f f - But he contrived that his riend and ellow worker , w Oswald , should be appointed in his stead . Os ald for was the very man the emergency . His social —h e of position , was nephew one archbishop and cousin ’ of — —h e the other the king s personal liking for him, attended Edgar at his coronation and on several 1 — f of other great occasions his orce character, his wit, his tact, his fine presence, his early training, all combined to give him special facilities for what he had to do . Even his Danish extraction told for him m T rather than against in so e quarters . here was som ething very winning as well as very com m anding about him . His manner was conciliatory m and he used at stated ti es, like the Pope on T d f Maundy hurs ay, to wash the eet o f twelve poor m n e . n m His lo g episcopate, stretching over ore than m f thirty years , gave him ti e to do his work of re orm - 1 ’ H is fa th e r ha d be e n one of Ethe lsta n s m ost tru ste d cou n

se llor s. 0 3 WO R CESTER .

thoroughly . He outlived his colleagues, Dunstan and E the lwa ld in the estimation of his friends he su r passed them both, his urbane pertinacity producing larger results than the more desultory efforts of

D u nstan .

Oswald began his clerical career at Winchester , but was shocked by the worldly habits o f the canons of there . His uncle, Odo Canterbury, persuaded m vow f him to take the onastic , a ter the usual i a bbe of of nov ciate, in, the y Fleury, on the banks

" e - of th Loire, the head quarters in France the

Benedictine order. He came back to England an of ardent champion monasticism , and was raised to Wiccia n 6 1 the bishopric in 9 .

' n O t im e t a Oswald lost in set ing bout his work, and accomplished it in a few years, less by force than by the indirect compulsion of his influence . Instead of m n A using violence , he supplanted and under i ed . f new church for the monastery o S t . Mary sprang

a . up under his uspices, a little to the north of S t ’ Peter s Church and College, where the cathedral lawn now bounds the chancel of the cathedral on its north e rn u of of side, the site s bsequently the old church ’ S t . Michael s parish . I t was a perilous proximity for n T he t the older institutio . bishop lost no oppor unity ’

f t . a in showing his decided pre erence for S M ry s, preaching to the crowds who gathered roun d him of ar from the steps the churchy d cross, till the church

m of . was finished . He i paired the resources S t ’ r f n Pete s , by granting the estates o the college o if leasehold to his own partisans, not by granting them away altogether. S tr ong in the patronage of

2 3 WORCE STER .

h for those days . T e m onks of Worcester were fond o f telling how their saintly bishop exorcised a satanic

im . p, who was hindering the builders T h e bishop was n ot content with reforming his own

m -ou -T m cathedral . West inster, now Westbury ri , had 1 long been a glaring instance of monastic laxity . m vow of Here Oswald i posed the triple celibacy, poverty, m m obedience , introducing twelve onks fro Fleury,

- old f Ge rm a nu s. under his riend and fellow student , From Westbury he sent ou t a little band of m onks m At to reorganise Ra sey, in Huntingdonshire . Winch m Winch e lcomb e co be or , at Pershore and Evesham , m ff m si ilar changes were e ected, regular onks dis A m placing secular canons . t Pershore and Evesha Duke Alph e re took advantage of the death o f Edgar ’ f m to efface Oswald s re or s . Gloucester was proof ’ against Oswald s endeavours , retaining its secular f f r f character till the next century . It was le t o one o ’ f Oswald s successors , Wul stan the first , to impose the

Benedictine rule there .

I A . D . 2 a n 9 7 O swald was promoted, g ain on ’ Du n sta n s of . suggestion , to the archbishopric York n But he did ot resign Worcester . His presence was needed there to counteract the influence of Duke Alphe re and there he passed most of his time to the a l st . T wo larg e and important dioceses were not enough to give full scope for a temperam ent so versatile and

1 T he e of e r e e a me . T he S o f C love sho conv nt B k l y cl i d it ynod ,

A. D . 82 r e fa r of the a m of in 4, p onounc d in vou cl i s E a dbeh rt , h h t e n bis op . T H E D N AN D D A ES UN STAN . 3 3

so exuberant in its activity . Oswald was instrumental ’ . A m u in remodelling Ely and S t lban s . His n ifi ce n ce

- of o wn was equally far reaching. Mindful his youth 1 n f ful traini g, he was a bene actor to Fleury, as well m m as to onasteries , not a few, nearer ho e . He was f a second ounder to Ramsey, in an adjoining diocese , Wiccia n as well as to Westbury and other monasteries . 1 m a n con se cra In 99 , he was present, an aged , at the of ne w tion the Church , which he had mainly erected , at Ram sey . In the next year he closed his long and laborious episcopate at Worcester, a rare instance o f a m a n indefatigable and uncom prom ising in enforcing be what he considered necessary reforms , without com ing a target for obloquy and hatred . S oon alleged m m m iracles clustered round his na e , and in due ti e m he was enrolled am ong the saints . When the E press ’ ’ Maude s troops threatened Worcester, Oswald s relics Aldu lf (they had been enshrined by , his successor, ) were carried in procession through the streets in the vain hope of averting the danger . When King John lay dying at Worcester, he tried to allay his guilty fears by arranging that his body should be laid between

f S t . . the graves of S t . Wul stan and Oswald T h e next half-century was a tim e of storm s for this T he diocese . Danes were again troublesome during ’ the ten years of Ald u lf s episcopate . He was abbat o f Me de sha m ste a d (Peterborough) before becoming f bishop. In the year be ore his death, the treacherous massacre of the Danes in England , by order o f f the eeble and faithless Ethelred, was the signal

1 H e love d to r e ti re th e re occ a siona lly for r e st a nd spiritua l e fre hm e a m his m a a nd a e r s nt id ny rduous r sponsibilitie s . D 3 4 WORCESTER .

A for sanguinary reprisals o n their part . S usual

in these commotions , the Church revenues were m ulcted heavily Church vessels were m elted to pay the tribute exacted as a fine ; Church lands were

confiscated . Grave charges of peculation and extortion Were f of alleged by monkish writers against Wul stan , first

l l 0 . m A u f A. D 10 d . that na e , who succeeded in 3 He m m “ is stig atised in their rhy es as the Reprobate, the “ of N a m robber, the plunderer the Church . nimis ” e rra vit Du m S olia vit . f rebus nos p Wul stan, like his m m i ediate predecessors , held Worcester and York l f together ; unlike Oswa d , he pre erred York . He the of o fa r favoured York at expense Worcester . S f n f the monastic accusations were ounded o act . But m m it must be re e bered, that in the general confusion of that period it was not easy to discriminate between o f the respective interests the two sees . S till more m m f i portant is it to reme ber, that the revenues o the bishop and of the priory of Worcester were not kept

distinct till after the Conquest . T ill then the monks

received their several allowances, like boys at a public f ’ f . T h e n school, rom the bishop s baili f distress i ’ Wu lfsta n s tim e necessitated economy ; and the m m onks, pinched by these retrench ents , naturally

enough , reproached their bishop as the cause . f Certainly, Wul stan was an able and energetic w o f bishop , but the greater reno n his sainted name

him . sake has thrown into the shade Like Oswald ,

" of a he was noble birth influential at court, patron “ of m e n a n d m f. A learned , an author hi sel His ddress ” v to the English, a vigorous invecti e against the vices T H E D N AN D D A ES U N STAN . 5 of m of his day, arks an era in the growth our English m m literature . He wrote ho ilies under the na e of f ’ . r Lupus Westbury, a ter Oswald s death , had e m f f lapsed into its nor al laxity . Wul stan en orced m discipline there again , attaching the onastery as a m cell to Worcester Priory . Evesha dates the com m n c m n f f e e e t o its greatness rom his episcopate . At 1 ’ ff C a nu te s Gloucester , he e ected , with sanction , the m f ff refor s which Oswald had ailed to e ect , converting m the canons there into onks , under Edric , the first m abbat . In a tu ult wh ich ensued , the people m m n . rising against the onk s , a noble a was killed f of m Wul stan played the part ediator, in the revolt

o f orth u mbria ns. the N On the whole , there is good reason for believing that the lavish opprobrium

m m if n ot heaped on his na e by onkish chroniclers is , fa r m unmerited, at least ore than he deserved .

fsin n ot Le o , his successor, was a devout man , but m I f a man to leave his ark on the see . he did , it

was soon obliterated in the fierce contentions , still

o f frequent recurrence between English and Danes . A period o f com parative tranquillity ensued under ’ ’ B rih te a Wu lfsta n s g , nephew, raised to the bishop s f m n o f throne ro bei g abbat Pershore , a bishop

notorious for his nepotism . He was high in the favour o f him oflice Canute, and was intrusted by with the f m o escorting the Princess Gunhild to Ger any, to be m T h m arried to the E peror Conrad II . e long strife

at last was over between the English and the Danes . h o f T e land had rest under the sceptre Canute . Old

1 H e h e his a re for e e e e a f e his e e a s ow d c Glouc st r, v n t r l v tion

t o York . D 2 6 3 WORCESTER .

r churches were epaired, new churches were erect ed of throughout the diocese . It was a time thanks giving , such as Wordsworth has described

As e a m h a s a e the r e a , wh n stor p ss d , bi ds r g in T he h e e rf e a n d re - r m ir c uln ss, busily t i T he e a nd ha a ra a h m ir n sts, c nt g tul ting y n ” T o the h d a blue e t e r a n be sp a ngle d pl in . WORCESTER . 3 7

A T I V CH P ER .

T H E N N N U ORMA C O Q EST.

T H E three bishops , who successively presided over the Wiccia n diocese during the eventful period which m m led up to the Nor an Conquest , were all e inent L fi n . or in different ways Living, y g, became bishop here in 1 0 3 8 ; his episcopacy lasted little m ore than

. B u t f six years , be ore being appointed by Harold f im Hare oot to this see, Living was already of m portance in the Church and real , having been ’ of T on e C a nu t e s abbat avistock, and of most con fi de ntia l counsellors . He accompanied that great king to Rome , and thence brought back , if indeed n ot m m he did actually compose, the e orable letter in which the Danish conqueror pledged him self to

f . reign hence orth as an English king Living held, m t wo si ultaneously with Worcester, the south western ’ h f . m T e sees o Crediton and S t Ger an s . only excuse for this alm ost unparalleled accum ulation of prefer m a n ments on one is , that pluralities were common m in England at that ti e .

Living was an eloquent preacher, and otherwise f popular in this diocese . He pre erred this to his

. f other sees But, shortly after the accession o H 10 of ardicanute in 3 9, he was accused having 8 3 WORCESTER . been an accomplice in the m urder of the young A f f— prince, l red , hal brother to the king ; and the see was H f A f of . ow a r handed over to his rival , el ric York ’ Living was really concerned in the plot for Alfred s

. f assassination , it is not easy to decide On his behal it is urged , that his patriotic devotion to the national cause prejudiced Norm an writers like William of m him A f Mal esbury against , and that el ric, his accuser, had his own m otives o f am bition and m alice for him m a wishing to see disgraced . Perhaps it y be ’ a if taken as Showing th t Living s share, any, was slight in the conspiracy against the life of the young prince , that he was restored to his see after paying or a fine , , as his detractors express it, by buying m back his preferm ent . Meanwhile a dire cala ity T h had befallen his cathedral city . e people of m 1 0 1 Worcester rose in ar s, 4 , against the ship money which was being levied, probably resent ing the tax all the more because o f having been of f deprived their bishop, and because o having a T h e in stranger placed over them in his stead . fu ria te d m ob pursued the two housecarls, officers ’ from the king s body- guard sent by him to enforce m the payment of the tax, into the onastery, and

m m o n e o f killed the there in the dor itory, or l - h r the upper c a mbe s. Hardicanute was n ot a king to tolerate defiance of his royal will and plea m f sure , nor to stint hi sel in the gratification o f his brutal thir st for blood . He dispatched three

1 “ “ I n r d r a R a . e C i e nc r r m ona ste rn . . . sol io ic d , Ch onicon

. . e r e r e a of th e a r T e Contin iii , 35 . Mod rn w it s sp k Edg ow r ; h a but t is pp e a rs to b e a n a na chr onism .

4 0 WORCESTER .

E a ldre d was o ne of the very foremost statesm en f w . in England under Ed ard the Con essor He was, o f m a n in indeed , a type his age ; such a as e vita bl y rises to the surface , when the waters are disturbed ; a man fitted to be in the front amid the m uncertainties and hazards , the startling co binations , m of the al ost daily fluctuations the transitional period , which heralds still greater changes close at hand . His character is a m edley of con tradictions and inconsistencies . He was a busy politician ; yet by m o f no eans neglectful his episcopal duties , so far at least as the tem poral interests of the C hurch were A m concerned . t one ti e he marched at the head of m 1 m an ar y, at another he was peace aker and recon m o n ciler. More than once he was an a bassador im portan t business to foreign lands ; and yet he found tim e to adm inister vigorously the affairs o f f three dioceses , Worcester, Here ord , Ramsbury, at once . His versatility has brought upon him the reproach of being a tim eserver yet he was faithful to his friends and loyal to his sovereign for the tim e on m being . I n e and the sa e year he placed the ’ crown on the head of Harold and Harold s impla c one able antagonist but he did his duty first to the , f and then to the other. His requent j ourneyings abroad must have m ade him somewhat cosmopolitan st re n u in his sympathies , and yet he aided Godwin ou sly in trying to exclude foreigners from prom otion of in England . He was called the protector the see of Worcester ; yet he is accused o f robbing

1 I n hi a a p a a s one of th e a e . s se cul r c city, l ndown rs T H E N R N N O MA CO QUEST . 4 1

Worcester for York : he is said to have recovered 1 Church lands for his see, and to have given them away as largely . It is difficult to trace a career so m f l erratic it is still ore di ficult to appraise it right y . E a ldre d was trained in the same place as his ff n m predecessor , Oswald, but under a di ere t syste . He began life as a m onk at Winchester ; he becam e ’ o f T re comm e n abbat avistock , and , through Living s f o f 1 0 . S dation , bishop this diocese in 44 oon a ter m his appoint ent to Worcester, he negotiated a treaty f m with Griffith , the Welsh Chie tain , at that ti e a r continual cause o f alarm to ou western frontier .

But, as usual in those days , the truce was only for

m 1 0 the mo ent . In 49 the bishop led an unsuccess fu l a expedition gainst Griffith , who , with the help of Irish pirates , defeated the English army . In the sa me year E a ldre d was com m issioned by the king to pursue and arrest Harold , who was escaping , by of E a ldre way Bristol, to Ireland . d probably was

f . not very zealous in this service ; anyhow , he ailed He was m ore successful in reconciling the king with S for o f m weyn , who had been outlawed one his any A m E a ld re d of . deeds violence bout this ti e, , who seem s never to have been slow in accepting any pre m ff f su e rin fer ent which o ered itsel , undertook the p m A T he tendence of Winchco be bbey . king sent him to Germ any to arrange with the Em peror

Henry III . about the return to England of the o f m young Prince Edward , son Ed und Ironside ,

1 T he fa m a h h e r a e a th e se e a nd ous Godiv , wit ot s, g v l nds to r r a f e r th e e a h of h e r h a e f a t o p io y t d t usb nd , L o ric ; lso books r th e prio y . 2 4 WORCESTER .

of who had been sheltered at the court Hungary . 1 n He stayed a year at Cologne , enj oyi g the royal re re entertainment which he received there , as the p n a i f m se t t ve o England . On his return he was ade of f of Le of a r m bishop Here ord, in place g , who Griffi th had killed ; a nd from 1 0 5 5 to 1 0 58 he was in charge also of the diocese o f Ramsbury during ’ 8 m . 1 0 Bishop Her an s absence In 5 , he consecrated f ’ m the church o S t . Peter s onastery at Gloucester (it f 2 had been burnt down) , and placed Wul stan there a l r for of over the m onks . E d e d appropriated his see m of o f m re York so e the lands the onastery , and u c d f m d e the number o the onks . When Edward f m the Con essor held his parlia ent here, near the m of m close of his reign , the regular in ates the onastery m were only two onks with eight boys . His next m m j ourney was to Jerusalem . He ade his pilgri age m m f with uch po p and a strong retinue o soldiers , the first English bishop, it is said , who visited the Holy Land : the abbat o f Gloucester was in his m m . co pany , and died on his way to Jerusale T he travels of this indefatigable prelate were not T he f over yet . last occasion o his going to foreign m m m T h parts was in any ways the ost re arkable . e w m him royal patronage , hich had done so uch for

him 1 0 6 0 already, raised in to the archbishopric o f f York . He resigned Here ord, and, in company m T osti with the great Northu brian earl, g , went, as

1 Prob a bly t h e a bba t of Eve sha m a dministe re d th e se e m e a h nw ile . 2 N ot th e e r of E a ldre d the se e h h e him succ sso in , t oug , lik , a m o f r e e onk Wo c st r. T H E N N ORMA CONQUEST . 43

was not unusual , to Rome , to bring back the arch ’ f m m f bishop s pall ro the hands of the Pope hi sel .

But his reception there was hardly such , as he had

f u anticipated . Perhaps the ees were inadeq ate cer

t a inl . m f y, the Pope, Nicholas I I , thought hi sel injured ’ by not having been m ade a party to E a ldre d s prefer

f E a ldr f m m ent . He re used to sanction it . e d le t Ro e for England without his pall , and under sentence of for be n e fi ce s degradation holding two together . He fa r had not gone , when he and his escort were m attacked by robbers , such as have ade Italy in m for later ti es a dangerous place travellers , and f m stripped o all that he had with hi . Being thus m t o R om e co pelled to return , he renewed his suit ‘ m n o t . T he to the Pope, and this ti e in vain English m f earl supported him an ully, remonstrating against m m m the isgovern ent , which per itted such lawlessness of e almost close to the gates the city , and thr atening ’ f m if a retaliation ro England , the English prelate s p ’ T h E a l r peal was rej ected again . e Pope ratified d e d s m appointment to York , only stipulating that he ust relinquish Worcester. E a ldr e d , however, was reluctant to abandon his

Wiccia n see altogether . He used his influence with the

f f r f o f m Con essor o Wul stan , one the Worcester onks , m to take his place there, so e say, because he was well able to appreciate the Simple piety, so unlike his m m own ore worldly versatility ; so e say, that in so m guileless a nature he might find a anageable tool .

It has been alleged , that he persuaded the king At to subordinate Worcester to York . any rate , m Wiccia n he continued to busy hi self in the see , WORCESTER .

as patron and protector, if nothing more . When l ff Urse, the haughty sheri , menaced the cathedral and m onastery by driving his castle - fosse across the ’ - monks burial ground, and close under the southern E a ldre d wall of the cathedral , defied the sacrilegious encroachm ent with a boldness which would have f m u daunted a less reckless intruder, in the a o s words , H ighte st thou U rse ’ H a ve thou God s cu rse

’ Nor was E a ld re d afraid to rebuke U rse s haughty m him aster when he thought deserving of rebuke . E a ldre d 1 0 6 of f closed his busy life in 9, dying grie , m c on it is said, for the havoc and isery which the m tentions of English , Nor ans, and Danes had brought o f on the cathedral city Worcester . f Wicc ia n o f m Wul stan , second bishop that na e,

2 succeeded in 1 0 6 . He was the son of a War wickshire thane . Long Itchington, an otherwise fi insigni cant village near Coventry , claims the honour o f m having given birth to this exe plary bishop . He was educated in the m onastery o f Me d e sh a m ste a d m m (Peterborough) but he re ained a lay an , probably, i f m diffi d e nce own fi t l ke George Herbert , ro in his

m - ness for the inistry, till he was twenty six years of age and his reluctance was then overcom e only by f the pressing invitation of Bishop B riht e a g . He re used — a valuable preferm ent again one is rem inded of the

1 ’ D r th e a e r a r o f th e fe r e U r e a nd u ing l tt p t Con ssor s ign , s h is r h e r Le D e e e r a r e e VVorce st e r b ot , sp ns , cqui d poss ssions in h r T wa s i e . he e ncou r a g e m e nt g ive n by Ed rd to th e se a nd othe r T H E N NORMA CONQUEST . 45

Country Parson of Bemerton -preferring the se

clu sion o f . the priory, at Worcester But he went ou t assiduously among the poor, baptising gratuitously, though the evil custom o f his day permitted fees to

f m 1 0 or . m be taken such inistrations In 5 3 , he beca e T for prior . hough revered and loved his consistent m piety, he was not otherwise distinguished a ong his brethren ; and he was distressed even to tears , when their unanim ous voice called h im to wield ’ the bishop s crozier. Perhaps he recalled the old of m saying the Egyptian her its , recorded by

Cassian , that a monk should shun the office of f o . a bishop , as he would the sight a woman “ ” His evidently unaffected Nolo e piscop a ri was f m m ’ at length overruled, a ter so e onths hesitation , T h by the urgent solicitations o f others . e choice of m Ae lf a r the onks was strongly supported by g , earl

of the province , by both the archbishops , especially ’ E a ldre d by , by the Pope s legates , who were at m m m Worcester at that o ent , and by Harold hi self Wi n m t a e ot . S f it was duly ratified by the g tigand, o m O f Canterbury, was then in the ano alous position an m archbishop without his palliu , perhaps throug h of o f m the influence the Duke Nor andy at Rome, f o . f on the pretext his being a pluralist Wul stan ,

accordingly, like other bishops in the province of m Canterbury during this interregnu , received con se f m cration, the legates insisting upon it, ro the hands o f E a ldre d of his friend and patron , York ; but, with f his usual straight orwardness , he made his promise f n S o canonical obedie ce to tigand , not allowing any personal considerations to cause him to swerve from 4 6 WORCESTER . the path of obedience m arked ou t by custom and T f authority. his vow he renewed to Lan ranc , ’ S tiga n d s successor. Wulfstan was present at the dedication o f the m glorious minster, which arks the reign of the Con f ssor f e , and which a terwards became intimately and peculiarly connected with this diocese . T h e first thought o f the foundation of Westm inster Abbey is said to have been suggested to Edward by a herm it ’ Wu lfsta n s on e of m in diocese , the any solitaries f in Malvern Chase . Wul stan accompanied Harold to the north o f England early in the memorable

1 0 66 year , that the influence of his sanctity and homely eloquence might help to attach the rugged ’ m T o Northu brians to Harold s cause . the last he

f . was faith ul to Harold But, when the defeat and death of Harold in the disastrous fight near Hastings left no reasonable hope of withstanding the Norm an f m to invasion , Wul stan was a ong the first set the _ m m exa ple of sub ission to what could not but be . A Even London had given in . O nly Edgar the theling rem ained of the old dynasty ; his chances were o f no for account . It was clearly best England to acquiesce

m . m without ore bloodshed Wulfstan was no ti eserver .

A im e se rve r one for t is , who betrays his principles A selfish ends . true patriot strives only for what he f believes to be the welfare o his country. With f f Walter, bishop of Here ord, and others, Wul stan m f e t at B e rkh a m st e a d the Conqueror, fresh rom f the sanguinary field o battle, and there promised fealty.

William , with his keen insight into character, soon

4 8 WO R CESTER .

v stone , that no force could tear it away . E entually Wulfstan and his Opponents became friends ; he visited York and Lichfi e ld to assist in both those

f - places . He and Lan ranc were fellow workers also at of Bristol , in stopping the nefarious exportation slaves for Ireland from that port . ’ Wu lfst a n s fidelity to his new king was soon put to T h of the proof. e warlike temper the age in which his lot was cast forced even so peace - loving a bishop

. t to play the soldier at times He took an active par ,

1 0 o f in 7 3 , in crushing the conspiracy Roger , earl

f . o Hereford , and other malcontent barons It was of first importance to guard the passage of the S evern ff against the rebels . Wulfstan was e ectively aided by Walter de Lacy, whose name survives in a little m f w parish between Bro yard and Here ord, as ell as o f by Urse , the redoubtable sheriff Worcestershire , o f too often a rapacious plunderer the Church , but in this emergency siding heartily with the good bishop . A nother leading ecclesiastic took part in the fray, Ae e lwi m m g g, abbat of Evesha . He had been ade abbat at the same time as Wulfstan had been m ade bishop like Wulfstan , he had enjoyed the confidence o f Edward, Harold, and William , successively and like f Wul stan , though English by birth and training , he m was a firm adherent of the new dynasty. Willia intrusted him with the control for a tim e o f the abbey o f Winchcombe, Godric the abbat being suspected of m designs against the Nor ans ; and , according to wn Ae e lwi the chronicles of his o abbey , g g was also made by the Conqueror chief judge, or itinerant T H E N N N ORMA CO QUEST. 4 9

of m n justiciary seven western and idla d Shires , r f f Wo cester, Gloucester, Ox ord , Warwick , Here ord , A i f n f m S S . e e lw o alop , and tafford g g was oble a ily , m f ff and still more e inent or prudence in a airs . He steered his course warily thro u gh the stormy conflicts him which were surging around ; and at his death , 1 eleven years after the Conquest , he left his abbey m m uni poverished and uni paired to his successors . Between this im portant personage and Wulfstan a rose in 1 0 7 4 on e o f those weary and vexatious 2 f m litigations , which so o ten arred what should have been the harmonious co- operation of bishop and T h e f m abbot . story is told , ro very different points of m of view, in the chronicles Evesha and Worcester

. Ae e lwi respectively It has been surmised , that g g was disappointed at not being m ade bishop of Wor ’ f ce ste r in E a ldre d s place . But he supported Wul stan m o f cordially in resisting the encroach ents York ,

mm fo e . T he their co on particular contention , which m f sundered, for a ti e at least , his riendship with

f of O swa ld slow. Wul stan , was about the hundred d William was away in Norm andy . He eputed of the Bishop Coutances , with certain barons , to r him f fo . hear the case Wul stan proved, by witnesses

o n f m m A oath , that service was due ro Evesha bbey s a ldslow not for lands in the O w , but he could obtain a ff f final decision to this e ect till six years a ter, when m f m of the case ca e on again be ore Re igius , bishop T b Lincoln , and others . heir sentence was ratified y

1 - r T he re we re the n sixty se ve n m onks the e . 9 A v e ry sim ila r dispute occurre d som e wha t la te r be twe e n

Eve sh a m a nd P e rshore Abb e ys . E 0 5 WORCESTER .

wita n e m ot f of Ae e lwi the provincial g , a ter the death g g , m and noted in Do esday Book .

Wulfstan was not one to keep up a feud . He and Ae e lwi m g g beca e friends again , as before and when f f m Wul stan or ed , what would now be called an soda litiu m association , a brotherhood ( ) , or fellowship of his a bba t s and priors for prayer and m utual aid in A l l i n f m God e e w o e o . serving and the king, g g was the T of m m hree at least the nu ber were Nor ans , Edward f of m S o Pershore , Ralph Winchco be, and erlo , the f ’ ’ f m o S t . re or er and restorer Peter s, Gloucester ; an f indication , not only that there was nothing actious in e ccle si this combination , but also that the foreign

a stics m . introduced by Willia I were, as a rule, worthy of their promotion and desirous to take their

place as Englishmen in England . Wulfstan was the man to assist in blending the discordant elements him T h . e u n s lfi shn s around influence, which his e e s and unworldliness exercised even over men as unlike of himself as the ambitious Bishop Coutances, is very

rem arkable . Under such a bishop the diocese flourished gener fi rm o f ally, the and , on the whole , just sway the

Conqueror giving the opportunity, long sought in vain , f for works of piety and benevolence . Wul sta n restored

Westbury, a monastery especially connected with the l ’ 2 Wic i - Glou c a n re S t . see . He consecrated Peter s,

1 h a the f e e h e e h m e f Bis op C rp e nt e r , in fi t nt c ntury, styl d i s l

Bishop of Worc e ste r a nd We stbury . 2 A r a e r th e e e hr e ho w st ng sto y is told in Glouc st r C onicl , th e a a S e r e l a m R f a r him o f h is bb t, lo, wrot to Wil i u us to w n d e e n e n o e of hi m . , in conse que nc e o f a vision s n by s onks T H E N N C N ORMA O QUEST . 5 1

T h on oester . e priory of Great Malvern , the slope f O o the Worcestershire beacon , owes its rigin to the A shrewd advice which he gave to ldwin , a hermit t in the Malvern Chase, hat he should serve God at

m . i home instead of going to Jerusale Urse, probably n one of of those fits remorse, which came over men like m m him in those wild times , had founded a s all onas t e r of m A y here , as a dependency West inster bbey, f T r e or a n before the death of the Con essor . his was g m ised by the abbat of West inster, and, with lf ’ 1 Wu sta n s A m . consent , ldwin was ade the first prior A m W o f issionary spirit, as always here the flame

Christian love burns bright and clear, pervaded the

T m onk . fr m m . s o diocese hree this see , two fro on e m m Winchcombe, fro Evesha , j ourneyed together t o n to Durham , revive mo asticism in those northern m Wi i cc a . regions, whence it had ade its way to In

1 10 v m d e n se e 3 , twel e monks fro Evesham went to O , o f at the request Eric the Good, to found a Benedictine monastery there .

' 1 0 8 f littl t In 4 , Wul stan began a new cathedral , a e o ’ - o f the south west Oswald s , which had been grievously dam aged when the city was sacked by Hardicanute ’s m e issaries , and by other casualties . In five years it f . T he was roo ed in crypt and other parts , which have

lasted to this century , bear their silent witness to the

solidity and grandeur of the edifice . But the good f bishop was in tears, as he watched with atherly of solicitude the progress the building, not like the

1 T h e churche s of Glouce ste r Abbe y a nd of Gre a t M a lve r n e e b h b in th e e r be of the e f Priory w r , ot uilt v y g inning tw l th e r a nd h e th e m e o f the f ee h c ntu y, bot r built in iddl fi t nt . E 2 5 2 WORCESTER .

f m m Jews ro Babylon , who ourned because their m f fa r of of second te ple ell short the glory their first, m but, as he said with his usual hu ility, because , though m f the new cathedral might be ore beauti ul , he and f his people were fa r behind their athers in holiness . f d With characteristic reverence, he care ully enshrine w of ane the relics his predecessor Oswald , while ’ rem oving the ruins of Oswald s church . ’ Once m ore the quiet tenor of Wu lfst a n s episcopate m was interrupted by the call to ar s , and again

1 0 88 Wulfstan proved his loyalty to his king. In , of m Worcester was attacked by the lords the arches , R f w who rose in revolt, before William u us was ell on o f seated his throne, to assert the privileges the f h barons against the rights o the English . T e bishop m was at his post , encouraging the troops who anned h . T e T h the city walls insurgents were repelled . e city with its still unfinished cathedral escaped the of misery being pillaged by the baronial soldiery . One of the last acts of this long episcopate was to hold a diocesan synod in the crypt of the cathedral 2 T he of in 1 0 9 . occasion the synod being called m together was trifling enough , erely a dispute between ’ ’ o f S t . A S t . the parish priests Helen s and lban s , which of these churches was to be accounted the

of . T he d mother church Worcester synod ecided, m that neither was really the other church , but the cathedral only . T hough n ot learned him self (his diligent discharge of his episcopal duties m ust have left him scanty for f of leisure study) , Wul stan was a patron learning in to of others . He did his best further the great survey T H E N N N ORMA CO QUEST . 3

r of the kingdom , the esults which are found in Domes I t m day Book . was at his bidding that He ing, the of monk Worcester, c arefully and laboriously compiled the valuable collection of charters and other historical

m of [Jem zfl documents , which bears the na e g z ' m C a r /zzla r zu .

Wulfstan died in 1 0 9 al most sim ultan eously with

of H . his old friend Roger, bishop ereford He had been bishop thirty- two years he was eighty- seven years of age he had outlived by many years all the other Old- English bishops ; he was the last surviving

of A f irr ro ch bishop purely English birth . li e so e p a a ble in its integrity, and an episcopate so consistent f m with itsel in its si plicity and holiness, are a worthy conclusion to the Old- English period in the history o f u r o diocese .

1 8 D . 12 1 . H e wa s ca nonise d A . 5 4 WORCESTER .

CHAPT ER V .

AFTER T H E CO N QUEST.

OWI N G t o the com parative isolation of England from the Continent , the bishops here before the Con a of quest were , as rule, bishops the several tribes , instead o f being attached to great cities in a o m m corda n ce with the Ro an custo . With the death h of . T e Wulfstan , the diocese assumes a new title see of the Wiccia n s becom es the see of Worcester. In m m m other respects, ore i portant than a ere change m m n o f m ow . na e, the diocese co ences a new era T h e English Church becomes more fam iliar with con i n t n e n ta l o . usages, and more dependent Rome Even before the Conquest m uch valuable time was lost to m the diocese by pilgri ages to the city, which was of regarded as the centre Christendom , the sacred m of f ho e apostolic traditions . Even be ore the Con quest appeals were made to Rom e . But now the m m r m intercourse beco es ore frequent, the pilg i ages are m of ore continual , the habit appealing to Rome is more f inveterate . Instead o a vague and childlike reverence for m of m the ajesty Ro e , as something remote and m al ost intangible, the Church in England is brought face to face with the overweening pretensions o f the papal see ; it has to endure , again and again, the

of - m tedious procrastinations law suits at Ro e , as costly and as wearying as the interminable suits in Chancery

6 5 WORCESTER .

wa s m o f - complete , the eli ination the Old English m ele ent . In the next generation , there was not a bishop left English by birth . In som e respects the Change effected by the Con f quest in the state o the Church was for the better. T Discipline had been lax . here had been large T he diversities of ritual in the dioceses severally. m clergy in any cases had been illiterate and indolent .

Even the. bishops had too often been m ore busy about the tem poral interests o f the see than about their T he f f higher duties . Conquest in used new li e and T h vigour into the Church as into the nation . e wise providence of God was shaping all things in due f course or the best . m of In this diocese, though the records are eagre 1 o f m the actual subjugation it by the Nor ans , there is an unusual abundance o f inform ation as to the o f condition the Church financially, when order had been restored and the sovereignty o f the Conqueror f established . Nearly hal the landowners in Wor ce st e rshire m , a s aller proportion in Gloucestershire, were ecclesiastical corporations . In Worcestershire, the chief ecclesiastical landowners were Worcester m A Priory, Gloucester, Evesha and Pershore bbeys, A m Westminster bbey, with four other English ona st e rie s n n ot ot in the diocese, and two monasteries

- in England ; in Gloucestershire , ten extra diocesan m e con tine n monasteries , including West inster, sev n m m tal onasteries , five onasteries in the diocese , and ’ T he f the bishop himself. bishop s tenure was dif erent

1 I f m t o the N rma Ch e ste r wa s th e l a st city to sub it o ns, r p oba bly Worce ste r wa s a mong th e la st . A F T H E N TER CO QUEST . 5 7

in several respects from that of oth er landowners . T h e of O swa ldslow for hundred , instance, was exem pt m All even fro the ordinary rights of the crown . this ’ hundred was under the bishop s jurisdiction , though m of only eight anors, consisting two hundred and t wenty- fi ve hides belonged to him in it ; the other

-fi ve seven manors , containing seventy hides , with parts o f m m three anors , a ounting to seven hides , for the of supply rations to the monks , being the property of 1 . of the priory It was the astute policy the Conqueror, on the old Roman principle of weakening by division e t divide impera to divorce the estates, hitherto 2 held in common , of the bishop and his chapter . T he priory had also more than ninety hides in of other hundreds . It had the patronage about fifty be ne fi ce s it received pensions (as being the m f mother church) fro some orty more, which were f of m f th in the gi t other onasteries, as well as rom e 3 T h of rectors in the diocese . e appropriation tithes

1 T he chi e f va lue o f the m a no rs wa s in the p r oduce of th e

e m e e a e th e a a a m e . d sn cultiv t d by vill ins (vill ni) , without p y nt T he old R om a n sa ltworks a t Droitwich we re e sp e ci a lly r a e p ofit bl . ’ 2 h e rh a m a m I I a e S t . e e r h r Willi . g v P t s C u c , Wolv pton , h its a r e a e h S a m a nd th e h wit ppu t n nc s , to Bis op pson ; bis op, i h f H e r I . ra fe rr e e rh a for a n e u va wit conse nt o n y , t ns d it (p ps q e e r Af e r e e a e l e nt) to th e priory a t Worc st . t s v r l vicissitud s , it f h e e r T h e e r e a ra e a p a sse d to the Bishop o C st . Conqu or s p t d lso

- th l a w r a nd e e a a . H e e a e th e e e cou ts , civil ccl si stic l nc ros qu stion ’ e m e o f cl e rica l pr ivile ge in Be ck t s ti . 3 B e fore the Conque st th e prio ry of Worc e ste r re ce ive d t he tithe s a s we ll a s t he p e nsions from the chur ch e s be long ing to — ’ a f e the e the e . H a e R e u a it ; t r Conqu st, only p nsions l s g l ”

Priora tfi s S a ae a ae Vi orn . 2 28 nct M ri g , Introduction, pp 7, . 5 8 WORCESTER .

began even before the Conquest . It was an evil

precedent . T he finances of the priory were flourishing, and the o f m number the onks had risen to fifty, although the diocese suffered even m ore than ot hers from the m greediness o f the invaders . Chief a ong the spoilers le were Urse and his brother, Robert Despenser, “ ” S on o f S (dispensator regis) , Richard crob and

O sb e rn of f . William Fitz , earl Here ordshire Odo , the of lordly bishop Bayeux , abused his near connexion with the king to confiscate property belonging to T he m off Evesham Abbey . king hi self carried several pounds in weight of gold and silver from the shrines of the English saints in the cathedral . A f Westminster bbey continued to bask in royal avour, m of m T he to the detri ent other onasteries . royal founder of Westm inster had enriched it largely with m m f m endow ents in this diocese . Willia , rom otives , of ff W probably, a di erent kind, aggrandised estminster in the sam e way at the expense especially of Pershore A . of bbey It is no wonder that the monk Worcester, of m who records these deeds rapine, classes the Nor an

with the Dane , as spoiling the sanctuary . Church - building made great progress as soon as T he f the diocese had regained its tranquillity . oreign ecclesiastics brought with them a m ore sumptuous and of elaborate style architecture, of which the diocese is m for m rich in stately speci ens ; exa ple , in the crypt f and other parts o Worcester Cathedral, and in the 1 of T naves Gloucester Cathedral , ewkesbury, Per

1 T he re building of T e wk e sbury a bb e y ch urch w a s com m e n ced R e Fitz ha m on e he of th e e by ob rt , n p w Conqu ror, T H E N AFTER CO QUEST . 5 9

T h e f shore , and Great Malvern . ruins o Deers of hurst are earlier date , being a simpler and ruder f form o romanesque . of William Rufus, as usual, kept the see Worcester a vacant, about a ye r, before appointing a successor

‘ f T he to Wul stan . Lanfranc was dead . king, no longer restrained by deference for him, cared little f f for the diocese being le t without a chie pastor, so m m m long as the e olu ents were his in the meanti e . S o f of ampson , a canon Bayeux, noble birth , was I f m a m appointed in 10 96 . we y trust Nor an pa n e gy m u nifi ce n t rics , he was learned , eloquent, and with the m onks of his own day he was by no m eans a f f avourite, perhaps as being a oreigner, p erhaps as enforcing a stricter discipline than they were accus tom e d to bear . It shows the arbitrary character of his m on e appoint ent, that he was ordained priest day , and consecrated bishop the next . He restored canons at own a n t e c Westbury , probably biassed by his early e dents ; and it has been supposed that he was a m arried T of of man , because homas York is spoken as his ‘ f t he son . In dispute between Canterbury and York , S am pson took part with the form er in insisting that the rival archbishop should prom ise canonical obedience to Canterbury before receiving the pall . During his

S t . episcopate, his cathedral and the church of Peter,

a nd the a a e a wa s h e A. D . 112 e bb t G r ld ; it finis d 3 , tw nty “ ” e a r a e R e r th e e a of e e r y s l t r, by ob t, good rl Glouc st , ’ H r I a n d h a of Fitzha m n ill e gitim a te son of e n y . usb nd o s h r T h r f a s a o f e e r h a e . e a e a d ug t oo , prob bly Worc st C t dr l , a e r r h r h a nd h e e m ra r M lv rn p io y c u c , ot r cont po y buildings in k - a th th e e e wa s of oa e e a . dioc s , wood , tr s bounding in is loc lity 6 0 WORCESTER .

f m Gloucester, destined in uture years to beco e the of m cathedral another diocese, were both da aged by 1 fi re r , probably in some popular commotion a ising n between the t wo nationalities not yet fu sed into o e . f Four years a ter the fire at Gloucester, the bishop ’ - A re consecrated S t . Peter s Church ; but the good bbat S erlo was no longer alive to see his church “ hallowed ” again .

f m . T he reign of Henry I . was a time o co promise Both the bishops who were raised successively to the see o f Worcester during his reign were courtiers both

m e n of t . were ability, and otherwise withou reproach T he u lf 1 1 1 , who was appointed in 5 after the usual ’ m of interregnu , was one the king s chaplains , and a canon o f the sam e cathedral in Norm andy as his f m o . S predecessor Worcester i on , who succeeded T h e u lf 1 1 2 A in 5 , was chaplain to the Queen deliza , m f and had co e over in her suite rom Louvain . T h e u lf had the assistance of bishops from Wales and

Ireland, an unusual conjunction , in the consecration of T ewkesbury abbey church . He died at Hampton m of — f Lucy (Ha pton Bishop) , one the manor houses o the see . S m m i on was enthroned with much po p . It was a grand cerem ony ; a contrast to the sim plicity and hom eliness of the Old- English bishops ; an omen of the approaching luxury and worldly splendour which f m were the canker o the ediaeval Church . But troubles were at hand . Early in his episcopate the city and cathedral were damaged by o n e of those disas

O the f of e e a h e a wa s a ma nly roo Worc st r C t dr l d g e d . T H E N AFTER CO QUEST. 6 r

' ’ r ‘ f t ous fires, which occurred S o requently among of buildings which consisted chiefly wood . In the of w n miseries the civil war , hich ensued o the death

I . f of Henry , few parts o the kingdom suffered more

n . As tha this usual , the Welsh took advantage f T h of the con usion to renew their ravages . e city of was for S Worcester , generally, tephen , through of habitual j ealousy Gloucester, which sided with

of - Maude through the influence her half brother, of Robert, the good earl Gloucester. Ecclesiasti n cally, this and the eighbouring dioceses were dis tracted between the conflicting claim s on their a lle gi S ance . tephen owed his powers mainly to the clergy and to the Pope ; but he failed to fu lfil their e xpe c i n hi m m t a t o s of m . Bishop S i on kept hi self neutral in the fray. His clergy j oined with the citizens in 1 welcoming S tephen with open arms in 1 0 3 9 ; and yet m ’ the cathedral was spared, when the E press s m victorious troops , arching from Gloucester, sacked ’ f 9 the city, although Oswald s relics (Wul stan was not yet in such repute) had been carried in solem n pro A cession to avert the danger . gain, when the ’ of Pope s legate , the proud Bishop Winchester, acting of f mm through the Bishop Here ord , exco unicated the f Constable o Gloucester, Earl Milo , for supporting on of Maude , and laid an interdict the diocese of Worcester, the Bishop Worcester was appealed to, r of and sureties were given to him , Gilbe t, abbat

1 i ff the a h e h e a e a r a s h s e r e a . S t p n g v ing , o ing in c t dr l d a wa s r e e him r a for a n e a e t N e xt y it stor d to , p ob bly quiv l n in m one y . 11 ’ ra e e a a t Wu lfst a n s m a A. D . 123 0 . Mi cl s b g n to b bout 6 2 WORCESTER .

of Gloucester, afterwards bishop Hereford, the abbat

o f Lla nt on . o f T ewkesbury, and the prior the new y T h e bishops em erged all the stronger from this m ff m anarchy . In ti e their e orts to ediate were suc

c ssfu l . e in placing the young prince, Henry II , on the h a h throne after t e d e t of S tephen . Even during the ‘ of horrors the civil war the work of the Church , as it m u . was nderstood in those days , was aking progress I n the very com m encem ent of the strife Bishop S imon of Lla nt on consecrated the priory y, near Gloucester, an offshoot from the Welsh m onastery of that n am e . f A ’ Near the close o it he consecrated S t . ugustine s

Monastery a t Bristol . Under his episcopate the

- interior of the chapter house was rebuilt, and two f western bays were added to the nave o the cathedral . o f He consolidated the estates the see . During his a f episcopate he consecrated five bba t s. He ound m m A T ti e, a lso , to acco pany rchbishop heobald to m m — Rome , and to re odel , once ore , the ever changing of f f constitution Westbury a ter the monastic ashion .

64 WOR CESTER .

o f mass , but he quietly proceeded to the end the him service, undisturbed by the panic around . He f showed, perhaps, even more resolution in re using, in spite of a strong pressure from persons in high on of position, to lay hands a candidate for the office fi rm bishop whom he believed unworthy . He was in his adherence to Becket through the long con An ol t rove rsy between Becket and the king . d writer sums up his praises of Bishop Roger by e saying that in him the rose , the lily, and the viol t were combined . He made it a rule never to bestow patronage on his relatives , quoting a saying of “ A . m e iS C O is lexander III against nepotis , Dominus p p ” a b st u lit fi lios diabolus dedit nepotes . of Bishop Roger, though an avowed partisan ’ 1 1 1 Becket , retained the king s favour . In 7 he was m ’ m sent by Henry to Ro e , to express the king s re orse ’ 1 8 for Becket s murder, and again in 1 7 . He died T at ours , in the year following, during his j ourney h m . T e ho e quarrel between Henry II . and Becket was part of the great struggle in England at this tim e of f o f first, law against the brute orce the barons ; next , of law against the pretension of the clergy to exem pt them selves from the law of the land and to shelter m m the selves under the Ro an supremacy . Law m n ot triu phed in . the end, but without a stubborn contest . T he clergy generally were fa r from being what T h e the ministers o f Christ should be . lawless ’ ness of S tephen s reign had done its dem oralising

on m . T work the , as well as on the laity here is a curious instance of the laxity of discipline in D T H E P LAN T AGE N E ’I ‘ UN ER S . 6 5

’ a litigation , otherwise insignificant , during Roger s

O se n e episcopate, between Worcester Priory and y, m Bibe r near Oxford , about a s all place, called y (Bri

. d beria), in Gloucestershire It was finally ecided , of m of by the arbitration Bartholo ew Exeter, that the Bishop of Worcester should appoint a canon

o f n r there not under twenty years age , o of ill 1 repute . Foreign ecclesiastics swarmed over the T he kingdom like locusts . regular and the secular A clergy were continually at variance . dispute arose m S t . T h about the church of Cle ent, Worcester. e

- n n on church , an Old E glish buildi g, stood the English of S side the evern ; the parish lay on the Welsh . ’ T he priory of Worcester and the priest of All S aints m clai ed jurisdiction . Bishop Roger gave sentence in of m the crypt the cathedral for the onks , and in their w suit ith Osbert Fitzhugh . of One those disputes , which were too frequent A in the Middle ges , arose between Roger and the abbat of Westm inster about the election of a prior h f r n . T e o Great Malver Both claim ed j urisdiction .

m m . question was settled , as usual , by a co pro ise m m t ’ A S . bout the sa e ti e Mary s Church , Westwood , was appropriated by the Norman landowner to the

of Fon t e vra u d m for m Be ne o abbey , Nor andy, a s all A e . di tine nunnery nother Worcestershire baron , the 2 o f C lu nia c lord Dudley Castle , founded a g priory

A - f there . long standing eud between the abbey of

1 ‘ Vi int i a nnoru m ne c a. fa m ia l a b ora nte m g , public in 1 nia h e a e re m e h T he C l u g c ous s in Engl nd w ostly Fr nc . r e T his priory wa s a c e ll unde W nlock . F 6 6 WORCESTER .

Evesham and the Beauchamps , whose baronial castle , ’ U rse s like at Worcester, stood in dangerous vicinity t o m the town , ended about this ti e in the fortress m being de olished . King John founded a Fremon 1 st ra t e n sia n m - for onastery at Hales Owen , canons A f . A rom Welbeck bbey lexander de Hales , the “ ” f m m irre fra a bilis a ous school an , the doctor g , was of a native Hayles , in Gloucestershire, but studied at

H e 1 2 6 . Paris . died 4 Bishop Roger was alm ost of royal extraction ; him f Baldwin, who succeeded , began li e as a poor schoolmaster ; but having j oined the Cistercians , a 2 strict order of reformed Benedictines , who were f m or ing colonies in England from Citeaux, the of of birthplace the society, he rose to be abbat of Ford , in Devonshire , before being bishop Wor

ce ste r. Baldwin was a thorough Cistercian , slender in figure , sparing in diet and conversation , patient . studious , and modest . Once , by his e piscopal inter ve n tion f , he saved the li e of a knight , who for some infraction of the law was being led to the gallows on S a unday . Within a few years he became archbishop ira ldu s a mbr n of Canterbury. In company with G C e

’ sis he went about zealously preaching the Crusades , f w and, having ollo ed Richard to Palestine , died at A 1 1 T h 0 s . e cre , in 9 , during the iege Crusades, and f o f the other oreign wars , in which the fiery spirit

e - - Co ur de Lion delighted , were a heavy tax to this

1 T h a e re a n r e r of re a r a e Pre m onstra te nsi ns w o d gul c nons . T h e a y n e ve r be ca m e n u m e rous in Eng l nd . 9 T he f a e e a r a Ciste rcia n ound tions w r popul in Eng l nd . N D T H E N N U ER PLA TAGE ETS . 6 7

’

. f o S t . diocese as to others In the Chronicle Peter s ,

Gloucester, a story occurs about this date , illustrating the superstitious aversion to the Jews , which in those days , as in our own , often found vent in atrocious T he cruelties . Jews at Gloucester were accused o f o f stealing and torturing a Christian boy that city . of m Part Worcester city at this ti e, like the Ghetto m at Ro e, was set apart for the Jews as aliens and outcasts . T he disastrous and ignominious reign o f John was less detrimental to this than to other dioceses . John was partial to Worcester. He visited the cathedral repeatedly during his short and troublous reign . He him gave liberally (for ) to the priory, especially in 1 2 0 7 , when he bestowed a hundred marks for the f Cloisters and o fices of the cathedral, which had been f f e w . much inj ured by fire a years be ore Here , in one o f of the last years his reign , he held a conference with R u nn ime d e the barons, which paved the way for and the Great Charter . In this cathedral he was buried , ’ o n by his express desire , with a monk s cowl his o f head, between the graves the sainted Oswald and f if of m Wul stan , as in the hope gaining ad ission into paradise through a vicarious sanctity . John had himself been conspicuous in setting an e xample o f devotion to the shrine of the latter, who had been

. o canonised very recently Possibly, as the lord f

Bristol Castle, John was in the habit of looking to m Worcester Cathedral , his other church , with a special reverence . But in a time of such disorder the diocese could

ff . not but su er with England generally Mauger, F 2 6 8 WORCESTER . bishop here during the greater part of this unhappy

I . reign , had been physician to Richard , and could not be well disposed t o one who had proved himself so treacherous a brother to that prince ; nor, having been m m . s hi self promoted by Innocent III , could he y wa s pa thise with John against that pontiff. Mauger one of the bishops who excommunicated John at ’ m the Pope s bidding , and laid the kingdo under 1 T an interdict . his done, he fled to France, and died there in the Cistercian abbey of Pontigny , the refuge of Becket . John had a perverse and inveterate habit of estranging even those who were m n m is willing to take his part . When by his a y o f doings he had exhausted the patience his subj ects , of him the the city Worcester turned against , and priory was plundered in the confusion . 1 1 Mauger was consecrated at Rome, 99 , by the m f hands of the Pope hi sel , who had been so favourably impressed by him as to overlook the m w illegiti acy, which would other ise have been an m m T he i mpedi ent to his prefer ent. bishops who pre him f of m ceded , a ter Roger, were slight i portance , o n e and followed another with such rapidity, as to suggest that m e n of very advanced age were pre f for of erred the sake the fees , thus renewed more ha l r h a ll f . ort e N o t requently William N , or , was 1 186 m m a s consecrated , at the sa e ti e and place in m . A a rose the fa ous S t . Hugh , of Lincoln dispute 1 1 of 9 1 about the consecration Robert Fitz Ralph ,

1 a te r h e e a ha e e e Da yle sford Mon s y, in t is dioc s , is s id to v b n e e m x pt . D T H E P LAN T AGE N E 'I ‘ UN ER S . 6 9 the bishops of London and Rochester each claim ing him the right of consecrating , in the absence o f

: m the archbishop appeal was ade to the Pope, who set aside the claim s of both prelates and appointed wn f T h o o . his legate, the Bishop Ely e Pope

1 1 appears to have interfered again , 93 , in the of S of election Henry de oilli , abbat Glastonbury, in f order that a bishop , whom he avoured , might be m ade abbat of Glastonbury . m a Bishop Mauger, like ost medi eval bishops , had trouble with his m onks . T he Chronicle o f Evesham records a long litigation between the abbey m AS and the bishop at this ti e . visitor, and as con se cra tor n e w —he of each abbat , Mauger is styled “ — n Cardinal in the Chronicle claimed jurisdictio , of through the prior Worcester, his deputy, over the churches in the vale of Evesham which were under “ ” c of de ca nu s C hristia nita tis a lean their own , , appointed by the abbot . Innocent I II . , his sympathy

v di ided between the monks , the hereditary satellites of m ro Ro e , and the bishop , his personal friend, p cra stina te d m and te porised , the interdict supplying him a g ood excuse for deferring judgm ent . Mean t im e the dispute was com plicated by another distinct T h e m o f m in 1 1 question . onks Evesha 95 rebelled o m a n u n against the abbat, Roger Norr ys , a utterly T m o f . worthy his sacred office heir co plaints , how f n f r fli a c o o o . ever, were rather his severity tha his p g y

wa s . Mauger , probably, not sorry to interpose He m A f m supported the onks . ppeal ollowed to Ro e . T or here , for one cause another, the inquiry was m 1 2 1 rr . N o e s wa s stifled, at least for a ti e In 3 y 7 0 WORCESTER .

R a n du lf of deposed by the legate . , prior Worcester , m was elected abbat of Evesha . He had already m o f been chosen by the onks bishop Worcester, b u t had declined that office in favour of Walter

Gray .

T h e priory of Worcester was gaining ground steadily. T h e monks took advantage of the royal funeral in

1 2 1 6 a nd , of the influence of the legate with Earl m a o f Pe broke, the guardi n the youthful king, to reclaim

the ground , close to the cathedral, which Urse had taken by force and had m ade part of the enclosure of T o —it . v his castle hey c ntri ed —was no mean feat of engineering skill for those days to bring water from f m ’ S t . Henwick Hill , ro John s Green , and from S beyond idbury, to their lavatory adjoining the 1 R a n u lf d . cloister . Prior built a grange at Broadway

T he eastern transept of the cathedral was built . T h T he monks were about fifty at this tim e . e prior ’ acted in the bishop s place, as regarded matters

not requiring the episcopal ordination , during the n vacancies, which were so frequent and so prolo ged between the end of one episcopate and the appoint m ent of a successor. In this century (and again in the fifteenth) several of the great abbeys of this see were enriched by m s revenues diverted fro Welsh churche . A yearly payment oL a bou t thi rty shillings was made out of the royal revenues by the high sheriff to

1 Dispute s we re fre que nt be twe e n the city a nd the m onks a D th e a r th bout th e supply o f wa te r. uring civil w s in e se v e nte e nth c e ntury som e of th e pip e s we re torn up a nd ca st for e bull ts .

2 W 7 ORCESTER .

t . S M S t . in honour of ary , Peter, and two local saints, O swald and Wulfstan . It was a grand cere At mony, the king himself being present . the same tim e the relics of Wulfstan were moved with m uch pomp. WORCESTER . 7 3

CHAPT ER VII .

T H E BARON IAL B ISHOPS .

WILLIAM O F BLOIS was on e of the many foreign ecclesiastics obtruded into English sees during the 1 long reign of Henry III . , the king, unhappily, lending his aid to the efforts of Rome to de T h n ationalise the Church in England . e encroach ments and exactions of Rom e set people against religion ; an irreligious spirit was widely prevalent . I 1 2 2 A m m n 5 , rchbishop Langton su oned the clergy, a bb a t s archdeacons, rural deans , , unless specially excused from attendance , priors , and proctors from churches cathedral, prebendal , monastic, and col le ia te g , to deliberate on the reply to be made to ’ the Pope s demands . T h e monks o f Worcester were forced by the m legate , uch against their will , to choose William D 1 2 8 f f A. . 1 . o Blois , But he proved himsel an able and energetic bishop notwithstanding the evil augury of his appointm ent . In the very next year he called together a diocesan synod , and again ten years m of later . In the for er synod the abbat Evesham urged his claim to wear a mitre , and to sit next the bishop ; and a dispute between the bishop and the

1 H r I I I . e e e a r wa s r w e e n y , th n only nin y s old , c o n d in ’

r 12 6 . S t . e e r e e A. D . 1 P t s , Glouc st , 7 4 WORCESTER .

f t ’ priory o Worcester about S . Helen s parish was set l m u t e d a icably by arbitration . In the latter some usef l regulations were passed to enforce discipline in the T h l d . e o d iocese dispute , which troubled the epis

o f m f u f copate Roger ore than hal a cent ry be ore this , a bout Great Malvern Priory, revived between William

n A of Blois a d the abbat of Westminster . t last the bishop carried his point . T he conclusion of the strife was celebrated by a grand banquet, at which he was n on prese t , in Great Malvern Priory, Whitsunday, 2 A A D . 1 2 . . 3 nother litigation arose about this time , between the bishop an d his own monks at Worcester. A ’ fter deposing, with the Pope s consent , the prior for m isconduct , the bishop proceeded , as visitor, n m m f m to appoi t Willia Nor an , ro Great Malvern h d . T e m n Priory, in his stea o ks refused to receive him . l a d A Eventual y it was gree , the rchbishop of r Cante bury with others acting as arbitrators , that for the future the bishop should select for prior on e of m m m S m seven na es sub itted to him by the onks . o e pecuniary com pensation for his disappointment wa s m awarded to William Nor an . It was agreed also ’ that the offerings of the pilgrim s at Wu lfsta n s shrine should be shared equally by the bishop and the priory that the bishop should always give due notice o f his visitation ; - and that he should com e without m attendants , whenever he ca e to visit the priory m or m spiritually , though he ight bring one ore secretaries if visiting the priory about temporalities only .

1 2 2 m Wor In 5 , a grand tourna ent took place in ce st r e . T he bishop excommunicated all who were T H E N BARO IAL BISHOPS . 7 5

I n I any way concerned t . He was active in im m f proving his cathedral . He ade a new west ront , looki n g over the S evern ; he built the charnel 1 ’ ' ca m a r za ca ella ca m a r zze house ( , p ) near the north T h ll porch it was endowed by his successor . e be s m were recast . Henry I II . kept Christ as here

1 2 2 ‘ 1 2 m 3 , and Whitsunday 3 4 he confir ed the grant by which the Earl of Pembroke had restored to of the priory the land, close under the south wall the m m cathedral , which Urse had wrested fro it . Willia of Blois died in his episcopal m anor- house at Alve

A D 1 2 6 church , . . 3 . Walter de C a ntilu pe was an alm ost ideal representa of m tive the great feudal prelates of his ti e . He was i of noble origin . He was consecrated by the Pope h m 1 2 self in 3 7 , having been ordained deacon and priest in one day and he was enthroned with m uch cere

of n mony in the presence the youthful ki g and queen , A o f the papal legate , the rchbishop Canterbury, and

n a large co course . Very soon an occasion presented itself to test the courage and resolution which distin T h m m u ishe him . e g d Pope co issioned his legate, m for Otho , to deprive any of the clergy , ostensibly x la ity and supineness , perhaps with a view to

make profit ou t of the vacant b e n e fi ce s. A synod ’

S t . was held in Paul s , London , and the new bishop, m identifying hi self at once with his diocese, stood forward as the cham pion o f the clergy against the m Pope . With the same boldness , so e twenty years of later , he seconded Fulk , bishop London , in

1 - Bishop C a ntil u pe a dde d to it a p r ison house for p e r sons “ ” r cl a iming th e be n e fit of cl e gy . 7 6 WORCESTER .

i m of R u sta nd resisting the extort onate de ands , the m ou t of legate , who tried to wring something ore the English people, already groaning under a heavy burden of taxation . 1 2 8 In 3 , a dispute between the bishops of Worcester and Coventry about Dudley was settled by the Pope deciding that the town and churches o f Dudley were o f under the Bishop Worcester, the castle and monas

t r of . 1 2 e y under the Bishop Coventry In 3 9, Canti ’ - r e S t . lupe consecrated Peter s , Gloucester, which had been seriously damaged by more than one fire in the re tim e of his predecessor . I n the same year he consecrated four more of the great conventual churches T in his diocese, Pershore , ewkesbury, Winchcombe ,

1 2 0 Great Malvern . In 4 he presided over a diocesan mn synod in Worcester, at which many regulations (

’ ' stzt u tzones d ) were ecreed to correct the irregularities , ff and o ences worse than irregularities , which were too m com on . C a n tilu pe was diligent and fearless in the a dminis t ra tion of his diocese, and, particularly, in what was m ’ the ost arduous part of a bishop s duties, the con trol of the monasteries . A dispute with the abbat o f m Westminster about Great Malvern Priory, very si ilar to the dispute about the same priory in the time of ’ C a nt ilu e s p predecessor, was decided in his favour

A . O . 1 2 1 of 4 , the abbat Winchcombe supporting the a ntilu m bishop against the prior. C pe had ore than ' S m a e S a lsa Ma r it za one conflict with Peter of alt arsh ( ) ,

-oh a grasping and oppressive baron, near Upton S T h m evern . e m onks of Evesha , asserting more and more loudly their independence as their abbey T H E N B BARO IAL ISHOPS . 7 7

increased in wealth and power, contended with

C a ntilu e Ae e lwi f n p as g g had contended with Wul sta , T h but with more success . e papal commissioners allowed the claim of the churches belonging to the m abbey, with one exception, to be exe pt from the ’ bishop s j urisdiction . In the fierce and prolonged struggle between Henry C a nt ilu e and the barons, p endeavoured at first to m d ediate . Fin ing his efforts fruitless, he espoused the cause o f S imon de Montfort with the same ardour with which he had com bated the pretensions of the

. S Pope imon , with the king, his prisoner, lodged in ’ m n - Ke mse f the bishop s a or house at y, just be ore the m T h e m battle of Evesha . bishop hi self was pre sent A n in the camp of the barons , near the bank of the vo , on a n the eve before the fight, inciting and encour gi g A the soldiers with promises of heaven . fter the battle the funeral obsequies of the fallen leader of the barons were perform ed by the m onks in their abbey m m church with uch sole nity . Worcester had been sacked in 1 2 63 by the baronial troops ; but the e d of for cath dral was spare , out respect probably the A m t bishop . bout this ti e he began to streng hen the V fortifications at Hartlebury, probably with a iew to e xcom m the contingencies o f civil war . He was u ni ca te d by the Pope for his share in the resistance to

Henry , but was absolved Shortly . While the bishop of was under the ban , the prior Worcester, for the

m . C a ntilu first ti e , was summoned to parliament pe

- died in his manor house at Blockley, and was interred ffi in Worcester Cathedral . His e gy in the floor of

- the north eastern transept marks the spot. 7 8 WORCESTER .

’ Bishop C a n tilu pe s lot was cast in a time of civil

m m f - co otion , ri e with the wide spreading deterioration , which is the almost inevitable result of a feeble government and a disaffected people . Gregory IX . made things worse by prom ising English be n e fi ce s to m w him the Ro an nobles , if they ould abet against m s m m the e peror . But there were o e hopeful sy ptoms , broken rays of light am id the gloom . S everal chari in table foundations Worcester belong to this period . ’ S t f in . Oswald s Hospital was ounded , in the first for f stance monks of Worcester a flicted with leprosy, occasioned probably by the want o f proper ablutions t ’ S . on their part . Oswald s was attached to the m ” 1 priory, and subsequently became a co mandery fo r m e n m five poor , two poor wo en , a master and

- chaplain , all wearing a quasi ecclesiastical dress . Another hospital belonging to the priory was founded at Dodderhill , near Droitwich . An old conventual foundation at Whit st a ne o r m Wistan , north of Worcester, was re odelled into m a s all Benedictine nunnery, known popularly as “ ” 2 T he White Ladies . Cistercians were planted at 1 2 T h 6 . e Hayles, Gloucestershire , in 4 Franciscans, f m Grey or Minor friars , ormed a s all colony in S t . ’ f Helen s parish , and another, under the auspices o

‘ o f o f Wor Beauchamp, earl Warwick , in the east 3 h m ce ste r . T e Beaucha ps of Powick planted the m r Do inicans, black or preaching friars, in the no th

T he h m a r n a e m e a m e e word as no ilit y sig ific nc , but ns r ly ” e a m a e r und r st . h ff e fr m A Bis op Gi a r d e ndow d it o ston Episcopi . 1 Fr ia r S tre e t still re ta ins the ir n a m e .

8 0 W ORCESTER . whose feudal magnificence presents a startling con m of trast to the si plicity the apostolic Church , and whose luxurious pom p paved the way for the r e of n forms the sixteenth century . He belo ged to 1 m a noble family, which had clai ed kindred in days past with royalty, but had latterly lost position . He n was m u n ifi ce t in building . He adorned the choir o f the cathedral with the slender colum ns which m f form on e of its ost grace ul characteristics . He ’ completed C a n tilu pe s work in fortifying Hartle bury Castle, and rebuilt the church there . He m built, besides , magnificent ansions at Wick and Ke m se own y, and in his cathedral city, though he preferred Alvechurch as a residence . He took part in paving the streets of Worcester. When he travelled on n or m m visitatio s , to confir , or to ad inister j ustice, o f he rode, escorted by a retinue at least a hundred on horsemen, a grievous tax the monasteries , who im T h ordinarily had to entertain h . e same passion for display, reaching beyond this life, prompted the m directions which he gave for his inter ent. In his m a of lifeti e, like the medi eval bishop the poet, he ordered a costly tomb to be erected close beside ’ m S t . m for Oswald s , and, to ake roo this , he dis m of o f f placed the to b one his predecessors , John o A Winche lse Coutances . rchbishop y, however, inter posed, because the new tomb straightened the choir, — ff ’ and left no room for the mass priests . Gi ard s m b e to b was placed lower down . By his will he

1 H is a rm e e a e a s th e a m of the s e oria l be a rings w r dopt d r s e . A e ( pp ndix C . ) T H E I O BARON IAL B SH PS . 8 1

u e a th e d his q mitre, his vestments , and a gold cup to the cathedral . A large expenditure like this necessitated large of m u lc in exactions . Bishop Giffard was in the habit t g f of enders heavily in his courts , until forbidden by

A T he - f f rchbishop Peckham , thirty our years o his episcopate are a long record of almost incessant A litigation . quarrelsome and haughty spirit in volved him in disputes with alm ost every one whom An he had to do with . extraordinary force o f will f carried him through many harassing suits , o ten to m o f a triu phant issue, in spite weakly health and in the face of almost overwhelm ing influences arrayed against him . T he bishop cam e into collision with a will as

n . unbending as his ow . Edward I claimed the movable goods of Worcester Priory during the ' ifla rd m vacancy of the see . G pro ptly placed the ’ priory and the cathedral u n der the Pope s tutelage for r T he O swa ldslo se cu it v. old feud revived about w n o f a d the peculiar privileges the bishop there . He fought the question ou t u n flin chingly with the powerful fam ily o f the Beaucham ps . He contended — with the king both were fond of field sports m about the hunting in Feckenha Forest , and with ’ “ - in - the king s son law, Gilbert de Clare , the Red ” f Earl o Gloucester, about the hunting in Malvern A Chase . He quarrelled with rchbishop Peckham , resenting his visitation as inquisitorial , and as an own f intrusion on his prerogatives but , a ter a time , T he they were reconciled . monks of Worcester were generally more amenable than the outlying monas G 8 W 2 ORCESTER .

’ t e rie s to their bishop s control , their interests being 1 f m ore identified with his . But Gi fard had several f m o . T m trials strength with the hey co plain ed , not o n unreasonably, that he was squandering his m - anor houses and on his retainers , what belonged

‘ rightly to the m ; tha t he sold their lands to pay his own debts ; and that he gave away their best livings as prebends at We stbu ry to his own personal T he favourites . bishop retorted , that the prior had interfered with his archdeacon in the discharge of his duties ; and that the m onks were guilty of dis m T he respect to hi self, their visitor . bishop did his

u best to stir p discord in the priory, setting the sacristan against the prior. He also invoked the ’ T he archbishop s aid . quarrel was finally settled by the priory paying a considerable sum to the on of m bishop, condition his pro ising to abide by the compact m ade between the priory and Bishop

William of Blois . ’ Bishop Giffard s struggle with the abbot o f West m o f m a n inster, Richard Ware , a as unyielding, as o f if n ot f arrogant, as tenacious power, as ertile in

m f m 1 2 1 2 8 expedients , as hi self, lasted ro 7 9 to 3 , and was n ot really brought to a conclusion then . of o f William Ledbury, prior Great Malvern , had ' n ot h been deposed, without cause, y the bishop

of a d - in his capacity visitor, n the sub prior had been T h . e appointed in his place abbat of Westminster ,

1 ’ D h e rre m a f e r ffa r e a th e r o f uring t e int gnu , t Gi d s d th, prio r a visita tion of he r m a e r e th e e e Wo ce ste r m de a ot on st i s in dioc s , I n 1 r a m a a a h b u e . t e t w a s not a dmitt d 395 , du ing si il r v c ncy, his e e a - e ra prior p r ove d a will in Bristol by s qu str tor g n e l . T H E N BARO IAL BI SHOPS . 8 3 claiming exe mption from episcopal control for Great m Malvern Priory, a dependency of West inster, as subj ect to Rome only , took up the cause of the

- ejected prior, and detained in custody the sub prior, who had im prudently com e to him with a few other monks as a deputation from the priory . It would m o f be i possible, within the limits this volume , to narrate in detail all the vicissitudes of the contro T h ve rs . e t wa s y abba strong in the support , secret f h o m . T rather than avowed , Ro e e bishop did his ’ utm ost to underm ine his opponents hopes of papal m intervention through his own proctors at Ro e, and pa rtiizu la rly through the good Offices of Hugh of m Evesha , who was at once archdeacon in this on e 1 T he m diocese and of the cardinals . bishop ade of m use the rivalry, never dor ant , between the great of o f abbeys , and the traditionary grudge the Wor ce ste rshire and Gloucestershire foundations against the favoured abbey, for whose sake they had been a bba t s of despoiled in days gone by, to rouse the

Pershore and T ewkesbury against Westm inster. He m f m e xc om had recourse to the custo ary ul inations , m u n ica tin of o f g William Ledbury , with those the m Malvern onks who sided with him , and all who

him wa y abetted in any , and , finally, placing the priory with all its possessions under an interdict , r and sequestrating the revenues . S till the abbat e m m d m mained i ovable , efying, with silent conte pt , the citations which were sent to him to appear before T h his the bishop . e king was too busy with Welsh

1 a a f h a a nd a e th e fa r of H e w s skil ul p ysici n , g in d vou

a r I V e r fo r him e f . M tin . by pr sc ibing succ ss ully G Z 84 WORCESTER .

schemes to attend to a quarrel between Worcester T h a n . e d Westminster archbishop, though disposed to take the part of one of his provincials against the w o f m A over eening pretensions West inster bbey , was powerless to end the strife without the Pope ’s inter T he r position . neighbouring ba ons were annoyed by the practical inconvenience of the traffic with the priory and its granges being suspended , but, beyond f A m o . t this , were erely spectators the fray last it n d o f was arra ge , chiefly through the arbitration the ’ king s chancellor, the Bishop of Bath and Wells , that the bishop should release the priory, but not the churches belonging to it, from his jurisdiction , n m of for receivi g the anor Knightwick the see . Within a very fe w years the abbat complained to ’ Rom e that the bishop s part of the compact had

not . S been fulfilled ome thirty years afterwards, o f in the episcopate Walter Maidstone , Powick Church was assigned to Great Malvern Priory as com pensation . T h e uneasy tem per of the bishop communica ted 1 2 2 itself to the diocese . In 9 , there was fighting f in the cathedral itsel between two rival processions .

Blood was shed, and the cathedral had to be ” reconciled, that is , cleansed with solemn cere m A onies from the stain o f blood . ridicul ous dispute a f t rose between the rector o S . Nicholas and the scholars of Worcester about tapers . Disputes were w f frequent in Worcester bet een the monks and riars . T he n e w m monks were jealous of these co ers , who w m ere fast ingratiating the selves with the citizens . T h e sacristan of the priory rescued by force from T H E N BARO IAL BI SHOPS . 5

f of h the riars the corpse a citizen , as they were e a ring A it to their place of burial . very unseemly riot A m ensued . rchbishop Peckha , who was himself a ’ n Francisca , being appealed to, in the bishop s a h f r f T h o . e sence, gave his verdict the riars corpse was exhumed and restored to them . It shows the growing popularity of the friars , that William de m on e of f Beaucha p , a amily which had done much for f f the monasteries , le t instructions in his will or T his body to be buried by the friars . hey bore the

in corpse through the streets , as if to display their fl u n c ff f m e e . Bishop Gi ard himsel beca e a Franciscan .

n f m . Pope Nicholas IV. was o e o the f m m ff During his absence ro ho e, Gi ard left his I n of diocese the care his brother Walter, archbishop

f . . f l o York He died o a lingering and painfu illness . m Edward I . was often at Worcester, al ost year by ’ Wu lfsta n s or year . He resorted often to shrine , f ’ the saint s intercession in favour of his m ilitary enter one a n he prises . On occ sion , before invadi g France, A f sent his chaplain with o fl e rings to the shrine . e w years before his death he was rowed down th e W ’ S t . u lfsta n s S e vern to K e m se y with his queen .

f or f A. D. 1 2 Hospital was ounded, re ounded , 94 , in “ m ” m m . S idbury, under a aster, or co ander Hugh

1 0 0 le Despenser held a court here in 3 . A chantry ’

f S t . A. D . 1 2 88 was ounded in Helen s parish , , T h e f f one of the earliest here . beauti ul church o T em ple Balsall was built by the Knights T emplar (it was on e of their preceptories) shortly before the 1 0 h suppression of the order in England in 3 8 . T e priory gained by the confisca tion of the estates of 8 6 WORCESTER .

T h f m T . e o the emplars Jews , many who had w n o settled in Worcester, and ere by means in o f good odour there because their usuries , were ’ expelled from England during Giffard s episcopate . T he last of the Crusades coincided nearly with his ” “ h “ x t i r . T e ta a o o consecration , valor eccle ” sia sticu s m , of Pope Nicholas IV was ade in his time .

8 8 WORCESTER .

“ h im . A fe w made again by , as if for the first time years afterwards he was translated to Canterbury by for a papal bull, to make way at Worcester Walter ’ wh o Maidstone, had been the king s agent at Rome , who in and , that capacity had secured the promise of T m con s the see by provision . ho as Cobham was e crated at Avignon after a good deal of intriguing on

. A the part o f the papal court dam Orleton , already o f f A bishop Here ord , being at vignon when Cobham m a l died, contrived to get pro otion to Worcester, though Wu lsta n Bransford had been elected by the T monks and approved by the king. homas Hemen f hale, a ter being prevented from accepting the see of

Norwich by Benedict XII . , who had promised it to T he another, was consoled with Worcester. election W of f by the orcester monks their prior, John o m . of Evesha , was set aside by Clement VI in favour 1 ’ T o f S t . . John horesby, bishop David s Reginald

Brian , John Barnet, and Henry Wakefield all owed m their appoint ent to provisory bulls . It scarcely breaks the long catalogue of papal nominees , that nlst a n f m of f W Brans ord and Willia Lynn , the orm er after being twice elected by the monks , became bishops o f Worcester without any apparent interference from or A 2 Rome vignon ; both were in extreme old age . Probably it was n ot considered worth while to disturb of O an election which , in the nature things , could nly

1 T h r a \Va r wick shire a me a nd r a Da h u sby is still n , p ob bly nis . 2 Bra nsford wa s e xcuse d a tte nding Pa rli a m e nt on t he sco re o f a a n d m a m of d e a n a old g e infir ity . Willi Lynn i d in po

’ le ctic a s h e wa s m u n his h r e a e fe w e a a f r p fit, o nti g o s , v ry y rs te h is e ra cons c tion . PAPAL USURPATION S . 8 9

be very temporary . A succession of fourteen bishops in a century allows only very few years to each episcopate . T his iniquitous plan of promising the reversion of preferm ent not yet vacant was very lucrative n ot at Rome , only in regard to bishoprics , but in be ne fi c e s regard to generally . It was a system atic corruption of the diocese . Men so appointed brought f f m a slur on their holy o fice ro the first. E ven the of m f if m best the ound it difficult, not i possible , to free themselves afterwards from the thraldom to m which they had subj ected the selves . Good Bishop “ ” Cobham , the honest clerk , a virtuous and learned 1 a man , was constr ined to send a costly gift to Rome as an apology for n ot having prom oted in

- the diocese the men , whom the cardinal deacon had recommended . T he frequent combination of civil and ecclesiastical offi ces in the same person was injurious to the 2 clergy a nd to the Church generally . Reynolds T and horesby were Chancellors , Barnet and Wake

' field were treasurers o f the kingdom . Others were too m uch i mplicated in political affairs to be able to give an undistracted attention to their m of diocese and to their spiritual duties . Willia Gainsborough went as am bassador to France about the e spousal of the Princess Isabel to the young

1 r a a t O f e r th e r e a H e found e d a lib ry x ord , ov old Cong g tion e H ous . “ 1 ff a a h e a e e I n his e piscopa te a su r g n bis op d dic t d ( L . h n N h e conse cra te d) churche s a t Church Le nc a d ort Piddl . 90 WORCESTER .

f . prince, a terwards Edward II , and is said to have been m poisoned at Beauvais as he was returning. Ada Orleton was accused o f com plicity in the conspiracy “ - of the she wolf o f France against her husband . 1 He was acquitted ; but such an accusation im plies

that he was busy in the politics o f the day . Brian and Bransford both enjoyed the confidence o f f m Edward III . Brans ord was a ong the first to be apprised by the king of his n aval victory over S m m the French near luys , and i ediately sent to his archdeacons to order thanksgivings throughout ' m an m the dioce se . Brian had a si ilar nounce ent from

the Black Prince of the victory of Poitiers . On o f o f the other hand , the list bishops Worcester in this century shows an appreciation o f the learning ff o f which is one of the requisite s for the o ice bishop . T hree at least o f the num ber were closely connected m with the universities . Cobha graduated in three faculties in three universities ; William of Gains borough had been a lecturer at Oxford ; William

Whittlesey , a learned canonist, had been master of m Peterhouse , Ca bridge . T he ecclesiastics of the day were striving am o ng “ ” m wh o the selves should be greatest. John of Eve o f sham , the haughty prior Worcester in the middle

1 T h e r a a r e h h e h e r a f rm a e or e a e o cul r ply, w ic is it fi tiv n g tiv , is a ttribute d t o him E dwa rdu m occid e re nolite tim e re b on u rn

e st . H e wa s ra a e fr m H e re f r r e e r a n d fr m t nsl t d o o d to Wo c st , o W r e e r t o he e r e a m th e r h o c st Winc st , b ing l ost fi st Englis h wh o wa t f s ra a e e . S m e r h m a r bis op nsl t d so o t n o y ing s ti ist, a fte r a m t he he h a T rinu s e ra Ada n ing ot r two bis ops , dds , t m ” a e m su s e nde re va da m t l p .

9 2 WORCESTER .

Cloisters, belfry, north porch , as well as two western to bays in the nave , were added the cathedral, and ’

u . S t . a south aisle with Cloisters to Peter s , Glo cester Bushley and many other churches were rebuilt or A S restored . stone bridge was thrown over the evern n at Worcester, and another bridge at Bra sford by

f . n . o Wu l sta III , a native that place But all these f external symptom s o prosperity were , like the hectic

m n m m o f tints of autu , the acco pani ent internal ” T h m n ot of w decay. e kingdo which is this orld was learning to vie with the perishable glory of the “ kingdom s of the world ; the faith which was to over ” com e the world was itself succumbing to the world ; of the fine gold the apostolic Church , soiled and m m w di ed by contact with the world, was overlaid ith

tinsel . A poet of this diocese describes the m iseries f m S m m o England at this ti e . o e allowance ust be made for the moody a nd saturnine temper of the m one wh o poet, and for the so bre associations of gained his livelihood by singing hym ns at fune “ ” . S i m rals till, the V sion of Piers Plow an is the

- o f . record an eye witness He was , apparently, a m clerk in inor orders , dwelling in London ; but his

heart was on the Malvern hills . As he stalked up S or f the trand Cornhill , with a grim scowl on his ace for m f the lords and ladies, onks and riars in the

crowd around him , he composed his uncouth but scathing invective against the vices and follies o f his

day . His rude verses becam e popular fa r and wide they expressed the thoughts and feelings of people generally . Probably John Langland did as much in PAPAL USURPATIONS . 93 o ne Wicliffe way as John in another, to prepare the m way for the Refor ation , by exposing the practical corruptions of the Church of Rome . A sim ilar picture of national profliga cy is painted by Chaucer, though not in such lurid colouring .

Chaucer is a gay and genial Epicurean , like Horace . B u t l he tells the same story as Lang and, in a livelier o f l tone, general carelessness about re igion he

f fe w pourtrays the waste ul extravagance of the , the squalid degradation of the many, the luxury of

Church dignitaries , with their huntings and hawkings , the ignorance of the clergy, the greediness and lazi m ness of monks and friars , the de oralising tendency of - the miracle plays , a mistaken pandering to a vulgar craving for sensational buffoonery . T his diocese suffered more than others in the pesti lences which ravaged England again and again during this century . Half the nation died , it is said , in the “ b ” m middle of the century of the lack death , an o inous

'

. a. im name Bristol , even then city of considerable

ff . 1 2 1 portance , su ered especially In 34 and 3 4 9 an extraordinary num ber o f persons died in Worcester. Bishop Bransford forbade interm ents in the cathe

- T he dral burying ground . dead were to be taken to ’ - the burying ground of S t . Oswald s Hospital . In m 1 3 5 0 Evesham Abbey was al ost depopulated . In o f A 1 3 6 1 Bishop Brian died the plague at lvechurch . f Fam ine trod on the heels o pestilence . T he diocese was reduced to great straits . Even the priory of m of Worcester, u sually so prosperous , had to co plain revenues much dim inished by heavy taxes for the f con flu x m m oreign wars, and by the of pilgri s de and 94 W ORCESTER .

m m for of ing hospitality fro the onks , till the bridge of Bransford was built , the bridge Worcester was the only bridge over the S evern between Bridgenorth and

Gloucester . It was a time o f gen eral disorganisation of m ilitary m o f . glory abroad, vice and lawlessness at ho e Even f f m f holy places were not sa e ro pro anation . Even the prescriptive rights of sanctuary were set at nought .

' I n 1 0 2 for n 3 , the city bailiffs did penance havi g 1 1 v iolated the sanctuary . In 3 49, the bailiffs again f forced their way into the precincts o the cathedral .

A : m of riot ensued the prior and so e the , monks 1 8 were handled roughly . In 3 4 , the Church was “ f 1 8 o . 6 reconciled because bloodshed there In 3 , the sam e lustration had to be perform ed in the church

- - o f S tratford on Avon . Happily the cathedral and the priory escaped serious inj ury when the city wa s ’ sacked in 14 0 1 by Owen Gle n dowe r s wild moun in r t a e e s . , and in the wars of the Roses A In the first year of the century, rchbishop Winch e l se y ordered an investigation into the lax f ’ o S t . . T h discipline Peter s , Gloucester e visitation

of m of fi articles Bishop Cobha , in his last year of ce , are a significant com ment on the state of the clergy O f T and their flocks . here are the usual queries m about pluralists, si ony, brawls in churches , sor ce re rs & c T , . here are questions such as these do any

1 T h e s a nctu a ry includ e d som e a djoining p a rts of th e city a s w e a s th e f th e a he ra T he r e e of ll pre cincts o c t d l . p ivil g s a a r e re a a r e h e e a nd e e m s nctu y w unusu lly l g r , w r confir e d by H e r I V n y .

9 6 WORCESTER .

superseding the monks and friars . Chantries and r of guilds sprang up in eve y part the diocese . Very f early in the century, a chantry was ounded by Guy o ne m Beauchamp , earl of Warwick , of a fa ily which in older days, had done much for the monasteries m a t El ley Castle , and another at Elmley Lovett .

S oon afterwards, Chantries were founded at Ripple m and Hartlebury later, by the Blounts at Ha pton ’ Lovett in S t . Helen s parish , and in other parishes m in Worcester and elsewhere . It was custo ary for all the guilds in Worcester to go in procession on o f m Corpus Christi Day to the church the Do inicans , and thence to the cathedral .

But forces , inimical to the existing order of w h d . T e things , were at ork in the iocese Lollards found shelter in Malvern Chase , and in other forests of the diocese ; and their tenets gained many proselytes in the granges o r manor- houses

. 1 8 A on the skirts of the woods In 3 4 , rchbishop Courtenay made a special visitation to this diocese f o . 1 8 because of the prevalence Lollardism In 3 7 , Bishop Wakefield issued a m andate against the

Lollards and their preachings . But these were only the first m utterings of the storm which was Wicliffe f gathering. When , in his peace ul parsonage w at Lutter orth , was quietly finishing his translation o f S o f Holy cripture into the language the people , of v o f when John Mal ern , sacristan Worcester, was n off o f setti g for the Council Constance , when Bishop — Wakefield was leaving directions in his will it is the — oldest will of a bishop of Worcester extant for his f body to be laid in ront of the pulpit in the cathedral , N PAPAL USURPATIO S . 9 7 little could they imagine the changes which God ’s providence was preparing for the diocese and the kingdom , which , without impairing her fidelity to the C r past were, to open to the Church of h ist in this land a new and glorious future . 8 9 WORCESTER .

A CH PT ER IX .

BEFORE T H E REFORMATIO N .

O N of a m a the decease Bishop W kefield, the ad inistr o f tion the diocese, according to custom , fell into 1 the hands of the prior of Worcester . In 3 95 is “ of the record a will proved before John Chewe , clerk , sequestrator for the prior of Worcester ” “ ” le sa va ra nte . T Cathedral, hey applied for a a nd f licence to elect, that licence was granted a ter ’ T f a year s delay . here is no record o an actual election . Walsingham says that they elected their own prior, John Green , and that the election was n T h f o afterwards an ulled . e election o their wn prior was probably rather for the formal assertion of their right , than with any serious expectation , h t at it would be allowed to stand . Neither the ’ king s licence , nor any proceedings which they may ff have taken on the receipt of it, had any e ect . I 1 T ide ma n n 3 95 , the Pope translated de Winch com b from the bishopric of Llandaff to the vacant T m a nte ce see . here is so e uncertainty about the f dents o the new bishop . It is said that he was a monk of the Cistercian or he had been a m mem ber of the abbey of near Winchco b , that he had been abbat of Beaulieu , that he had been physician to the king; that he had been a boon com

I O O WORCESTER .

fi shmon e r citizen and g , as a reward for his services , f m the keeping o the episcopal ansion , situate without T m the gate of the e ple , London , and, besides other him o f privileges , granting a piece ground, on which on to build a house , which he was to hold for life , con f dition o paying a rent of a pound of pepper yearly , repairing all the houses between the gate of the said S mansion and the avoy, and finding the bishop and his successors in herbs , during their residence in town . T he election of his successor brought to the front, m as usual, the contending clai s of the Pope and the h cathedral . T e royal licence was granted to the prior T “ and convent . heir choice (it is added , by way ff of inspiration , fell upon Richard de Cli ord, who o f r of was dean York, a chdeacon Canterbury and of in Middlesex, rector Hampton , the county of w War ick , and prebendary of Lincoln . He was also bishop elect of Bath and Wells .

It is not quite clear, in what position he stood f o . towards the see Bath and Wells It is said , that the king refused to give him the temporalities , because he had accepted the papal provision ’ without his sovereign s consent . His appointment to Worcester was probably intended as a com of promise, which the Pope availed himself with characteristic subtlety . He did not actually Oppose m of his no ination to the see Worcester, but trans him of lated from Bath and Wells, as his own of authority, without taking any notice either the o f of election by the convent, or the refusal the ff ’ king to admit him to the former diocese . Cli ord s T H E N BEFORE REFORMATIO . I O I connexion with this diocese was of the slightest m kind , chiefly consisting in the de and, which was m f granted, of a subsidy fro the clergy o the diocese “ ou t e m of twelvepence of ev ry ark , according to ” f the true value of their benefices . Clifford himsel was not present at the meetings of the clergy which were held at Worcester and Gloucester to grant this subsidy, as he had been sent by King Henry into Germany to treat about a purposed mar ria e of n m g between the son the Ki g of the Ro ans , ’ and Blanche , the king s eldest daughter. On his

1 0 return he was duly enthroned , February 4, 4 3 . A curious letter to the clergy of the diocese is ex his tant, in which he invites them to be present at enthronisation , and hopes that the ensuing banquet will atone by its abundance of good-will for the

f 1 0 ff - o . poorness the fare In 4 7 , Cli ord was trans lated to London . Neither the king n or the convent appear to have asserted their rights in the selection of a successor . T he h vacancy was filled , wit out delay, by the trans h u ll o f T m m lation , by a pa pal , ho as Peverell fro ff T h e Llanda . new prelate belonged to a good ff ’ f m S m . fa ily in u olk , and was a Car elite riar He was a courtly prelate , and in favour with the king , who had made him bishop of Ossory in Ireland , T before his translation to Llandaff. hough the king was content t o receive the appointm ent from the m n o t papal andate , he would put the new bishop in of m possession the te poralities , till he had solemnly renounced all expressions in the papal bull which T h might be prejudicial to the royal title . e words 1 0 2 WORCESTER .

of the instrument are an emphatic protest against

f n o f . papal inter ere ce , with the liberties England m e isco u s m e t sin u lis Ide p p , o nibus g verbis , nobis t n strae re u dicia libu s dictis e coronae o p j , in libris

u ll n n is m e t b a tis co t e t , cora nobis, palam expresse ” 1 re n u ntia vit . Probably the king was the m ore Willing to receive f Peverell , as he preserved riendly relations with the

1 0 8 court . In 4 , we find him receiving from the king a licence to cut down oak timber to the value of 2 0 0 m m arks in the forest of Feckenha , in order to repair ' - in 1 1 2 the manor houses belonging to the bishopric 4 , f as if in return for this avour, he lent the king the same su m in aid of the expenses incurred in asserting his rights in Aquitaine and other foreign parts “ alibi in ” t ra n sm a rin is pa rtibus , receiving, as security, such

- portion of the half tenths , granted by the clergy , as T he should arise in his own diocese . acts recorded of him are for the m ost part of the usual formal

character . ' But he had another and a sterner duty of the ffi f T h f episcopal o ce to per orm . e wave o Lollardism o f had swept over the diocese Worcester, and in 140 9 the bishop was forced to preside over a tribunal “ ” m ca rna rie asse bled in the chapel , or charnel the of T m house , for trial one ho as Badby, a tailor,

on a charge of Open and defiant heresy . He had m denied, so the charge ran, that any priest could ake of m or the body Christ sacra entally, that it was possible to conceive that ou r Lord at His Last S upper held

1 r A D 12 T his wa s don e re gul a rly f om . . 93 .

I 0 4 WORCESTER .

surrendering their charge , were ordered to pay into ’ the ki ng s exchequer forty marks . Little is recorded ’ on e of Morgan s episcopate . He was of the six bishops on the privy council during the minority of 1 2 Henry VI . , and, in 4 5 , was translated to Ely by the Pope .

T he successor of Morgan was a man of note . T S homas Polton had been prebendary of arum , during his tenure of which preferm ent he had assisted o f 1 1 8 at the Council Constance , in 4 , and then had been successively prom oted to the sees of Hereford f and Chichester, rom which last preferment the Pope translated him to Worcester. Of his work in the A . s diocese few records remain usual , he com m e nce d his episcopate with a demand for a subsidy f m ro the clergy, of a shilling in the pound, according f ” to the true value o their livings . He settled a dis pute between the warden of the college o f S tratford on -A n of o f vo , and the master the guild Holy Cross , m in the sa e town , by ordering that Holy Cross should m pay tithe to the collegiate church , and ake certain ff annual o erings in token o f subjection . By a somewhat complicated arrangement he a ppropriated the church of Olveston , in Gloucestershire , to the prior and con

of S t . S t . on vent Peter and Paul , in Bath , condition for that they should find a priest a chantry, founded by S ir Walter Hungerford, in the parochial church of f of m Hunger ord, at an annual stipend twelve arks, f S ir W and should , a ter the death of alter Hunger r ford , celebrate his anniversa y in the church of m n z o d . o Bath , and present to every onk the day of celebration . But he did not remain long in the O T H E BEF RE REFORMATION . 1 0 5 d 1 2 iocese . In 43 , he was sent, with the prior o f ’ m Norwich , as the king s a bassador to the Council o f m m Basle . Every care was taken to ake the e bassy m honourable . He received fro the clergy a subsidy f 2 m o d. in the pound , and a pro ise from the king of of 0 0 a yearly allowance 5 marks , if the council f lasted beyond a year. He received urgent letters o f sa eguard addressed not only to kings , princes , and o f f m dukes , but to all governors orts , cities , and ca ps , “ ” n and even to people , of every rank and conditio , w m in every country through hich he ight pass . He was allowed to carry out of the kingdom his silver of plate and j ewels, to the valu e a thousand m m for pounds , and received per ission to visit Ro e, a if year when the council was dissolved , or it was

m T he ro prorogued for ore than a year. latter p m e t vision , however, was not needed . Polton with an honourable reception at Basle, being escorted into the m in town by more than five hundred horse en, cluding representatives of the principal bishops and a r a bba t s. But in less than a ye he sickened and died m f and was buried at Basle . His itre was le t by his l will to Worcester Cathedra . of On the death Polton , the prior and convent T m B ou rchie r or B ou r chie r chose ho as de , g , dean f ’ o S t . Martin s , London, chancellor of the Uni f of o . versity Oxford, and a descendant Edward I II T here were two difficulties , however, to be sur u r hi r mounted before B o c e could be consecrated . He was not of the canonical age , and the Pope had T o f already appointed homas Brown , then dean m S alisbury. Probably the onks would have had to 1 0 6 WORCESTER .

give up their nomination , had it not been for the interference of the king , Henry VI . , in favour of his kinsman . He wrote to Brown and to the m m if Pope hi self, telling the plainly that, his royal will was not done in this matter, Brown should never hold any bishopric at all in England . In the end the Pope yielded ; Brown received the bishopric of B ou rchie r Rochester, and was appointed , by papal bull , to Worcester . His connexion with the diocese f was brie . He was elected to the bishopric of Ely m in the very next year, and the appoint ent was con m fir ed by the Pope . But, for some reason or other, At the king refused his consent . the next vacancy ,

1 however, in 443 , he was again elected, and the elec

f - tion received the royal consent . His a ter career, n though otable in English history, does not belong to this diocese the only act recorded o f him as bishop ’ S t Wu lfst a n s of Worcester is a visitation of . Hospital , m at which he ordered , that the aster should be in ' ’ b e priest s orders , that there should two chaplains, m with an allowance of four arks yearly, three yards f o f for m and a hal cloth a gown , a cha ber, and diet m ’ T at the aster s table . here were to be five poor ' t wo brethren and sisters in the house , with a weekly 1 allowance o f sevenpence ; the granting of all corrodies a n d was strictly forbidden , , in the absence of the m a aster, the ch plains were to have a weekly allowance o f Sixpence .

1 r e a a e o f m e a r a nd h Co rodi s we re llow nc s t, d ink , clot ing , which we re impose d upon conve nts for th e r e lie f o f old a nd e a e T he a m e a d c y d se rv a nts o f the ir found e rs . word orig in lly ns

a n a win to e t/zcr g g g .

I 0 8 WORCESTER .

1 6 m e ff war there . In 4 3 , the usual ter s w re o ered Du mvich to all subscribers to the hospital at , m ’ of S t . in the diocese Norwich , probably Ja es s A 1 1 th for . Hospital lepers curious entry, June , “ ’ 1 66 ff 4 , o ers a forty days indulgence , available m to all future ti es , to such as should devoutly ’ A S n say the Lord s Prayer and the ngelic alutatio ,

21a Ave r m of , Ma ia, at the ti e of the tolling the of great bell, called the bell Jesus Christ, hanging of T in the tower the monastery at ewkesbury , with a view to the good estate of Brother Robert w m Ne ent , al oner of that abbey, while he shall live , for d for and his soul , when he shall have eparted , and f ” T the souls of his parents and bene actors . his indulgence seems another instance of the special favour in which T ewkesbury Abbey was held by the m too bishops of Worcester at this ti e . Perhaps , , f ff Bishop Carpenter, rom his a ection to his native town of Westbury, devoted particular attention to the o f Gloucestershire side his diocese . T he bishop probably found it an easier task to f repair the decay into which the high roads had allen , through the drain of peasantry occasioned by the ’ king s war in France , than to make head against the spiritual decay which was creeping over his diocese . m f But to this task he set hi sel , with a strong hand T h f ff and a resolute will . e clergy convicted o o ences

ro fli a t e or against the law of celibacy, or of any p g “ t o f riotous living, were be sa ely conveyed to his a m p lace, there to be dealt with , doubtless , with ste T he rebuke and sharp punishment . prior and con f vent of Worcester, who had alienated rom the Church T H E O BEFORE REF RMATION . 1 0 9

T hrokm orton a part of the village of , with difficulty escaped a sentence of excomm unication through the of A h intercession the rchbis op of Canterbury. On further examination of the case , the bishop not only o f T m confirmed the acts the prior, but received ho as

' T hr km ort on in sti a tor o , who was probably the g of m him the business, into his favour, and even ade “ ” ffi . principal o cer over his castles , and manors It needed a strong hand and a wise head to of T h check the corruption the time . e signs appear plainly in his episcopate o f that dying ou t m of the life in the old for s , which made the T he Reformation necessary . country clergy were r m of etiring from their livings, either fro fear a or stricter discipline, from having lost faith in their T he of work . more noble and earnest the laity, n ffi of o the other hand, wearied of the ine ciency f irre v their Spiritual guides, and of ended at the e rence , which desecrated churches and burial grounds , f by habitually holding in them airs and markets , were on every side demanding the privilege of having divine worship in their own hom es . But it was ffi for di cult the bishops to sanction this , lest they should be unwillingly contributing to the spread of m Lollardis , or, even , countenancing Lollard assem r f i blies . In eve y direction the bishop ound d ffi cu lt ie s in his way, as much from the fervour of the a wakening earnestness of the one party as from the sloth and faithlessness of the other. Bishop Carpenter seems to have met the difficulty with great judgm ent a nd temper. He evidently per ce ive d that it was better to incur the risk of his I 0 I WORCESTER .

episcopal sanction being abused, than that the more earn est of the laity should be altogether alie nated from th e Church by the exercise of a discipline at once

t oo m r . m s ti id and too st ict In any ca es, he granted

wn licences for worship in private houses . His o m P lle sde n f auditor, Willia y , and Eleanor, his wi e , received a licence to have divine Offices in their

- o f so mansion house in the City Worcester, that no ” prej udice accrue to their own parish church . T he m m 1 sa e licence was granted, in the sa e year, 44 5 , T m f to ho as Lyttleton , and Johan , his wi e , and their m servants , the licence to re ain in force during the ’ f bishop s pleasure ; to Nicholas Poyntz and his wi e,

T . and their children also to homas Rouse, Esq , and “ his wife , to have divine service in their oratory m o f within their ansion Rouse Lench and, in “ ” 1 0 t 4 5 , to John Clopton , gen , of Clopton within the

- — f parish of S tratford ou Avon . From the fact o a ’ m a licence being granted to the bishop s auditor, it y

f f - n ot perhaps be in erred, that the bishop himsel was without sym pathy for the new order of things and for the spiritual awakening, which was beginning to be . T he urgent need of a m ore fervent preaching was At recognised by the good bishop . his own visitations he was careful that som e learned clergyman should ” A m M f . o s expound the Word o God Mr. Willia gy performed this ofli ce at visitations at Bristol and Per h e se na ll of shore Master Hugh C , at the inspection

of S t . the house Mark , in Bristol ; Master Philip of col Hyett, the subdean , at the visitation the l ia t e of u e g church Westbury , and Master John Lawer , m o f professor of sacred theology , onk and sacrist

I 2 I WORCESTER .

T he of fabric, too, the churches in the diocese m de anded his care . No stronger instance can be given of the lawlessness and ferocity which had grown over the English people through their long familiarity with violence in the civil wars , than n ot the numerous instances , in which only church yards, but churches themselves , had been dese T he f crated by bloodshedding. abbey church o T ewkesbury was t e - dedicated after its pollution by the blood of those slain there at the great victory At N orthfi l of I 1 1 . e d Edward V. , in 4 7 and Bisley, fh e the church in former case, the churchyard in “ the latter, had to be reconciled after blood A shed, apparently in private quarrels . still more Didbrooke terrible case had occurred at , where some m of T r Lancastrian fugitives fro the battle ewkesbu y, who had taken sanctuary within its walls , were ruthlessly put to death . S o horrible did the desecration seem to the monks of the adj oining of A Wh te chu rch abbey Hales , that bbat y built in 1 8 of 4 7 a new church at his own expense, in place o n e h a d him the , which been , as it seemed to , polluted with a guilt beyond the power of the m bishop to re ove . Churches polluted by bloodshed m r e - ight be dedicated, but the habitual desecration o f the sacred precincts , by holding fairs and markets m Within them , had taken such deep root a ong the o f customs of the country, that the authority the T he bishop was in vain . evil grew to such an

of . excess , that, in the reign Henry VII , a royal mandate was issued that no inhabitant of the “ city, or its liberties, should sell , anie ware or mer T H E BEFORE REFORMATIO N . 1 13 cha ndiz e wt n ce m t or at eny feyre time , y (within) the y y ” tie . ( the churchyard) of the cathedral church , on pain of being disfranchised . T h e bishop seem s to have thought it advantageous that the smaller monasteries should be m erged in the larger establishm ents . In this he anticipated of m Henry VIII . , whose seizure the s aller monas t e rie s f f , under plea of their ine ficiency and want o d l iscipline , as a prelude to the seizure of the who e, m f has been co pared by Blunt, in his History o the R f ” e ormation , to the use of the bristle to prepare the wa y for the thread . He united the priory of Dodford to the abbey of Halesowen , appro pria t e d the m onastery of Alcester to the abbey of

Evesham, with the provision that daily service should be m aintained at Alcester by a resident m prior and two assistant onks , and annexed the of o f T r priory Deerhurst to the abbey ewkesbu y . I n this latter case, provision was made for the per ’ form a n ce o f daily service by a warden in priest s - m i orders , four other onks , and one secular priest , the r m o f T stipends to be paid by the onastery ewkesbury .

2 0 5 . m f Certain pensions also were reserved , to hi sel su m and his successors, a like to Worcester Priory, A o f 8 . d . t o and 6s. the rchdeacon Worcester T m e a su re s m a hese y have been j ustified , as re o f m m for r arrangements the onastic syste , p o m ot ing its more economical and efficient work on ing. It is not so clear what grounds Carpenter h imself felt a t liberty to transfer the revenues of parish churches to different monasteries at his own l pleasure . Yet, conscientious as he was , he evident y 1 14 WORCESTER .

felt no hesitation in doing so . He appropria ted the church of Little Compton to the abbey of T ewkesbury, the parish church of Dursley to the of archdeaconry Gloucester, the church of Oxford of to the monastery Evesham , and the church Ke m se at y, with its chapelries of Norton and of A S toulton , to his favourite college Westbury. m m dir c ore reasonable arrange ent, in the opposite e m o f of tion , was the endow ent the church Crowle, with the tithes , great and small, of the whole T parish . his appears to have been owing , not m to the bishop, but to the liberality of the aster ’ Wu lfs a n of t . t s and brethren S Hospital ” to whom

- the tithes belonged, and who only reserved for 1 m m r O f the selves two small anors , the prope ty the ” T h f said m aster and brethren . e appropriation o the

f . r o S t S t . chant y Mary in the church of Giles ,

Bredon , to the parochial church was another wise and reasonable act. Chantries continued to be f “ ” ounded by generous benefactors , and confirmed 1 0 0 by the bishop . In 4 , the chantry of Holy Rood T m T was founded by ho as Ball in rinity Church , 1 6 Bristol, and, in 4 7 , two others in the parish church of one T w ne bo Lechlade, by John y , the other, possessing more historic interest, by Cecilia, duchess f o . York and mother of Edward IV , for three priests to say mass daily. Bishop Carpenter presents him self in strong con trast to some who preceded and followed him in m m the see, not erely as a states an or a courtier, but t o em phatically as a bishop . It is possible , o , to get a clear glimpse of the man himself through the cloud

1 1 6 T WORCES ER .

H is m n ot otive is clear ; it is said , that it was partly to avoid a second m arriage with a lady of the m w him Woodville fa ily, hich was being urged upon

by the king . He proceeded to the diaconate and of priesthood, was collated to one the canonries in o f f the college Westbury, and a terwards was pro “ ” . T of moted to be its dean here , says the author o f a m onograph his life, to which we are largely “ fi ve d m indebted, he spent years , engage , a ong other f m n n works o ercy and devotio , in prayi g for the souls o f of m d Richard , duke York , and his son Ed un , of duke Rutland, both slain at the bloody battle of ” Wakefield . 1 6 f Bishop Carpenter died in 4 7 , a ter an episcopate

f - o f o thirty two years , and was buried in the chapel f n Westbury College . His mantle ell o a worthy A successor. John lcock had already been chosen for posts which dem anded the highest qualities of a m n states a . He had been dean of the collegiate ’

of S t . S a nd o f church tephen s , Westminster, bishop

Rochester . He was tran slated to Worcester on the f death o Carpenter . His installation at Worcester was accompanied with great splendour . An account of M it is still preserved in a S . belonging to Corpus

Christi College , Cambridge .

County and city joined to do him honour . He entered the town accom panied by a lon g train o f “ m ” lords temporal , knights , esquires, and gentle en, and by a m ighty concourse o f the city authorities in h all t eir braveries , the serjeants with their m ff a lde m i n aces, the baili s and e with their scarlet A for gowns . t the north gate they found waiting E T H E 1 l B FORE REFORMATION . 7

su ffr a n ontifi ca ll them a yg p y habited, the dean “ ” be se n and clergy richly g , with incense and holy T he water and the cross borne aloft . procession “ T e passed in stately course, the clergy chanting “ ” m Ave Deu and , Regina, along the streets to m the cathedral door . T here it was e t by the “ ” d ve rs bba ts prior, with y prelacy, the a and priors

f . o the religious houses , with their monks By these he was conducted to the high altar, where he

. T was installed hence he was led , to the vestry, where he consecrated a chalice of “ pure and ” fine gold , presented by one Dan (Dom) John Jod m 1 T bury, and with it celebrated ass . hen another him grand procession escorted around the Cloisters , “ ” “ ” s n n e S a y gy g alve Fest , to the accustomed station, “ where he preached on the text, I am the Good

S . T hepherd hen came a high mass , and then a great “ ” Fra tou r banquet, in the Guesten Hall, the y , as it is

MS . called in the , to all who had taken part in At the procession . the banquet were two curious ill u strations of the manners o f the time As if to recognise the share which the poor have in the Church , the “ Lords T em poral ” had been associated in the procession with a body of thirty poor m e n in white of gowns , with hoods about their necks and the sign At the cross in black upon their breasts . the feast , m these thirty men had a table to the selves , which own the bishop served with his hands , before he sat down at the banquet. S till more curious must have

1 Da n wa s (like Dom) a contra cte d form o f D om inus ; a ” f h r h R e v o f h title o t e cl e gy corre sponding to t e . t e pre se nt d a y . I 1 8 WORCESTER .

“ of on e been the appearance with the first couvre, of dressed like a doctor divinity in a scarlet gown , who repeated some sort of poem a col a cijon made ” on by metre in rhetorical terms a triple subject,

first, John the Baptist, then John the Evangelist, and , T h l . e o d lastly , John , the present bishop chronicler is evidently writing of that which he had seen him An on e old self. y who knows the city can reproduce

the procession , as it went with stately tread along the old m streets , glea ing with gold and scarlet and rich

colours , bright weapons flashing, banners waving, rich n j ewels glitteri g , and loud anthems going up heartily

from the great multitude, till it reached the gateway, of and the shadows the great tower fell upon it, and the bright vestm ents stood o u t all the m ore clearly against the brown and grey and black o f the habits o f m of the onks different orders, who were crowding

at the door, and then the long procession winding

through the quiet Cloisters, and the whole multi

tude gazing intently upwards , in silence , at the H im H im good bishop, as he spoke of who called “ S ” m self the Good hepherd, and of the inistry m committed by Him to His shepherds , till He co es

again . Of the episcopate so begun few records are m left . He confir ed the foundation of a chantry in the church of Bromsgrove by the widow o f

“ ir ff S Humphrey S ta ord, and appropriated, with the m injustice of his ti e , the first and second prebends of S a in the church of Bisley to the college toke, ne r S ff Clare , in u olk , as usual , with certain reservations H to himself and his successors . e was also such a

I 2 0 WORCESTER .

e conom . wa s o f u or y, desirous escaping the sual ceremonial reception o f the bishop at his visita “ “ tion . If the abbat , writes the bishop, possesses an exemption or privilege not to meet his bishop at

re ve re ntia ls his coming with processions and other , as ” all the diocese did and as bounden by law, he is m to show it at the next visitation . It see s as if there m in were two parties in the abbey at the ti e, for, a postscript, the bishop thanks the prior, not the abbat, for a cheese which he had sent him .

T he bishop possessed no mean skill as an archi‘ dir c t e ct . e His own chapel at Ely, built under his tions , was a witness to his taste , as well as to his f liberality . In addition to his other o fices he was com ptro ller o f the royal works and buildings under

wa s o f Henry VI I . He the author several devo ” tiona l of T he o f treatises , one which , Mount Piety

1 0 0 was printed about the year 5 , shortly before

his death . It was probably another proof of the royal favour that he was selected to perform the baptismal cerem ony for the young Prince A rthur, at Winchester, while he was bishop of m a f . o Worcester It y be , that these instances royal favour were all the more acceptable to the good bishop from their contrast to the unruliness and licence m f which characterised so e o his own clergy . In 1 8 0 m 4 , he issued a onition to his clergy, that all “ gold , silver, j ewels , rings , girdles , and drapery which had been clandestinely rem oved from “ the ” statue o f the Blessed Virgin in the cathedral f should be restored within fi teen days, under pain of T f e xco mmunication. his monition may re er to ' L T H E N EFORE REFORMATIO . 1 2 1

m a - an i ge, silver gilt, valued at the large sum f o 6 . 5 . m 0 0 ou r £ 9 5 (so e £5 of present money) , bequeathed to Worcester Cathedral by Archbishop B u r hi o c e r. m of One Nicholas Bro e, Baddesley, appears in the records of the diocese as a continual disturber of the public peace . First, he is recorded as having avenged the death of his father by slaying H e r thill his murderer, John , steward of the great o f T h m Earl Warwick . e urder was in accordance T h with the rude justice prevalent at the tim e . e ’ affair was settled between Brom e and H e rthill s w m m idow on easy ter s . Bro e undertook to have masses said for the souls of both the m urdered men , while the widow promised to provide bread , for f wine, and wax , the priest who o ficiated at the m masses . But Nicholas Bro e was brought into m m worse trouble by his i petuous te per. While he was sheriff of Warwickshire and Leicestershire, “ m n m co ing o a ti e into his parlour, says Dugdale, he found the parish priest “ chocking his wife under ” T ff . the chin , and in his wrath slew the o ender his passionate act provoked a fierce outburst of anger m both from the kin g and the Pope . Bro e could not obtain a pardon till he had undertaken , by “ of way expiation, to build the towre steeple at f n e w Baddesley rom the ground , and to buy three

f r bells o it . He also raised the body of the church

f . ten eet , and built the steeple at Packwood T of homas , the historian the bishops of Worcester, ’ “ ’ A Vzr sums up lcock s character in the words ,

’ omnibu s bom s A A portrait of lcock, with his patron Edward IV. , his queen , and other mem I 2 2 WORCESTER .

f m bers o the royal fa ily, was to be seen in the east w of or indow , either Little Malvern , Great Malvern f Church . Perhaps the ormer is most probable, con 1 side ring all that he had done for the m onastery . T he successor to Alcock was appointed by a pro m m visory bull fro Pope Innocent, at the sa e time

that he translated Alcock to Ely . Robert Morton

“ was nephew to John Morton , the archbishop of o f Canterbury, and was Master the Rolls in the of reign o f Edward IV . Nothing is recorded his episcopate , except that he thought it necessary,

1 6— for m in 4 9 7 , to sue a pardon fro the king, f m f containing a recital o every conceivable cri e, rom m treason and urder downwards , and a remission o f m him f all j u dg ents passed upon , rom the sentence T h e o f death to forfeiture o f goods and chattels . f m o f m m list o cri es, as well j udg ents , is perhaps erely m the exuberant phraseology of the legal i agination , and probably for protection against vexatious accu sa tion s h im , which might be brought against , as old of against other servants the Crown, during the reign of Henry VII . Possibly it was intended also to protect the bishop from penalties incurred by his f ’ T h acceptance o the Pope s provisory bull . e pardon

“ 1 1 6— is dated March 5 , 4 9 7 , and Morton died in the

May following . He died at London, and was buried ’

of S t . in the nave Paul s, contrary to his expressed wish that he should be buried in the cem etery o f

Worcester Cathedral .

1 I n 1 8 A w a s ra a e e 4 6 lcock t nsl t d by Innoc nt V I I I . to th e se e o f Ely .

1 2 4 WORCESTER .

At to the divorce . all events he was —deprived of his Act 1 . see, as a foreigner, by the of 5 3 4 5 During all this time the prior and convent were engaged in frequent controversies about m anorial o f privileges , and in assertion their rights in the

S m m . election of a bishop. o eti es they were successful “ ” 1 0 In 4 3 , an inquisition held before John King, of chief justice the forests, decided in their favour that the foresters of Feckenham had n o right o f

r e a rt u s pasturage ( p ) , in the ma nor of the church hu rna k m of Worcester called S e . In the sa e year a more curious question was decided at S hipston -on f S tour . In eudal times it had been the custom , that , on m the death of a vassal , his lord clai ed the sur o f render his horse and weapons , as if they were m only a loan fro the feudal lord, and were to be

f . T he trans erred, if it was his will, to the next tenant m f of custo , as is o ten the case , had survived the state m things in which it originated , and now si ply con m o f sisted in a clai by the lord the manor, at the h o f deat a tenant, on the best horse in his stable

~ ~ . At S hi ston on S tou r under the title of a heriot p , after some rioting occasioned by the assertion of this m claim , it was decided by the abbat of Winchco be , o f that the prior and convent Worcester had a right, on the death of a tenant , to the best horse in his stable , f T and the parson o redington to the second best . T he m f S m onks were not always success ul . o e money and plate were left to the monastery by S ir John m of Beaucha p, Holt, who had been assisted by the ’ f T he m prior in his early li e . king s serjeant de anded the articles , and they were removed to London . T H E BEFORE REFORMATION . 1 2 5

T he royal claim may have been based upon some right derived from the office which S ir John Beau ’ f champ had held in the king s service, as steward o T h his household . e monasteries were considered a convenient source from which supplies might be drawn for t he royal service in any season of emer e nc or l g y, even to provide for suitors whose c aims it

. 1 8 was not convenient to satisfy In 45 Henry VI . demands that an allowance of meat and drink should one H e rtle b u r f be restored to Richard y, a brother o e r m their former prior, who had b en g ievously aimed ”

wa rre s . in our beyond sea, and reduced to poverty ” H e rtle bu ry had form erly received some allowance m bu t m or fro the convent , , for so e cause other, had “ ” 1 been lately voyde d . In 4 5 9 Henry VI . expresses of o ne his thanks for a loan hundred marks, which “ the prior and convent had m ade him out of their ” a n d loyalty good will to aid him against the rebels , and to assist in repelling a threatened invasion from m o f France . But the for ality asking for a loan was not T h e m always observed . sa e indenture acknowledges “ ” a su m o f £4 0 for certain oxen taken from the prior

6 6s 8 d . f r o f . o the use the king , and for a horse “ m hw k ” f m S e t e . taken ro Dan John y , the cellarer m In 1 4 6 2 Edward IV . de ands that all persons within of o f the precincts of the convent , the age sixteen r re years and upwa ds , should be assembled , and “ quested to contribute, according to their several m eans and good will, to the assistance of the “ ” a dve rsa rie king, against oure grete Henry, and his “ ” allies from France and S cotland . T he request appears to have been complied with . Edward put 1 26 WORCESTER .

their loyalty to the test frequently . In the following year cam e a request for m ore m oney for siege opera 1 66 m tions, and in 4 a pere ptory demand for one m n hundred arks , to be sent at O ce , by the bearer, his m aj esty having fully determined to set a great n a vie ” A 1 0 6 Mild e nh a m upo n the sea. bout 5 the Prior and others had been com m issioners for collecting a “ of had benevolence in the county Worcester, and been rem iss in paying the m oney into the royal

. wa s treasury . _ But Henry VII not a sovereign to

rifl m m be t e d with , nor to per it any oney due to him to adhere to the fingers through which it m ight A m pass on its wa y . very urgent andate announces ” dis le su r m f his grete p , and su mons the de aulters to m m of West inster, bringing with the the accounts the m A collection , and all oneys in their possession . m 1 6 to royal andate, dated 43 , requires the monks

of S t . bear the shrine Oswald in procession , that “ the rains may cease, which are causing a piteous ” “ o f m destruction co e upon the earth , adding, as we are informed it hath been afore this tim e for the ” ceasing of such continual rain . During all this tim e good work was done for the ca h ra l 1 ol t e d fabric . In 3 9 7 the d stalls of the cathedral choir were set up, which remained until the time of he I . T Edward V construction of an aqueduct, from a Henwick Hill to the monastery, occ sioned a cu rious series of compacts between the priors and the oflicia l s 1 0 ff of the city . By deed dating 4 7 , the city baili s m ” and aldermen , for ore worship, had leave to have their maces borne before them through the pre cincts of the cemetery or sanctuary, and in the parish

1 2 8 WORCESTER .

city dwelling in the cem etery of the m onastery are to of n continue in possession their rights , o condition

that they pay all dues and otherwise behave well . If

any further dispute should arise , four monks and four citizens are to arrange it by “ loving meetings and communications before anything be attempted by ” law.

Just before this , a knotty point of precedence had been settled between Prior Milde nh a m and Bishop T he S ylvester Giglis . prior had denied the right of ” H a lle sworth Master Doctor , the episcopal vicar “ ” de wt general , to any allotted seat, place of y, in m the cathedral , and the atter was referred to the

bishop . He answers , that he is informed by credible persons that the chancellor should sit next the prior, ’ and the prior should not usurp the bishop s seat, but “ f ” sit with his brethren a ter ye old custom . But, m he adds, he will exa ine into the matter, when he

comes to Worcester . It is a tem perate and sensible T h letter. e uncertainty about the conventual h customs is probably owing to his Italian origin . T e “ letter, curiously enough , is signed Gilbert , bishop of ” Worcester, as if he had taken an English name

possibly to mitigate English prejudices . m 1 8 Of so ewhat earlier date , 4 9 , was a curious m of m controversy, sub itted to the court Ro e, whether the dead in the parish of Claines should be buried

in their parish church or in the cathedral . It was decided that Claines should retain the right of burial f 6 8 of d . on payment o s. (a noble) yearly to the prior

Worcester . In 1448 is the earliest mention of a n organist T H E N BEFORE REFORMATIO . 1 2 9

in the cathedral , in an entry of an allowance “ ] made to Master Daniel , ye kep of ye organs ” m o nke s — o f xiii lofes that is , loaves coarse flour, as distinguished from the finer kind used for the

1 0 1 prior and his guests . In 5 is the first mention of f a schoolmaster, one Hugh Cra ford , for the school m on which , fro the remotest period, had been carried in the m onastery of Worcester. It was the desire o f the prior and convent to con n e ct the charnel - house and its chapel m ore closely

. 1 re with the work of the cathedral In 4 5 9 , it i f c e ve d new grants and a new oundation . T he sacristan was to maintain in the charnel- house a chaplain , who was to be a bachelor of divinity. He wa s m to say ass in the chapel , and either to read o r w w publicly in the chapel, once t ice a eek , a moral o n T m or lecture the New esta ent, , at the discretion o f m the bishop , to deliver a ser on in the cathedral , o r at the cross in the churchyard , every Friday . He was also to have the custody of the library and m all the books therein . It see s doubtful whether m ff this arrange ent was ever carried into e ect, or was m merged in the endow ent given to the library, two years later,by Bishop Carpenter. But the greatest event con nected with the cathedral in this period was , undoubtedly, the stately burial o f

A 1 0 2 . T he o f Prince rthur, in 5 body the dead prince, ffi m m not in a leaden co n , but so e bal ed with spices “ ” st u ffe f and sweet , that an oaken co fin was sufficient, ’

S t . was removed on George s Day, with great pomp, m fro the castle of Ludlow to the parish church , ’

on S t . whence, Mark s Day, the procession set x 13 0 WORCESTER .

f fo r T o r orth Worcester. every parish church , o or on religious house order, which met the corpse or the way, rung their bells , was presented a of of noble gold , four torches , and six scutcheons

arms . At Bewdley the procession rested for the night , the body being carried to the chapel . T hence S ir S ir m O ve da le Richard Croft and Willia , steward and ’ m o f o n co ptroller the prince s household, rode to

Worcester, and ordered the city gates to be shut, until At the body should arrive . the gate fresh torches “ - T h e were delivered to the torch bearers . Order of Friars from the neighbouring monastery censed At the body, and so it passed on to the town gate . the gate were waiting the bailiffs and honest m e n of ” citie on i of the , all on foot . Ranged each s de the street were the bishop’s chancellor and a multitude of r m canons in g ay a ices with rich copes, with curates , i secular priests , clerks , and ch ldren with surplices in

m - great nu ber, and, adds the eye witness , I suppose ”

n . T all the torches in the tow hese lined the streets , f m as close as they could stand , ro the town gate to the cathedral . Between the ranks of them the pro cession went its solemn way, under a bright sun , as the S chronicler notes, up what we know as High treet, w old a - ith the h lf timbered houses on each side , crowded , we may conceive , at every window with f the saddened faces o spectators , maidens and mothers weeping in pity for the bright young life so r quickly closed, g ave and wise men sorrowing that

so promising a prince should have passed away, till it T cam e to the cathedral gate . here the body was

1 2 3 WORCESTER .

T hen came one of the quaintest cerem onies which T h m the old cathedral can ever have beheld . e e

broidered surcoat, and shield , and sword , and crested m o f hel et the dead prince were borne up the choir, ’ o f and the son Lord Kildare , clad in the prince s own ’ “ armour and riding the prince s own horse, richly ' trapped with a trapper o f velvet e mb rothe re d (szc) ’ of m with needlework the prince s ar s , was escorted ’ by the great officers o f the prince s household m of of into the idst the choir, where the abbat T ewkesbury , as the gospeller, received the horse as an offering ; while the rider alighted and wa s led T he T o into the vestry . chronicler adds , have seen w offrin e the weeping hen the g was done, he had a T m m hard heart that wept not . hen ca e ore f m “ m o ferings and ore masses , with divers and any ” “ ” “ a n th e m e s f m v ro all the convent, at e ery ' ” K u r ze E l esrm ffi y an o cer at armes , with a loud “ ’ m F a r P r im e Ar t/zu r s sou l a nd voice , exclai ing , , ” “ ll s u ls P a te r n r or a o oste . T f , hen wa s the corpse, with weeping and sore lamentation , laid in the grave ; the orisons said by the bishop of

col ne . Lin , also sore weeping He sett the cross over

the chest, and cast holy water and earth thereon . i f o f H s o ficer armes, sore weeping, tooke of his coate m o f ar s , and cast it along over the chest right lament T S ir m O ve da le o f ably . hen Willia , comptroller his ff household , sore weeping and crying , tooke the sta e f o f his o fice by both endes , and over his own head

broke it, and . cast it into the grave . In like wise T did the gentlemen ushers their rodde s. his was a l ” T piteous sight to those who behe d it. hen came a T H E BEFORE REFORMATION . 13 3

m m great dinner, and a procla ation , that if any a n of could prove, that any article food had been taken ’ m him r m fro by the prince s se vants without pay ent , he should bring his account to the steward of the late “ prince , and be contented . He who should have been the central figure of a T h e I the p geant , was away. talian bishop, who then held the see , was , as usual , absent from his h m m . T e diocese , very probably at Ro e pageant ust m n have been sole , indeed , to the citizens who Fo r on witnessed it . a great pestilence had fallen the city, and the households in it were filled with

f ff n mourning and ear . No o eri gs were made at the ’ m n m prince s to b, says the chro icler, fro any belong “ in of g to the city , because the sickness that then m ” reigned a ong them . A more enduring monum ent of the prince is found n m in the beautiful chapel , beari g his na e , which still m on e of re ains the striking features of the cathedral , m with the sculptured orna ents, symbolising the union o f the rival houses o f York and Lancaster T h e

- after history of the chapel is curiou s . Inside the

o f . chapel , over the altar, was the figure a dead Christ T his aroused the blind fury o f the iconoclasts under m o f Henry VIII . , and in utilating the figure th e S aviour they also destroyed m uch of the beautiful tracery which surrounded it . But Queen Elizabeth was not disposed to tolerate such barbarous proceed ings , and, at the beginning of her reign , an edict “ against breaking or defacing of m on u ments of antiquity set up in churches or other public places ” for memory, and not superstition, was issued, each WORCESTER .

copy signed with her own hands , and dispersed T he through all her dom inions . apprehensions of the city may have been quickened by the tidings , that the queen was about to pay a At m visit in person . once to conceal the da age, m m and to pay a co pli ent to the queen , the interior was coated with plastering, and on it

’ were painted the royal arm s . In this state it was A “ A seen by bingdon , and described in his ccount ” T h of the Cathedral of Worcester . e coat of plaste r had the good result of concealing the sculptures m which re ained from the Puritan devastators , who were content with defacing the painting of the royal T he arms . sculptures hidden by the plaster were

- discovered in after years by Dean S t . John and the historian , Valentine Green . T he stately tower of Gloucester Monastery was T m S begun in the abbacy of ho as eabrooke , and com

T h . ple t e d in the reign of Henry VI . e church of

S t . S l Michael , at alwarpe , was enlarged , and the o d m Nor an church replaced by a later structure . Great be a u tifi e d Malvern priory church was restored and , m 1 T h the work being co pleted in 45 9 . e tower of A D Halesowen C hurch was probably begun about . .

. h 1 0 A. D . 1 0 T e 3 9 , and completed about 44 church f O the friars Dominican, in Worcester, extended itself, both in its building and its influence . In 14 0 5 is a curious grant from the corporation of “ of of Worcester to the prior, a parcel the stone

’ ” “ of - wall and land the city from a dove cot tower, granted to them by the space of 10 0 feet in length ” 1 direct towards the west. In 4 7 5 , a new chapel

1 6 R 3 WO CESTER .

f for in return , were required to o fer masses the souls n of of the ki g, Duke Henry Warwick , the Countess

Isabella and all her ancestors, and for the founders f l li and benefactors o the church of Go dc ffe . In

1 6 m 4 4 , b , the a bey received two benef—actions forty arks under the will of S ir John N a n fa n whose effigy still appears on the south side o f the altar-tomb in Birts m m fo r orton Church , that masses ight be said his soul ; u o f le and , nder the will Henry Despenser, who died at Hanley Castle and was buried in the choir of the S che rston abbey , the appropriation of the church at , m of m and all the orna ents his body, to ake vest

for . 1 6 ments the monks In 4 7 , the abbey was the scene of a magnificent cerem onia l at the funeral of

the Duchess of Clarence . Her son had been born on 6th in fi rm a r of October the in the y the abbey, “ m - m in ca mer a in see ingly a newly built roo ,

’ r ma r zce o n th fi , baptized the 7 in the parish church

o f T 8 th . ewkesbury, and confirmed on the His mother died in the following Decem ber at Warwick a n d m m Castle, her body see s to have re ained there th of till the 4 January, when it was removed to T ewkesbury. On the night of its arrival a vigil was kept all through the night by the household of the T h duke . e hearse was then left in the choir for

-fi ve on f thirty days, until at last , the octave o the

m m - purification , it was co itted to its last resting place m in the choir, with sole n masses by the lord abbat o f T ewkesbury and by the suffragans of the bishops o f Worcester and Lincoln , and with a sermon by of of Peter Weld, a doctor theology , and a member

the Franciscan friary of Worcester . T H E N BEFORE REFORMATIO . 1 3 7

A of T fter the battle ewkesbury, four Lancastrian knights had fled from the fatal field and taken refuge f n in the sanctuary o o e o f the churches near . Edward m d hi self, his rawn sword in his hand , was about to f m m follow, when the o ficiating priest , at that o ent celebrating mass , stood in the way, and resolutely forbade his entrance till he should prom ise to pardon the supplicants . Edward , who at times combined f of the subtlety with the erocity the tiger, gave the m m required pro ise and confir ed it with an oath . T f . T wo rusting to this, the fugitives left their re uge f of T su m days a terwards , the citizens ewkesbury were m on e d by proclam ation to witness the execution of m the very knights who Edward had sworn to pardon . T h e m history is as sha eful to Edward IV. as it is m honourable to the na eless priest, who dared (like Ambrose repelling T heodosius) t o confront him in

m m o f . his wrath , and in the very o ent his triumph

It might suggest a splendid subject for an artist . After this T ewkesbury Abbey appears to have t o m m increased in wealth and reputation , up the o ent f o f o f of its all . I t was the habit the bishops Wor ce st e r to enrich it with appropriations from all 1 0 0 S quarters . In 5 , ylvester Giglis appropriated to o f it a church in the deanery Fairford , and five years later added the churches of Wootton-under- Edge and

- - S Preston upon tour, certain reservations , in which the f m interests o the see were not forgotten, being ade in

r eve y case . 1 0 of T In 4 4 , the guild the Holy rinity was estab T he lishe d in Worcester by Henry IV . chaplaincy,

f . which had been founded in the reign o Edward III , 1 3 8 WORC ESTER .

A was slightly altered from its original purpose . per p e tu a l chantry of three m onks was appointed to sing masses for the soul of Henry IV . , while the priest o f the original foundation was required to assist the “ o f parson and curates the parish church , because ” h - it doth abound in ouseling people, as well as to say mass in his own chapel . T he priories in this diocese , which were affected by the act o f parliament passed at Leicester for the o f A suppression the alien priories , were stley, in B e ke ford De orh rst Worcestershire, , y (Deerhurst) , ff n ’ Goldcli , and Newe t , in Gloucestershire, and Monk s

Kirby, in Warwickshire . Another peculiar feature of the diocese is the m m nu ber of anchorites at this ti e . Probably they were attracted by the facilities for making hom es m ff for in the soft red sandstone cli s , . the selves S A which overhang the evern, as at Redstone , stley,

. h and the Blackstone Rock , near Bewdley T e vow taken by one of these before Bishop Polton , in

1 1 . T h e S e ch sle 43 , is still extant hermit, Richard p y y, m “ makes a sole n vow to God , to hys Blessed Moder se nt e s o f Marie , and all the y Heaven , to keep the ” “ f r l ull and hole purpose of chastity , after the e w e ” f n o S e y t Poule . Legacies were left for the main f t e na n ce o . S m these anchorites o etimes , however, they preferred quarters less isolated than they could An . f find in the sandstone rocks entry, o the fifteenth century, in the books of the prior of Worcester,

o n records an expenditure of ten shillings bricks , “ ’ o f Anckra s sand, and lime , for the reparation the ” - house by the charnel house .

1 4 0 WORCESTER .

C HAPT ER X .

H E N T H E D ISSOLUTION O F T MO ASTERIES .

T H E faults of the m onastic system were many and m grievous . But , as a rule, the English onasteries were good landlords , bountiful to the poor, hospitable m to all comers , and , in so e cases, liberal patrons T o f . o art and science, especially in architecture m Lichfi e ld o f m good Cle ent , the last abbat Evesha , is owing that “ right su mptuous and high square o f a tower stone , as Lel nd calls it , still a witness

m u n ifi c n ce to his e and to his architectural genius . T he m proportions would have been yet ore noble, had m he not perceived the co ing trouble , and hastened f to finish his work be ore it reached its height, lest it should be taken ou t o f his hands and never be

completed at all . T he monasteries also brought the highest culture within the reach o f all who showed a n ‘ a ptitu de for learning . John Feckenham was the son of m m obscure parents , na ed Ho an , in the forest of m T he m of m Feckenha . onks Evesha gratified his d f thirst for learning, and iligently cultivated the gi ts him A . t which they perceived in the dissolution , he

f of 1 00 florin was sent adri t with a pension s. But f m he had become a man o note . He was ade secre T H E D U N O F T H E N 1 ISSOL TIO MO ASTERIES . 4 1

r ta y to Bell, bishop of Worcester, and then to Bonner. H e was selected as the champion of the Church of m Ro e in the great controversies of the day, and, in m particular, to eet at Pershore no less form idable ’

. I V s an opponent than Bishop Hooper n Edward I . m reign, he was i prisoned for his adherence to Rome . m ’ Under Queen Mary he was ade dean of S t . Paul s f and abbat of the revived monastery o Westminster . on Elizabeth , her accession , sought to gain him by ff of tempting o ers to the cause the Reformed Church . He was the only mitred abbat allowed to sit in any o f her parliaments . It is said that the archbishopric ff of Canterbury was pressed upon him, and only o ered

u . T to Parker on his resolute ref sal his was , perhaps , a requital for good offices which he had done to the

Protestants in his day of power, having , it is said, interceded with Queen Mary for the Princess Eliza

beth herself. Feckenham , however, was too important of to be left at liberty. On his steadfast refusal the ’ ff T queen s o ers , he was imprisoned, first in the ower, Wisbe ck then in the Marshalsea, and finally in Castle, m m m where he died . His i prison ent see s to have been b e fi tt e d on slight , as e of his kindly nature ; for his last days were occupied with architectural im prove

ments in the T ower in which he was imprisoned . A recent writer remarks that the m onastic bodies were the great road- m akers of the districts in which “ T he their property was situated . worst result of the dissolution was the rapidity with which the roads went out of repair. It was the interest of the monastic orders, whose property was often scattered , to keep an of the me s communication open , and , as, they 1 4 2 WORCESTER . were resident landlords who were consumers of their

own and market produce, it was their interest to ” 1 keep the roads in good repair. In the diary of Prior Moore the diocese possesses a vivid picture of life in the abbeys and monasteries of m T m of the ti e . here is little ark on it spiritual aims , ‘

" of . of devotional aspirations , monastic asceticism It is the record of the ordina ry em ploym ents of a

- kind hearted country gentleman , not without literary

tastes and intellectual occupations , refined in his habits

of life beyond his time , sharing freely in the social of r pleasures and enjoyments his neighbours , appa ently, without the coarsene ss which was the great blemish of

the social system of his day . Prior Moore seem s to have risen from the lowest m ranks . His fa ily lived at Grimley, and his name

. A was originally Peers , or Peres Probably, like bbat ” f Feckenham , he took the name of Moore rom his T native place . his was probably the moor in r the parish of Lind idge , a manor belonging to the r m m monaste y, where the prior so eti es held his court. A m pparently, the family were b rought to Gri ley, and ’ l r odged there in the p ior s mansion, when their son

attained to his prosperity . S ome relative was a

m m a wine erchant in Bristol, but he y have been

set up in his business by the prior himself. T h e seclusion of the monastery had not hardened the ’ m prior s kindly heart against his kindred, or ade f him neglect ul of their claims . His accounts are full

1 Th R e H of A l e a orold og rs, istory gricu tur in Engl nd , 1 vol . iv . p . 1 4 .

I 44 WORCESTER.

With Prior Moore the monastic system had not

m - loosened fa ily ties , and yet well nigh his whole life had been spent within the walls o f the m onastery . “ S He had taken the final vows , haven in to ye reli ” gion , as he expresses it in his diary, at sixteen , f probably a ter probation in the outer offices . He d m passed through the various gra es of office, fro the

1 0 - lowest upwards ; he was bachelor in 5 4 , sub prior We dde sbu r 1 1 8 under John y, prior in 5 , instituted ffi to the o ce by John Bell , a chancellor T h of . e the diocese , in the carnary chapel diary

- m exhibits him as the easy going onk , whom the f fraternity would regard with a fection , and gladly o f raise, in spite his lowly origin , to the highest place amongst them . ’ A very small proportion o f the prior s tim e was a spent within the mon stery . His residence was chiefly in the manor- houses which belonged to him in dif

fe re n t . 1 2 for parts of the county In 5 7 , instance, he spent “ the first two weeks of the year at Batten W hall , the next three weeks at orcester, then five t wo m weeks at Crowle, at Worcester, five at Gri ley, o ne at Crowle , two at Worcester, five at Grimley, one B a tte n ha ll m at Crowle , sixteen at , seven at Gri ley, m S two at Worcester (including Pal unday), two at m o ne Gri ley, two at Crowle, at Worcester ( Rogation week), two at Crowle and Worcester, and the last ” o f Ba tte nha ll 1 two weeks the year at and Crowle . It seems as if the personal residence of the prior was only expected at the great festivals . In most years ,

1 ’ N a e a e r a nd a he ra o f o k s Mon st y C t d l Worc e ste r . T H E D O F T H E ISSOLUTION MONASTERIES . 145 the routine of residence was varied by a visit to

or . London , for a month six weeks His life at these country residences was the life m T of an ordinary country gentle an . here is no trace of the asceticism of the convent in his habits and

occupations . He takes as lively an interest as a squire of the present day in his parks and fi sh f . o a n d pools He records the cleansing the ponds , o f f — repairs the park ences , even the new shoes which

for c n he was obliged to purchase his servants , in o se u nc B a tt nha ll e e e . q of their working in pool He notes , o n e m one m that at ti e eight young pike and brea , at d another five hundred eels , were turne , as stores , into m B a tt e nh a ll the oat at , and that the swans upon it , f on . another occasion , hatched our cygnets Whether m r m the prior hi self was fond of field spo ts , as so e of his order were , is not evident ; but he made m m careful provision for the on his anors . T here are “ ” f r expenses o his kennell hounds , which he kept 1 “ 6 1 for m for for his own use ; a grete ho e , the “ —a o n m m hunt , hunt Christ as Day and , yet ore “ ’ i f o f 2 11 cur ous , a gi t to Nich s Wright to lerne to

r ott s ch e wks &c . T f kyll [rats] , crowes , , hen ollow ’ m S fo r gifts to the king s hunt , to a Mr . Willia kull

- hunting otters , for a coat to the otter taker , and fees “ ’ ” “ to the kynge s takers o f horses to drink with ” their venison , probably when they came to the

’ ’ m anors to collect horses for the king s u se . ’ T he good prior s sym pathy extended to the social

amusem ents of his neighbours . Continual entries —“ occur of gifts of this kind T o the m aidens of — ” “ Grimley for singing on May day . T 0 T homas 1 6 TE 4 WORCES R .

’ k n s o e lle r m Brandon , ye y g jg , at Gri ley , and to his for m o n child tu bling to Grimley Church , ale to e m Willia Bennett and his company, for amusing the ’ prior s guests at dinner and supper, at procession T ’ tim e for a bonfire at Crowle on S t . homas snight of for for the tenants Clyve , in the same place , playing “ Robin Hood ; for m aidens singing on Holy rowde ” “ day in the mo rning ; for six maids who did sing in ” n t f the m orning o S . Philip and Jacob daye to our ’ f m f n i o o S t . sing ng men , cra ts en Worcester, George s T h o f Day . e record is full genial sympathy with the f A recreations of the country olk around . still more valuable token o f his liberality was the gift to the m o f parish o f Gri ley a new well , to serve three “ of households , at the south end the parish, where ” never was well before . More im mediately connected with his ecclesiastical position were the pageants in parishes on the dedi

- T cation days o f the church . o all of these the T m prior was a contributor. here are entries of oney “ ’ ” “ m a d e n s o f S e nt Me ch l e given to ye y box y e , to f ” “ of S o S t . ye boxe ye howe Peter, to a box of ’ A n A S t . o S t . ndros [ ndrew s] Showe the dedication ” “ o f a nd day, Five galands [gallons] wyne of red ” cla re t t m for ye five pageants and other ti es, and a still more curious entry o f money collected for All Alha la n d S aints ( ) Church , at a play held at Henwick m ’ of S t . T S Hall , on the eve ho as s Day, being unday, ’ m n n S t . T o and o ho as s Day itself, the Monday following . T here is little of Benedictine sim plicity in his T h . e household expenditure life , which he led at

1 8 R 4 WO CESTER .

f i a presents the o ficiating priest with a grayle , , f graduale , a book containing the o fice for sprinkling of m holy water and other portions the ass , which “ m is to be well bound . But the ost important of on e his purchases was a new silver mitre , by John “ ra n cks m m of C , a London Silvers ith , the ole s yth m London . It was orna ented with precious stones , ” “ ” r - m five g eat stones , eighty six s aller stones , “ “ ” - f m e d ll twenty one stones set in gold , orty y stones ,

-fi ve m seventy s all stones , besides three ounces and a “ o f o f m quarter fine pearls , and three ounces edull ” T h n - e e rle . e p weight of silver was inety three ounces , and, besides this , there are charges for silk , and thread ,

n and ribands , and embroidery, and a sarcenet lini g ; altogether, the cost, including a leather case , was

- m forty nine pounds , fifteen shillings, an enor ous outlay for that period . T he prior had literary tastes as well as a love for m sum ptuous display. He ade many additions to the m f . m library o the onastery S o e were scarce books . “ — T here are entries o f a new mass book for the of altar Jesus Chapel , a little book called an . “ f r f o zie . annual unerals, noted , , with musical o f notation ; a processional , two books the seven “ m o ne sacra ents , and curious entry , I redeemed a little p ortu ou s [breviary] lying to plegge in T eames f r T m S o . [ ha es] treet , 53 Probably the binding r diffi was rich, perhaps with jewels ; othe wise it is h ow on e cult to understand, small book , not new , could have cost a su m equal to £2 5 of our present

m m . oney . It a y have been profusely illuminated ' be lon e d to Perhaps the work had g the library, and T H E D T H E 1 ISSOLUTION OF MONASTERI ES . 49

been pledged in season o f distress ; perhaps it was T merely a chance purchase by the prior. here were “ ” S m S iritu a liu m also devotional works , the peculu p , “ ” o f S e n t A a hoole work y ustens , in print, the works S t m Am T of . Jero e , Gregory, and brose . here were of o f com m e n books the rule Benedict , glosses and on S o ne taries Holy cripture, decrees and decretals , o f n d of book English history, two legends English

f - . m n o w la w saints But a y his purchases ere books , ’ “ ” “ L n dwood s y Provincial Constitution , a bucke f i “ o m . lawe called Do n icqsup . a buke of ” “ B o ke booke s o f lawe called Henry y , divers lawe A D cre tae . e and Novella Jo ndree sup . , Propositions ”

i n i n i u c . T h . e t . d st e t o b s & e sup Caus . sup , prior set great store u pon these books he notes the purchase of of m in of a baggett leather to carry the , cloth o f gold and clasps of silver gilt fo r the cover o f

- ortu a s his mass book and p , and the binding in black ” velvet with silver-gilt clasps of a portu a s which We dde sbu r f his predecessor, Prior y , had le t at Rome , and which ha d been brought thence to London . His w m f for books sho cultured taste , and so e ondness literature . T h f m e hospitality o the monastery was ost liberal . T he bailiffs and corporation o f the city were frequent “ ” ska rle t guests . Ye balis and all gowns , that is ,

- f m m of n the twenty our principal e bers the corporatio , ’ w o n E v e dined ith the prior New Year s , at Easter , T m ’ on m f S t . Christ as Day a ter evensong, on ho as s m m on S f e ra m bu Day, so eti es a unday or a ter a civic p N or w o f lation . ere the wives the citizens excluded

f . s a S t . rom an occ sional welcome Once at lea t, on 1 5 0 WORCESTER .

’ of of John s Day, eighteen the wives the city magnates “ T n were entertained in the monastery . hey dra k m m e nt malmsey, oscy, red wine, ru ney, sack , py , hippo ” m cras , claret , and Rhenish wine , acco panied by “ ” m wafers . Carol singers , tu bling children , players r m from Gloucester and Covent y, instrels , j ugglers , “ ’ u e le r and blind harpers , ye king s jg and his blind ” ’ of m i harper, three the king s nstrels , With ye ” u lls scha mb (perhaps shawms, or long trumpets), were m of n the entertain ent . Guests the highest ra k were

1 2 1 received . In 5 the Princess Mary visited Worcester, ff and made a long stay with the prior . Costly o erings were m ade by her during her visit three guineas in ’ gold when I sang masse on S e ynt Wu lfsta n s “ ” of t a u rs Day three crowns gold in p , two by the o n S m princess and e by Lady alisbury , at the ass at Candlem as a crown of gold by the princess on

Easter Day. Four years afterwards the princess paid another long visit, arriving in the third week after ' W B a tte nha ll Christmas, and staying at orcester and with the prior till they went on to visit the bishop at f Hartlebury. In the ollowing year she paid another visit to Worcester . Indeed, the prior appears to have been a favourite with royalty, for there is an entry of m a present to a essenger of the king, who brought a m n A letter fro Quee nne (Boleyn), to tell him of a “ We dn sd e fi ft princess at Greenwich born y, day of S t criste ne d d f ep , and the Fry ay a ter, whose name is ” A of Elizabeth . nother entry notes the birth Prince “ ” Edward, born of Queen Jane at Hampton Court “ 1 1 m of Oct . , 53 7 . In 53 3 y lord Canterbury spent f our days with the prior, when he came to the cathe

1 5 2 WORCESTER . the legend of the seven sleepers (July 2 7 th) was m observed at Worcester onastery at this date . All m o f m the in ates the onastery , in their degree . had f T their share in these estivities . here are entries of ’ wine from Christmas to N e w Year s Day of a feast “ a nd m with oscy mal sey wine , spice , and raisins , ” ff for o n and sa ron cakes , probably the poor, “ ” Ma u n da T o f m or y hursday ; asers , large cups , m with single and double bands , fro which , as in the

- o f - loving cups city banquets at the present day, the m onks and their guests pledged each other in spiced whi e . T h e greater part of this expenditure was from the m m various anors belonging to the prior, supple ented f m difl e re nt . o f ro quarters Presents venison , a whole o r o f m for f buck , pasty red deer, ca e the great easts from the neighbouring a bba t s o f Bordesley or Glou ce st e r f m f m , ro Lord Dudley, and ro Malvern Chase . ’ New Year s Day brings gifts o f all sorts from the f o f m tenantry and o ficials the monastery, and fro “ S m o f personal friends . o e were great value a “ case to put pennes and yn k in a pillow of green ” a n d m a nd m red silke for y pewe ; , fro the sexton , m m m n invariably, a gold ring, so eti es with a dia o d, m “ ” someti es with a white head . Other presents m were preserves for the Christ as feastings , baskets “ ” f orr a s tie o e . g , oranges , capons , geese, partridges , o f l a rke s a shield brawn , , pigs , trout , and grayling, of com fi ts f m f boxes biscuits and , and , ro Wichen ord , “ ” S n a hundred warden pears . Lady andys prese ts “ ” a pe yr of great am bur beds [beads] of five sets ; f m ro Bordesley comes a corporas case, a case T H E D O F T H E N I SSOLUTION MO ASTERIES . 1 53 containing a linen cloth to cover the eucharist ; from S f o f tan ord, the figure our Lord ; from Roger Burg, a toothpick garnished with silver gilt ; from Master “ ” C ol n s P a kin t ons y a fine bonett ; while the g , as e “ ver, firm friends to the Church , present rooks from the m anor of Ham pton . Another casual incom e was from the confiscated goods of felons convicted on the m anors o f the m A m f priory . Fro lston ca e our ewes and ten lambs ’ from a felon s goods ; from Richard Parker of “ w T ” sl e e . Hallow, when he Ric aylor, all his goods ” and cattle, and detts . T he prior was held in honour am ong the county “ m T m M r . o sse const a bu l of gentle en ho as y , ye the ” t ll n ca s o n o e 5 . d . a y , received occasion 3 4 for l ying f r him a cushion o at the sessions .

Money and apparel were given in cases o f distress . “ ” T wo shirts were given to William the Beggar, a n m a n m m n poor you g al s to a onk , of Little Malver , “ T m ” “ and to Mr. ho as , apparently a doctor, for ’ ” i s f r k n T he healing Dan S inger s d sye s e o b e y g owse . f m riars , black and gray, received not only al s but “ t f f for dain y are ; to ye blake riars their solas [solace] , while the gray friars receive four baked pies ” m T h e la m ru s . of pe , at the sa e cost prior is liberal

6 . 8 r r d . d d . to his neighbours . He gives , , , to the f ’ of o S t . building the new tower, or steeple Martin s f s. d . o 3 4 to the sexton Great Malvern , towards the building of the parish church ; 55 . to help the of prior Little Malvern , whose chalices had been

5 . n stolen , to purchase new ; 5 towards buildi g Mon m outh Church, which had been burned ; and nearly r 5 4 WORCESTER .

1 2 for the gilding and painting of the images in the o f S chapel aint Cecilia , and for renewing the tapestry “ and hangings , the linnen cloth that covereth ye new gilt front of ye seyd chappell . Medical science was at a low ebb at Worcester at

m . m 2 5 . 6d . on this ti e Willia , the barber, is paid one “ ” m h l n T h f e occasion for y legg e y g . e same e is “ “ Ma rssh e m for paid to the clock aker, surgery to my arme . Possibly it was thought that any one clever enough to understand the m ysteries of the of wheels a clock , might, from analogy, have some m insight into the econo y o f the hum an body .

But when anything more serious was required , ” o f f sike o f Master Blewett, doctor y , Hereford, m was sent for, and his prescriptions ade up by “ m T T . homas Poticary , ho as the apothecary ’ o f When the prior s ribs were broken , the healing “ ’ ” FIe te them was entrusted to Nich s of ye , a prae titione r f m ro the fleet in London, or an inhabitant of f f r Worcester . His e e o the whole business was only I f two shillings . the prior did not trust him self to own m any of his onks in illness, it was not for want of for m receipts in their hands every imaginable ail ent . For gout the sufferer was to sit for an hour and a half with his legs u p to the knees in hot grains ; then they were to be dried and r ubbed before the fire with sene (senna and the cure was to be com pleted by taking the skin of a wild cat and laying the flesh side to the sore . T h e discipline of the monastery was easy under f so j ovial a prior . It seems to have been le t in the

of N e ckha m th e - hands Robert , sub prior, and brother your convent gye vv yth out of their porcion vr tym es ” as m och as ever did owr untrue m a styrs T he alm s which the convent was bound to give in the prince ’s nam e to twelve poor people should not be ” k nre d n or appropriated to his y and knaves , should his brother and sister and other kindred “ and knaves be in possession of the best farm s belonging to the S “ ” monastery . uch a state of things is an abusion "

ch e rita ble m a n . which wole greve any Further, the funds of the m onastery are spent in continual lawsuits with the neighbouring gentlemen , with his tenants , f r and with the convent itsel , ye most pte your so y t t le n ot y y an accusation which throws light, only on the hospitality to proctors of the arches and doctors o f on of - the law, but the liberal purchases law books f r T h m o b . e w the li rary three itres , hich the convent f f possessed, were not su ficient to grati y his personal

8 0 vanity ; plate was sold to the value of £ , and a n e w T he f mitre purchased . convent unds are drawn “ upon unfairly to pay the servants o f the prior ; he o f iii e nt lm e m m hath knaves jg y , x ye en [yeo en] , x m m of grom es [groo s] , the greater part whose wages f f v is de rayed by the o ficers of the con ent, besides “ m ten ge e , who belong to the convent, but wear m his livery, and to whose aintenance he contributes

n nothing , not charged with oon groot o ” T h ’ . e ff T them prior s retinue gives o ence . hirty three servants are not sufficient for his vanity ; he m - m ust have gentleman waiters as well , the pay ent of m whose wages so i poverishes the convent, that the f f “ are o the brethren is pitiably reduced . Ye pore ’ k nes as your pour convent hath on the fys the daye T H E D N O F T H E 1 ISSOLUTIO MONASTERIES . 5 7

[probably the fast or fi sh - day] ywote to God yr Lord f ” A f “ h d d ro . c ype y know y greater o fence, the last ” A dis u te r ffe . g y , remained p between the prior and the convent had been ended by a decree of the of court arches , which the prior had sworn a solemn of n oath to observe , but the conditions it had ever

been fulfilled . Musard prays to be removed from

the prison at Worcester, where he is nearly dead

with cold in winter , and allowed to spend the rest of m f his life in the onastery o Westminster . It is the

- reverse side of the tapestry . A cross light is thrown o n the letter by a chance passage in the diary . f Musard wishes it to be understood, that the cause o his imprisonment is sim ply that he is too honest for

his companions , that he has told the truth , either in or m the lawsuit already mentioned at so e visitation , m when it was displeasing to the onastic authorities , ” f r ll n pore Musards to prison o t e y g t rothe . But a

6 5 . 8d for f passage in the diary notes . etching Dan ” m m John Musard ho e , after he had robbed his aster

o f plate and other things . Probably Musard was one f m of the black sheep , who sought re uge in the onas f m t e ry from the consequences o an evil life . Fro his ‘ own account it seem s probable that he had been f detected in alse accusations by the visitor , and sent to prison ; and that he was endeavouring to escape ’ a n m from it by appeal to Cro well s commissioners .

m 2 S om e truth there was in his state ents . In 1 5 2 the A sacrist , Robert lvechurch , was made to take an oath

that he would render new accounts , not to Prior or Moore , but to the bishop his deputy, and in the upper chamber above the hall within the sacristy of the 1 8 5 WORCESTER .

1 2 . A church of Worcester . In 5 4 Dr llen appeared s m i at the mona tery as com issary from Card nal Wolsey, a m to m ke a searching inquiry into the onastery , and to ca rry out measures for the expulsion of all crim i nous persons crim inosi the censure of all rebel lious and contradictory persons , and the upholding T h Of all laudable custom s . e whole monas tic body were summ oned to appear in the Chapter- house 8 o f A at noon on the th pril , and the prior was warned not to permit meanwhile a ny alienation what

or . ever, open occult, of convent property Probably t the visita ion was rather to inquire into the property, T h tha n into the morals of the community. e sole er t result appears to have been a tax of four p cen , ’ on m a for the cardinal s benefit, the on stic income . to o Probably , , some inquiry was made into the other ecclesiastica l founda tions ; for in the August of the m m sa e year Wolsey received a bull fro the pope , a authorising him to suppress the hospit l of S t . Wulf t s an , with some other small religious houses , and to apply the proceeds to the maintenance of his colleges at Ipswich and Oxford On the disgrace of the ca r dinal, a few years later, Henry took the revenues into

wn a s . his o h nd , and kept them there A r a nothe visit tion, at which Cranmer himself was

a 1 or 1 . T h present, took pl ce in 53 3 53 4 e results “ were twofold T he prior and his fa mily were “ ’ obliged to take an oath O f allegia nce to the king s ” “ m a je stie and to his he yre s of his bodie o f his most der e and entirely beloved lawful wife qu e ne A nne begotten and to be goten , and to any other heirs a co rding to the limita tion in the sta tu te mad e

0 1 6 WORCESTER . m o f o f onastery, and the return the income the convent had been made so irregularly, if at all, that m ost of the inmates were in utter ignorance o f its An f e m olu existence . account, there ore , of these m m ents was to be ade once a year, so as to be easily e n understood, and stricter regulations were to be forced as to the use of the convent seal and register . T h m f m Mu e education Of the onks , as is plain ro ’ m m sard s letter, had been neglected ; a gra atical “ ” m a n , honest and erudite , was to be appointed ’ m to instruct them . Musard s co plaint about the quality of the food on fi sh - days seem s to have been partly justified , for it is ordered that whole som e food should be provided for all the house ; that the prior should not be austere t o his brethren

' o r to the servants ; that t wo h on e st m e n should m inister to the sick m onks that the re fe ct ora riu s should provide linen and other necessaries for the dining- hall at proper tim es certain repairs are to be made at once in the dorm itory ; no goods are to be alienated without consent of the m aj ority of m o f m m the brethren ; and , in settle ent so e onastic T S a dbu rie j ealousy, homas , the cellarer, is to have of A quiet possession a stall in the choir. curious m provision is added , that no onk is to comm iserate T m one ho as Blockley, evidently under punishment “ for m f m vitu e riu m false state ents and de a ation , p , ” i i n m e t d e n ra c o e . m scandalum , g Probably Musard a y have had som e share in the Offence and punishm ent of T this homas Blockley, and may have appealed to

Wor shi fu ll Ma st r Cromwell, the Right p ye S ecretary ” m and honorable Lord Visitor, against so e sentence T H E D U N O F T H E N 1 ISSOL TIO MO ASTERIES . 1 6

m then passed upon him ; unless , indeed , his i prison ment was the consequence o f his dishonesty at

1 1 . Overbury, in 5 3 ’ T here is n o trace here of immorality or licentious ~ ness discovered by Cranmer in his visitation . Waste of revenue and unkind treatment o f the inferior monks are the worst charges a gainst the m onastery in this document . Probably, they were under Prior T h Moore an unruly set . e new doctrines seem to

As 1 2 have crept in am ong them . long ago as 5 9 Prior Moore had been obliged to denounce o n e T homas m “ f Forda , who had given utterance to pesti erous and ‘ m ” m da nable doctrines , and had made his escape fro w the monastery , and was to be arrested herever m found, that he ight be punished . Probably the prior was not sorry to escape from his responsibilities , him lightly as they sat upon , to a quiet retreat, espe c ia ll m y as he must have discerned the co ing storm . m His retire ent was arranged on favourable terms , “ d . with which possibly a present of 5 3 s. 4 to Master ” m Cromwell m a y have had so ething to do . He was

O f m - o f to have the use the anor house Crowle, and m for him m apart ents reserved in the onastery , with a f of w f of su ficiency ood and uel , and a modest provision “ o f O f Silver plate, two ale cups silver, two goblets ” silver, a salt of silver, and twelve silver spoons , with m such table and cha ber linen as was necessary, and two beds in “ the stone chamber within the m onas t r O f m e y. One the onks was to act as his servant and m for him t o say ass , at the expense of the monastery ; a debt of £ 10 0 to be paid to his creditors the t xvo house at Crowle was to be kept in repair, and M 6 2 1 WORCESTER .

’ horses provided for the prior s use . S om e provision T h e O f of m oney was also made . manors Crowle and Grim ley were assigned to him ; the house of m m Crowle was made over to the co issioners , during ’ the prior s life, at a rent of one red rose , and he had f 0 T he a pension o £5 a year . arrangement was

. e ro le o f effected through R J y , probably one the m commissioners , and the pay ents were to be made m m through the co issioner, and not directly to the prior probably to secure the regular perform ance O f

the covenant . O f In spite of his mismanagement the monastery, an d both in its discipline its revenues , the genial prior lived to the age of nearly four score years and ten in his safe retreat at Crowle . T h e vivid glim pse into the econom y o f Worcester ff bv of Priory, a orded the diary Prior Moore, is evidence that many o f the monasteries had de f m of f parted ro the intention their ounders . But for it must not be taken granted , that all the m o f w e onasteries the period ere the abod s of priors, m m who were little ore than luxurious county agnates , or O f for . monks chiefly remarkable turbulence and Lichfi e ld discontent . Clement at Evesham was the m ll conte porary of Prior Moore at Worcester . S ti less m ust the absolute truth be assum ed Of all the stories Of abom inable profi iga cy discovered by the S m commissioners in monasteries and convents . o e f T h e of these stories had a oundation o f truth . licentiousness which disgraced ordinary English ' society had crept like the breat h of a deadly

m . plague within onastic precincts . But there was

. 1 64 WORCESTER .

m m T m Malvern in y diocese , at that ti e ho as Dere “ h a m o f , referring the success the whole matter to your only approved wisdom and benign goodness for f in every case, I know that I do play the ool , but m f m yet , with y oolishness , I so ewhat quiet an unquiet m a n a m , and mitigate his heaviness, which I told to ou for do with y , that I know by experience your f goodness, that you will bear with ools in their A m f f foolishness . fter thus exonerating hi sel , rom the suspicion Of instigating a petition which will be f o n angrily re used , he goes to say that the prior is a m for of not hu ble suitor the continuance his house, “ m in m onkr e m a n th for onastic purposes , natt y , he y y ” 5 0 forb d natt , God y , but for any purposes which may m see good to the king, such as teaching, preaching , ffor study with prayer , and liberal hospitality , to the vertie O f hospitality he bathe been g re ttly inclined n m from hys b e gyn ynge . He then co es to the only o f part his letter which would receive attention , and offers a tem pting bribe to the king and to Cromwell m f su m o f hi sel , in the shape of a large ready money . ’ 0 0 m 2 0 0 If 5 arks to the king s highness , and marks ’ to yourself for your own good will , could in . any ’ m m of way pro ote the fulfil ent the prior s wishes , he o f could manage , with the help his friends , that they

. u should be forthcoming He adds, evidently o t of “ O f the pity his heart, the man is old a good house

m for keeper ; feedeth any , and that daily, the country

is poor and full o f penury . He ends with shy ex o f o wn pression his earnest desire , that some Of hOu se s m the religious , at least, ight be Spared for “ A m such purposes las y good lord, shall we nott T H E D N O F T H E ISSOLUTIO MONASTERIES . 1 65 see ijor u j in every shyre changed to such re m e dye ? Latimer returns at once to his own sledge - hamm er ' f d style , as soon as he has got away rom a subj ect m l m tasteful both to Cro wel and to his aster . I heard f o u you say once, a ter y had seen that furious invective t ou m of Cardinal Pole , tha y would ake him eat his own heart, which you have now, I trow, brought to pass , for he m ust needs n ow eat his own heart and becom e ” as heartless as he is graceless . Our diocese affords three m arked instances o f the ff a bba t s di erent types Of the priors and , who were m of presiding over the onasteries the day , in the m O f agnificent and worldly prior Worcester, the f m learned , refined , and skil ul architect at Evesha , “ ” a nd f m the the good housekeeper who eedeth any, f the prior O Great Malvern .

P ole worth w Of nunnery , in War ickshire, the com f T he missioners give a avourable account . abbess , “ ” A of o f Dame lice Fitzherbert, the age sixty “ d e scre t e re e l ou s years , is a very sadde , , and ygy ” m T o f wo an . here are twelve nuns good report O f m throughout all the country, not one who will

leave or forsake her habit and her religion . T he town “ -f is a poor little village of forty our houses, and ” h never a plough but one . T e labourers live f n - chie ly o the convent bounty , as the soil is hard if and barren ; the people will very likely desert it, “ the nunnery is suppressed, and wander and seke ' ” l in u r v o G . for their y g, as Lorde ode best knoweth T he nunnery also has its uses as a place of education , where the children of the neighbouring gentry are “ ” ve rtu ou sl m being brought up right y, someti es 1 66 WORCESTER .

m f r . to the nu ber of thirty o orty, and even more T f here ore, they advise that this nunnery may not be suppressed . T h e o f S ta n e we ll abbat Pershore, John was a learned and devout man , who had been prior O f an d Gloucester Hall in Oxford, was a suffragan bishop under the title Of P ole t e n sis. But if a m on e re arkable letter, written by of his monks , m m na ed Richard Beerly, to Cro well , contains any m o f o f a ount truth , the internal discipline the m monastery ust have been very unsatisfactory . Beerly com plains that the monks drink and play “ ” at bowls after c olla cyon till ten or twelve ’ m O clock that they co e to matins at irregular time , m m m so e in the iddle of the service, so e when it is m for f of al ost done , and then only ear punishment “ m dronck that so e are even drunken , as as myss , when they appear in the church ; that they spend their tim e playing at cards and dice ; that the rule is not obeyed ; that the nam e of the bishop of Rom e is not Om itted from the service -books ; “ ” o f l z th that the Word God is not read, only y e O f f a n d and foolish sermons the athers , besides m a n n there is one thing, which no might k ow but “ ” f stl fi o de s. the con essor, my g y He is moved, partly by his conscience, partly by the command m m of the co missioner, to relate this to Cro well,

him v ow and prays to be allowed to cancel his , and ” goo owtt o f religion . T here is something very suspicious about this letter, as if it were written to get favour with the h mm m . T e co issioner . But this attered little sen

8 1 6 — WORCESTER. T h e Richard Lisle became prebendaries . new re b e n da r ie s t e n m society consisted Of a dean , ten p , inor

canons , ten lay clerks , ten Choristers , two school ’ f f m fort kin s m . asters, y g scholars , and so e in erior o ficials T h e bishopric o f Gloucester was severed from that of o f T Worcester, the abbat ewkesbury , John Wake f ’ i . n an , being the first bishop Bishop Bland ord s diary details the gradual process by which the Old

state O f things was changed into the new . A D 1 O f In January , . . 5 3 9 , the monks this church

put on secular habits , and the priory surrendered . m A . D 1 on . 54 7 , Candle as Day , no candles were hallowed or borne ; on Ash Wednesday no a shes hal

8 2 n m . A . D . 1 S lowed 5 4 , March 5 , bei g Pal unday, m no pal s hallowed, nor cross borne on Easter Eve , f no fire hallowed but the paschal taper and the ont .

D a y S m On Easter the pix, with the acra ent in it, was n taken out Of the sepulchre , they Singi g, Christ is ’ risen , without procession . On Good Friday no A on 2 0 th creeping to the Cross . lso the October was of f taken away the cup , with the body Christ, rom ’

o f S t . the high altar Mary s Church , and in other

A. D 1 N O churches and Chapels . . 5 4 9 . sepulchre , or

O f . service sepulchre , on Good Friday On Easter n Even no paschal hallowed, nor fire, nor ince se , nor 2 rd A m m font . On the 3 pril was ass , atins, even All song , and all other service in English . books — m - S . of Divine ervice viz , ass books , graduals, pies port, and legends , were brought to the bishop and ” burnt .

Heath , who was then bishop, can scarcely have a o f pproved the holocaust, over which he was called T H E D U N O F T H E N 1 6 ISSOL TIO MO ASTERIES . 9

m on to preside . It is easy to conceive the wonder ent O ld m and sadness with which the onks , now pre be n da rie s ff m , assisted at services so di erent fro those on which their devotional feelings had been nurtured for ff so many years , even if only those best a ected to the Reform ation had been transferred from the m A onastic to the cathedral bodies . long inventory is given o f the treasures and rich vestm ents belong m ing to the church and to the onastery, all which

passed into the hands of the king o r of his nobles .

It includes the copes , heavy with gold and precious — “ ” stones the chalice of pure and fine gold pre sented to Bishop Alcock o n the day of his installa “ ” r cke son tion , weighing forty ounces, little p y g books , o f the poor blankets and bedding the monks , even o f the gardening tools, a stock saw, a pair iron m pincers , a pair of little scissors , an ivory co b , ffoxis ffox a haye nette with bellis to take , vi nets ” f xis f with bellis to take o , which were ound in a ’ Chest at the prior s manor house . Booty of all kinds must have been swept into the royal coffers from

the m onastery o f Worcester. At Evesham grea t efforts had been m ade to

indu ce Clem ent Lichfi e ld to retire . Oppressive burdens had been laid upon him to disgust him

1 0 with his position . He had paid £ 4 to the

king and £ 10 0 to Wolsey . for the right O f free election ; 1 0 0 m arks had been demanded by the

ft . king as a loan , prudently converted into a gi He was forced to maintain twenty - four o f the ’ in k g s servants at his table , and to provide forage for their horses . Wolsey, as greedy and insolent 1 7 0 WORCESTER .

m him 0 as his royal master, had ade pay 5 marks

for a visitation and 2 0 for protection . In the end

he gave up the struggle , and retired on a pension . A m H a wford young monk , na ed , or Harford , or Bal m lard , was put into his place , as a pliant instru ent for the surrender o f the abbey . He was rewarded

o f 2 0 with a pension £ 4 a year, and the rectory of f him Elmley Lovett . Queen Mary a terwards gave the h deanery of Worcester instead o f the pension . T e townspeople of Evesham had the good taste to recog

- nise the beauty of their newly erected tower, and the l T ff pub ic spirit to preserve it . his they e ected by m S ir bought purchasing it fro Philip Hoby , who had h m . T e it fro the king abbey itself was pulled down , A l m and the m aterials were disposed of. etter fro

Hoby is still extant, in which he asks to be allowed

m o f . to buy so e the stone His necessity , he says , “ ” which shall Shortly happen in building , will if require a great part ; and he does not obtain it, “ m of n e ce ssitie he adds , I were lyke in ti e my to ” be very destitute . T here was a good deal of disorder in the dem o lition o f m f the abbey, and Hoby defends hi sel “ from any participation in it . As con se rnyng the spoyl e or waste that ye wrote to me O ff that hath m be done there , I assure you both I and yne be ltle s the re off be s de s m e m gy , y that it did cost oney to ' fl or t m e persons a long y nightly, to weche [watch] and take hede lest any thing should be mysorde re d ” m d mm there . He also re in s the co issioners that, “ when they plundered the abbey, there was no lytell ” s o l e p y made , and asserts, that he has been watchful

1 7 2 WORCESTER .

T h f 6 1 d . e t wo with pensions o £ . 3 s . 4 abbey land n k was granted to William Pi n oc e . T h e spoliation of the monasteries continued long T h e after the seizure o f their rents and manors . m letters of the com issioner show , how greedily every o f scrap property was hunted up , even to the veriest o r m trifle . Much had been concealed ade away T h e O f m m with . dissolution the s aller onasteries o f had sounded a note warning to the larger houses , m of which they had availed the selves . But nothing t o o h was too trifling, nothing sacred , for the clutc o f Hen ry and his courtiers . Poor Prior Moore was of harassed , in his retreat at Crowle, to give account m m . S so e bedding, which had probably been sold o e o f the property in question was claim ed by him under m m m the agree ent, by which he retired . But the co is

sion e r o ne . , Robert Burgoyne , was not to be baulked ” “ n on e of I showed his Chaplai , he writes , that the best beds , with one of the like coverlets , were sold ” S and, he adds , writing to his superior, John enda ” m m f r m o . f ore , I eant the you He speaks o a table for m at Worcester, which he had intended hi self, but S m ’ f m which cuda ore s wi e had de anded, and which he f there ore gives up, though evidently with reluctance . “ As for the table at Worcester, which I thought to m m e a m have hadd ho e to , I right well contented m m that my istress , your wife, shall have the sa e ; th n k a n oth e re nevertheless , I y I shall not bye soch ” T he m m for money . co issioners were equally keen in their Search for the lead and bell m etal belonging to the m onasteries and convents . m Lati er was no friend to monasteries, and yet his T H E D U N O F T H E N 1 ISSOL TIO MO ASTERIES . 7 3

fiery indignation in his first serm on preached before

Edward VI . probably expressed the feelings o f the “ of country . We the Clergy had too much , but now that is taken away, and we have too little . I

- know where is a great market town , with divers do f hamlets and inhabitants , who rise yearly o their labour to the value of fifty pounds, and the vicar that serveth (being so great a cure) with but xii or

xiv marks by year, so that of his pension he is not him or able to buy books give his neighbour drink ,

all the great gain goeth another way . Only t wo ‘ f things , he adds , keep him from despairing o the “ ' : future of the church one is, that the king s Maj esty m o f a e when he co es g , will see a redress of these “ ou t of m things so fra e , and the other , I believe Acco m t that the general p g Day is at hand, the p/ dreadful Day of Judgment . It may easily be con c ive d ff e , what an e ect this sermon must have had on

the courtiers , the most corrupt who ever disgraced an ' st ood a rou n d English court , who the young king, and who were probably partakers o f th e ' sh a m e fu l

pillage which the preacher denounced so passionately . m - r Edward VI . ad ired this plain speaking, and e 2 0 m warded Latim er with £ in oney . In other places

Latimer tells , how the gentry invaded the profits o f ” the Church, leaving only the title to the incumbent how “ chantry priests were put by the patrons into “ several cures to save their pensions how m any be ne fi ce s were lent ou t in fee -farm s given to servants ” for keeping Of hounds , hawkes , and horses ; and

“ ‘ ' S O m e sorr how the poor clergy, being kept to y

pittances, were forced to put themselves into gentle WORCESTER .

m ’ en s houses , and there to serve as clerks of the ” ffi of kitchen; surveyors , receivers , and other o ces ’ ’ con se u e nc e ‘ o f La tim r s th e like kind . Possibly in q e of o n oratory, and his connexion with the diocese ,

A 1 6 1 pril , 55 3 , a letter was issued by the council to the chancellor of the augm entations to cause a book f m o f o f to be devised in or law, licensing the Bishop Worcester and Gloucester (Hooper) to give to three f poor vicarages in his diocese, the parsonages whereo m a are im propriated to his bishoprick, such aug ent tion of living towards their better m aintenance as he shall o f think convenient out the lands of the said see . Evidently some of the council thought that their o wn m consciences ight be more at ease, if the good bishop own m could be induced to repair, at his expense , so e f m o the cruel injustice , which they the selves had

- f wrought. It is like a well known definition O charit y A thinks B ought to help C .

Henry VII I . had spared the guilds , though part of their property had been applied to what was now called m superstitious uses . Me bers of the guild had pro i d o f v de , in the event their decease , that a portion of their estate Should pass into the hands of the trading f corporation to which they had belonged in li e , charged with the Obligation of an annual or more frequent mass f o . S for the soul the deceased ubj ect to this charge, f of u the o ficers the g ild were, either at their discretion ’ of or according to the limitations the donor s will, m m of to maintain decayed e bers the guild, to edu r cate their children , to portion their daughters , o to T h f give a pittance to their widows . e revenues o the town guilds were the benefit societies of the Middle

R WORCESTE . probably thou ght useless to continue the opposition A against such a maj ority. t the last reading the T he Bishop of Worcester was not in the house . Guild of the Holy T rinity in Worcester wa s sup pressed, and the revenues were confiscated . EDWAR D V I .

C HAPT E R XI .

D D v i E WAR .

I T would be diffi cult to conceive a m ore striking contrast to the dignified English statesm en and the m subtle Italian prelates , to who the clergy and laity m had been so long accusto ed , than the plain , down o f m ri ght son the Leicestershire yeo an , who had been taught by his father “ to put his body into ” w of his bo , and who carried the spirit the teaching f f T he into every word and action o his li e . story which Fuller tells o f his conversion describes the

- man . He had been cross bearer at Cambridge, m t o m f vehe ent in his loyalty the Ro an aith, and f m eager in his Opposition to the Re or ers . But f m o f Bilney, the uture artyr, discerned the strength will and thorough honestness which lay at the root f m m ff o this fierce zeal , and deter ined to ake an e ort m n f to enlist hi o the side O truth . As Fuller tells ’ La tim e r s the story, Bilney, observing zeal, repaired

’ m a nd him to his cha ber, desired to hear his con ’ i n T h e f fe ss o . hearing whereo , inspired by God s m o f m Spirit, so wrought upon Lati er, that, al ost a ” m m o f persecutor , he beca e a zealous pro oter truth .

1 m In 53 4 , Lati er was preaching in the diocese.

He was holding disputations at Bristol , with his 1 7 8 WORCESTER .

’ on usual zeal , the subjects which were stirring men s m As hearts ost deeply . reported by William B urton , then abbat of the Augustinian monastery in that m town , his ser ons were such as the good abbat would “ s sm a tike regard with horror, being , in his words, y ” m ron ou s . T and y y (erroneous) here is, said Lati er,

no m aterial fi re in the place o f torment . S ouls in purgatory have no need o f ou r prayers ; rather we

of . have need theirs No saints are to be honoured, m m nor pilgri ages to be ade . Nor is the Virgin

Mary free from sin . T he challenge had been taken up by one H u bb e rdin (the name is spelt

’ ‘ f a s H u b e rd n in Burton s letter indi ferently, y and H e rd n f yb y ), an Ox ord divine and a zealous

Romanist, and by other champions residing on the H u r . bb e din spot Foxe describes , in language which m m f m “ l Lati er hi sel ight have used, as an o d O f Pha rise divine Oxford, a tight painted y, and a great strayer abroad in all quarters of the realm to ’ deface and im peach the springin g of God s holy ” Gospel . T he h controversy caused suc excitement , grete ’ ” st r fe a m on e k n e s y and debate g the y g subjects, that of d the attention Cromwell was calle , and reports him n f were sent to by Burto , as chief o the mm H lse co issioners , and by John y y, prior of the f preaching riars . Both Burton and H ylse y were m oderate men , and their reports are made in very

. H lse cautious language y y seems to have perceived, that the opinions which Latimer (the nam e is spelt La t om e r and La tym a r) was preaching were not odious to those in authority . He is very guarded . He had

1 8 0 WORCESTER .

breeze o f court favour which was hereafter to waft T h e him to the bishopric o f Rochester. letters give a glim pse of the way in which the work o f the m Re form ation was carried on . We see the vehe ent m f of f Cha pions , ull aith in their cause , stepping forward on both sides the excite m en t in the town o f the h u m and stir, as in an excited hive bees ,

n - while m e talked at the street corners , and disputed

- in their ale houses, and turned their social gatherings o f f into scenes stri e , pierced to the quick by loyalty old or O f to the doctrines , by conviction the truth in n e w f m e n the ; wise and thought ul , as Burton and H lse n m y y, first enteri g war ly into the controversy, m then standing aside to think , as so e earnest words O f me m m Lati r struck ho e , balancing the selves m between the parties . watching th e tu ult in the for m m u town , and , the ti e at least , co ing to the concl O f m f f m m e n Sion Ga aliel , Re rain ro these , and let m for f the alone, if this counsel or this work be o m e n m of , it will co e to nought ; but if it be God, ye cannot overthrow it , lest haply ye should be found

even to fight against God . If H yl se y im agined that Latim er was favoured o f in high quarters , the events the next year proved

1 that he had divined aright . In 5 3 4 Latim er was m A f ade chaplain to nne Boleyn , and, by her avour, m o f in the sa e year bishop Worcester. His first a ttention was directed to the condition of the m onaste ry and to the worship conducted in the

. n ot 1 cathedral But it was till 5 3 7 , that he took strong m easures for the reform ation o f it by the of issue injunctions , purporting to be the result D D V E WAR I .

of . his visitation He begins by stating, that the ignorance and negligence o f divers person s in the ff monastery are intolerable , and not to be su ered that the consequence o f this is the prevalence O f “ o f m O f idolatry, and any kinds superstition and m other enor ities , and the cause of it, the neglect o f m the per ission given by the king, that the Holy m S criptures ight be read in the English tongue . It o will be n ted, that the alleged negligence and m f r m O f enor ities re e only to atters doctrine , and that no m ention is m ade O f any relaxation o f m or o f T h e orals licentiousness conduct . prior o f m is to provide , at the expense the onastery, a Bible in English , to be placed , with a chain o r o r m attached , in the Church cloister so e other place Open to the public . Every religious person is to procure at least a New T estam en t in English

f m . T n or be ore Christ as here is to be no Singing , m cere ony in the cathedral during the preaching, and all the m onks are t o listen quietly to the serm on . A lecture o f Holy S cripture is to be read every day o n in English , except holy days , and to all the m o f m in ates the onastery , unless any have special T h leave from the prior to be absent . e steward m T of every m onastery is to be a lay an . here m m is to be always a school aster, co petent to teach m m m gram ar . No lay an or wo an is to be dis

u ra e d f m co g ro reading any good book , in Latin A o f S l or English . chapter Holy cripture in Eng ish is to be read to the prior every day during m a . T h his dinner and supper, wherever he y be e f m onks are to dine together, our at each table, 1 8 2 WORCESTER .

w to m S fo er one ese, an d to have cripture read in English at the time ; the fragm ents o f the meal are A m to be distributed am ong the poor . l s are to be given in every parish where the monks hold tithes “ ” or land, when as ye be persons and proprietaries , and the injunctions are to be read once a m onth in

- the chapter house before all the brethren . m Beyond these inj unctions , it does not see that ' Latim er e ffected m uch alteration in the cathedral .

T he dem olition o f the i m ages and the elim ination . of Rom an uses from the service did not take place f T h e m m till he had le t the diocese . chief e orial f or which he has le t in the diocese is a service , o f antiphon, to be used at the sprinkling holy O f m a n water. It is characteristic the , that he draws attention to the m eaning of the cerem ony by the e m

on . phasis the inner truths , which it represents He m m m converts what, to any, was probably erely a for al

Observance, into an earnest prayer, deepened in its m sole nity by the gesture , which recalls vividly to m ind the great m ercy of the S aviour cleansing from

in all S .

R e m e m e r r r m e a m b you p o is in B ptis , hr h is m e r a n d h e C ist, cy bloods dding , By whose m ost holy sp rinkling f a ll r fr O you sins you ha ve e e p a rdoning .

It is im possible n ot to wonder whether Latimer m f o f e ever availed hi sel the lib rty to hawke, fish , f hunt, or owl , which was reserved to bishops and

priors in their leases . In a lease granted during ’ L a t im e r s m O f S f episcopate to John Co bes , trat ord, a vh ich O f A included rights fishery on the von, it is

1 84 WORCESTER .

m Ro e had overlaid the truth , had not so concentrated

o n him his attention that one point, as to prevent

m n z fro looki g round the hori on , and discerning , that there were also dangers appro a ching from the Oppo f f site quarter . He set his ace as stead astly against the uprooting of church discipline and Church doctrine “ O f f m by the wild boar Protestant anaticis , as against devouring O f the fruits O f gospel truth by the “ ” f wild beasts o the papal hierarchy. In his last m m f . S ser on be ore Edward VI , speaking Of ey our, m wh o for the lord ad iral , had j ust been executed S m treason , he says , that he has heard that ey our m o f m m was a conte ner of the book co on prayer, “ m ” m w wa s n o . and adds e phatically , I ish , there ore Latim er wa s as u nflinching a champion O f Church authority as O f Gospel truth . of He was concerned, while bishop Worcester, f in a cruel execution . One Dr . Forrest , a riar, had been condem ned to be burnt for denying the royal m T m supre acy . here was a celebrated i age in Wales “ ” 1 D a r ve ll G a the re n called , to which pe ople had

O f m m ff been in the habit aking pilgri ages , with O erings f m f if o cattle and horses and oney, in the belie that , “ m ff m Da rve ll any ade an o ering to the i age , this “ Ga the re n had power to fetche bym or them that ” ff a m n T h so O ers oute of hell when they be d p e d . e m o f i age appears to have been gigantic size, and to

m a n m T o have represented a in ar our . cast addi

n l m m o n m tio a sha e and igno iny Forrest and the i age , this was brought to the place of execution , so that they

De rve l a a m a \Ve lsh a . G d , s int o r might be burnt together , perhaps , that Forrest f might be burnt to death by the idol itsel . On the gallows were inscribed som e taunting verses

D a Da rve ll Ga th e r e n a s a h t he e hm e vid , s it W ls n ,

e t he ou t la we s o f h e F c d out ll ,

N o w h e m e h e a r a nd shilde h a r e r is co wit sp , in n s to bu n a t m th fi l S i d e ,

Fo r a e h e m a e in W l s y not dw ll . An d rre th e fr a r t ha a e a r Fo st i , t obstin t li , T h a f S h a b e e a t wil ully ll d d , I n h is contum a ci e [to] th e G osp e ll doth d e ny

T h e t o b e r m a kyng sup e e he d .

Latimer was appointed t o preach to him in his dyin g m f mo ents . While the poor riar was actually hangi ng m m e him f in the fla es , Lati er taunt d with his belie , and him w . T he f asked , in hat state he was dying riar “ if answered with a bold voice , that an angel Should com e down fro m heaven and teach him any other doctrine than he had received and believed from his ” n him A ot . ll youth , he would believe , and so died this is consistent with the vehem ence with which m on o f m Lati er pressed the persecution La bert, and m m m T which evidently excited co ent at the ti e . here is nothing strange that o n e who was hi m self a m artyr n m m T h should be SO ready in inflicti g artyrdo . e

tem per of those times was n ot o u r o wn . Men such as Latim er were as stern in inflicting as in enduring ff T t o m m f su ering . ruth was the the ost precious O

of or all things , and the ag ony death in Others in them selves was but a light price to pay fo r the m a in d t e na nce O f the truth . It depended on the si e which m they took , whether their na es Should b e written down

r in history as heroic m artyrs o as savage persecutors . 1 86 WORCESTER .

Henry and Latimer could not long act in ba r T he mony. six articles gave Latimer an Opportunity of m to retire, which he at once availed hi self, m not probably, as was said at the ti e, without a a sense o f relief at having escaped so e sily. It is - not known why he did not resum e his bishopric when Heath was displaced by Edward VI . Fuller, ’ fond O f endeavouring to get behind other m en s o u t f m m inds, and to work their reasons ro his o wn consciousness , gives several considerations ,

m a . which y have weighed with him It was not, for of he says , any want favour from the king ; nor because his downright serm ons had dis pleased the courtiers ; nor because he shared in ’ m a s Hooper s dislike to cere onies . It w rather owing “ either to his conscience (at times sharpest m e n in the bluntest of ), because he would not of of be built on the ruins another, especially one of m o r Heath , a eek and moderate nature, to his age, who, Barzillai like, was superannuate m A " fro earthly honours . las what needed a square cap over the m any nightcaps which age had ? multiplied on his reverend head Or, because m not 5 0 m he found hi self fit for govern ent, better for preaching than ordering ecclesiastical affairs ; or f , because he prophetically oresaw that the in gratitude of the English nation would shorten their ’ happiness and King Edward s life ; and he was loth m ” to co e into a place only to go out again . Pro m f for f bably he felt hi sel fitted the work o a preacher, rather than O f a bishop . m John Bell , who succeeded Lati er, was a man of

WORCESTER .

T h p rim it u s e m a na ve rit . e bishopric is granted to him m ’ “ si ply as the king s delegate , tibi delegare nostra ” r a u ctorita te regia atque suprem a dign a re m u . I t is added , that even this authority is dependent on the “ m be n e la cit u m d u n ta xa t royal pleasure , ad nostru p ” u r T m a m e d u ra t u m . hat there y be no isconc ption O f m m t o o f the eaning , as applying si ply acts m of te poral authority , or ecclesiastical jurisdiction , ’ or such as proving wills , holding bishop s courts , the licence actually m entions the power Of ordination to the priesthood as con ferred u pon him by the m “ Ad ’ royal andate . Power is given , ordinand u oscu m u e dio ce sim Wi orn u bicu m u e igitur q qintra g , q m oribu s e t n e t oriundos, quos literatura dilige ti rigoroso ” x m idon e o s f com e re ris e a ine ore p , T he plunder O f Church property went o n i n the ’ o f beginning Edward s reign , not , as under Henry f o r . o VII I , by a deliberate assertion royal national

h . m rig t , but by snatches Heath was ade to give up

m o f S f m - - A the anors trat ord and Ha pton upon von , O f in Worcestershire , to John Dudley , earl Warwick , o f S and the lordships toke Episcopi and Hanbury,

m o f Bibe r and the anor y, in Gloucestershire , to the o f m for n o c o m Duke Northu berland, all of which T h p e n sa tion was returned . e house in London was exchanged for the m anors and advowson O f Grim ley a n d Hallow (which had j ust been fi l ch e d from the o f n cathedral property), and the advowson Newi gton , in S urrey . But however facile Heath m a y have been in sub m of of itting to be plundered the property the Church , “ ” his week and m oderate n ature was so thoroughly D D vi E WAR . 1 8 9

of under the control his conscience , that he did not hesitate to stand up in his place in Parliam ent in unflinching Opposition to those m easures o f the Reform ation which he deem ed contrary to the true f o . doctrine , or to the real interests the Church In alliance with the Bishop of Hereford he opposed the Bill for “ adm inistering the blessed sacram ent 1 6 8 to all Christian people under both kinds in 5 , of f again with the Bishop Here ord , he voted against the Bill which authorised the prayer- book o f that m date ; and in the sa e year, without the Bishop o f f Act for m Here ord , he opposed the per itting the T f marriage of the clergy . his stead ast opposition must have Often provoked the an ger O f those who intended the licence to be no m ere am plification of legal phraseology , but that bishops were to hold their Office so long as they retained the favour o f the h m C . T e king and of his ourtiers end ca e soon . Heath refused to subscribe the n e w ordinal of 1 5 5 1 mm for making bishops and priests , and was co itted of to prison , and deprived his bishopric by a court f com posed O six delegates, three Civilians and three com m on lawyers . im But, though his episcopate was short, it was T h m e n portant . e changes in the cathedral already n t ion e d were m ade under his directio , though S m probably against his will . till ore irreverent him on must have seemed to the orders under which ,

1 0 th 1 m January , 54 7 , all the i ages in the cathedral and other parochial churches were destroyed . Nor could it have been pleasant to him to see the interior of the churches in his diocese roughly 1 90 WORCESTER .

painted over and adorned with texts o f S cripture . f w o S t . In the Church Michael , in Bed ardine ,

' in the city of Worcester, a man was engaged to do this at a charge Of 2 d. per yard . It must have been a relief to Heath to be rel ieved O f his crosier . Other records o f his episcopate exhibit him in ’ T he work more congenial . bishop s courts were in full activity, and , as the registers show, were making the authority of the Church felt in social an d do

m e stic f . 1 H a wford o f li e In 54 5 , William , Church on e S Lench , had to do penance for incest, unday R ou se le n ch in his parish church , another in that of , ’ and another in that of Abbots Morton . In the of same year, William Marshall , Hanley Castle, was accused of being a great swearer . He appeared f s personally in Powick Church , and con e sed that he m m T h . e did so eti es swear bishop, who appears of ff e n to have taken personal cognisance the O ence , joined on him to appear in the Church before the on S parishioners the unday following, and to express his contrition for the scandal which had been occa i n T h s o e d by his conduct . e words were prescribed “ him . for Neighbours, whereas heretofore I have ove rm u che used to swear by great oaths I a m sorry f there or, and I desire you to take no example by m e m ” to do the like, but that ye do utterly avoid the sa e . T h e bishop made minute inquiries into the condi tion of the parish churches , with a view to reverence S m of in divine worship . o e the answers show much At slovenliness in many places . Powick there was At ffi i . no missal, nor a su cient surplice for the v car

W' ORCESTER .

f E m o tt s o f parish o Blockley, and Grace , the parish A m m m wa s o f Whatcote . si ilar co ission issued in the following year to the curate in charge o f the collegiate church of S tratford . o f On the deprivation Heath , Hooper was brought wa s from Gloucester to this diocese . It the intention f w O Ed ard , or of his councillors , to undo the work

f re - o f O f his ather, and to unite the sees Gloucester for and Worcester, evidently the revenues , which had been allotted to Gloucester at the dissolution of l . G ou the monasteries It was at first intended, that c e st e r should be an archdeaconry in the diocese

m i sa i o f Worcester . But this sche e gave great d s t s faction and Edward probably was unwilling to incur ’ the public sham e of so quickly undoing his father s h . T e n work two sees were u ited , and the bishop was m to reside six onths in each . Hooper was somewhat T peculiar in personal appearance . all, thin , grave, n and earnest, ascetic in countena ce , and with the worn look and stooping figure which characterise ff f m habitual su erers ro sciatica , Fuller describes his Character in a fe w graphic touches He was bred in f Ox ord , and well skilled in Latin , Greek, and Hebrew of fa r o u r d a f (a little his would go in y), but a terwards travelled over into S witzerland . He seemed to some to S him have brought witzerland back with in his harsh , rough , and unpleasant behaviour, being grave unto

. Yet rigour, and severe unto surliness , to speak ’ m ’ truth , all Hooper s ill nature consisted in other en s him S little acquaintance with . uch as visited him

m him o f - once , conde ned over austerity ; who repaired him him of to twice, only suspected the same ; who D D E WAR vi . 1 93 conversed with him constantly not only acquitted him m m f of all oroseness , but co mended him or ” “ sweetness of manner. S weetest nuts have sourest ” ff m m rind . He was very di erent fro Lati er. H e m had not the racy hu our, the genial cordiality, the of m m fund ani al spirits , which were ele ents in im ’ La t e r s . popularity Many, attracted to Latimer by of the rough heartiness his bearing, would be repelled ’ f by Hooper s grave austerity . Yet , a ter reading ’ m Fuller s character, it see s probable , that Hooper “ ” could not have been very extrem e against John

Lambert, nor could have carried a personal bitterness into an address to Friar Forrest at the stake .

His theological Opinions are well known . He was m of f m one of the cha pions the extreme Re or ers . He was only persuaded to overcom e his relu ctance to the episcopal dress by the urgency of the other bishops , to which , if Fuller is to be trusted, was ’ m m added a few days i prisonm ent, as an inti ation f ’ o the king s Opinion . Fuller tries to account for

two . Hooper accepting sees Dunstan , he says, held

Worcester and London together. But Hooper was not likely to accept Dunstan as an authority . Pro him bably what weighed with was , partly the pressure m of fro the court , with a view to the appropriation the property Of the see ; partly, that he did not consider either the extent or the population of the diocese too m on e great to be ad inistered by man , and that he ’ “ reckoned, in Fuller s words , It is not the having w of on e t o bishoprics together, but the neglecting , ” which is the sin . His tenure of this see was too short to leave 0 1 94 WORC ESTER .

much record of his work here . It was distinguished by a singular beauty of holiness in himself and in his household . His house , Foxe tells us , was a pattern of m good exa ple, in honest conversation , and in read

ing o f the holy S cripture . Nothing was to be seen o f O f or there courtly rioting, courtly luxury idleness

no dishonest word, no swearing was ever to be heard . S o m uch o f the revenues Of the see as could be saved by simplicity and frugality of livin g was “ T ” devoted to the poor. wice , says Foxe , speaking own in his person , I was in his house at Worcester, m m where, in his co on hall , I saw a table spread of of with good store meat , and beset full beggars f and poor olk ; and , I asking his servants what this meant, they told me that every day their lord and m ’ m aster s anner was, to have to dinner a certain m of f of nu ber poor olk the city by course , who were f m served by our at a ess, with hot and wholesome meats ; and when they were served then he himself f ” sat down to dinner, and not be ore . He was personally characterised by a holy simpli I t n ot city. is easy to realise , what were his ideas of fli c f the authority and o e o a bishop . Our records of A m his work at Worcester are few . co plaint made ’ in Queen Mary s reign accuses him of having carried on with activity the work of dem olition in the cathe “ ' dral , our belles and organs be broken , our altars and chapels are by Hoper [bishop] violated and over ” f ’ thrown . Bishop Bland ord s manuscript again notes m of briefly, In all the ti e Bishop Hooper were no m a Children confirmed . Hooper y have held Opinions about confirmation very different from those of the

1 6 9 WORC ESTER .

CH APT ER XI I .

AN D B MARY ELIZA ETH .

’ N wa s O Hooper s deprivation , Heath restored to his for m see , but only a short ti e , and was then trans f . o of lated to York One the first acts Mary, who , f n ot T whatever were her aults, did share the udor for greediness church property, had been to separate f m A ’ Gloucester again ro Worcester . fter Heath s m pro otion the see was given to Richard Pates, who had been archdeacon of Winchester and then O f m on f m Lincoln , and had been e ployed oreign e bas T m sies . here was so e hesitation about the appoint for 1 ment, , though Heath was translated in 5 53 , the m n t 1 te poralities were o restored till 5 5 5 . All m this ti e Worcester, like all other dioceses , was troubled by religious controversies . Even under the on e m quiet rule of Prior Moore , onk at least had left the m onastery after turbulent assertion o f heretical

. 1 1 1 S m or P e n te r O f Opinions In 5 , William ith, y , m O bersley, was charged with declaring Openly that wa s Paul not an apostle, and that neither Chancellor, m m nor co issary, nor the particular friar who brought him m him the charge against , should ake believe it .

“ T h e heretical words were uttered in the house o f T m of m m ho as Hull , O bersley, and sound like so e in m of thing spoken the excite ent a drunken squabble . AN D MARY ELIZABETH . 1 9 7

Perhaps S mith may have belonged to one o f the m ore violent and ignorant sects , which spring up in seasons of m relig ious excite ent, and pass away forgotten . But he had not the courage to sustain his conviction , if , indeed, his assertion was anything more than a

conse random word , and was glad to escape the u e nc q e s by m aking a public profession of orthodoxy . 1 6 m f In 54 , ore serious consequences ollowed to b o of of m a poor y, twelve years age , na ed John of T m Davis , nephew ho as Johnson , an apothecary of T e s Worcester, who had persisted in reading the m ta ent, and other religious books , in English . He was horribly treated in a dungeon in the Guildhall , called the peephole his endurance was tested by holding his finger in a candle ; a n d he was continually m m m n harassed and tor ented , even by having a ad a T h e of put into his cell as his companion . death f m n Henry VIII . saved him rom so e of the co se qu e nce s o f his conduct ; but he was arraigned at the

a n d . assizes, sentenced to be whipped From this o f B a t te nh a ll he was saved by Mr. Bourne , , who took h im to his own house and sheltered him awhile . Even kindness was as ine ffectual as ill treatm ent to induce

f m . the boy to swerve ro his convictions Bourne, a m him for zealous Catholic, was obliged to dis iss fear T he o f his infecting his household with his Opinions . boy found friends ; he survived the Marian pe rse cu m “ m tion , and beca e a profitable inister in the d Church of Englan . T he history of the diocese is linked with on e o f the greatest persecutors and with one o f the T h noblest victim s of the Marian period . e story 1 8 9 WORCESTER .

b -A told y ntony Wood and Fuller , that Bonner was of a rie st S the illegitimate son p , named George avage , or m is evidently an idle alicious tale, probably founded o f on the fact that Bonner, while bishop London , showed som e anxiety to acquire for that see the

Bushley estates , which had been the property of T h f the S avage fam ily . e real history o his parentage Le chm e re was told by Nicholas , Lord , when he S assured the historian , trype , that Bonner was born of at Hanley, in Worcestershire, the son one Bonner, ’ B on e i s a poor, honest man , in a house called place , belonging to the Le chm e re s and that his ancestors m m had put Bonner hi self to school . He ade O f so O f good use the education bestowed , and the patronage of the Le chm e re fam ily ; for in 1 5 2 9 he was presented by the prior and convent of Wor ce st e r V o f f to the icarage Wolverley. It is doubt ul f n fi c whether he took possession o the be e e . When

elevated to the see of London, and enj oying royal f S avour, his thoughts turned to the evern meadows , fa m ila r with which he had been in his youth , and n ow f f which belonged to royalty, having been or eited by the conviction o f S ir John S avage for killing

Mr. Pawlet in a duel . Bishop Ridley leased Bushley

o n e n -in - Park to George Carr, givi g to his brother law,

S h e e side - George p , the post of park keeper and the of m T manor Red arley . hus Ridley wrote in prison m S Farewell , y dear brother George hipside, whom I f u have found ever faith ul, tr sting and , in all . loving m o f my states and conditions , and now in the ti e my f f cross over all other to me most riendly and stead ast, and , that which liketh me best over all things, in

2 O O WORCESTER .

a lve sh e a ds C , that they shall perceive their sweet shall T he v not be without sour sauce . irulent letter is f o r . I characteristic the w iter t proves, too, that his connexion with the Le chm e re fam ily still continued . h A change cam e over the fam ily in the civil war . T e sam e house which was the patron o f Bonner was a ’ for f f shelter Baxter s brother, a ter his departure rom

- - on S . Upton evern , at the restoration ’ A of Bill, in pursuance Bonner s threat, was brought into Parliament to m ake void all leases granted by the

m . n o t arried clergy But it did become law, and the of Carrs remained at Bushley till the end their lease ,

1 2 in 65 . Bushley was curiously connected with the reformed T f m f . o aith One Edward yndall , brother Willia T f m yndall the Re or er, lived in the parish at Pull

Court, which he held on a lease granted to the abbey

T . S of ewkesbury Bishop tokesley, in a letter speaks him ” of as Brother to the arch heretic . He appears never to have quarrelled openly with the of abbey , which , indeed, he was the steward . In of T e wke sbu r his will he leaves to the parish priest y, ” b owca se in addition to his best bow and , his books

m l m llica n a o P e . by fa ous heretical teachers , C and

A . S f o f m gain , a Mr trat ord, Bushley , arried a grand

of . T o f T daughter Mr William racy, oddington, who of died under so strong suspicion heresy, that his body h f m was exhum ed and burnt . T e a ilies of T yndall a nd S m m and Ridley, Carr and hipside , ust have for ed a strong party inclined to Protestantism in this corner of the diocese . But the season of persecution passed away from AN D MARY ELIZABETH . 2 0 1

T he the diocese . Fuller says , Dioceses of

Oxford, Gloucester, Hereford, and Worcester, m under their respective bishops, Robert King, Ja es Pa rfe w n Brook , Robert , and Richard Pates , e j oyed ” much quiet . Possibly in this diocese, the quietness was in part owing to the bishop . He was a learned m a n of in , a peaceable disposition , zealous the faith , but always against inflicting corporal punish m ent on such as were opposed to him in religion . On the accession of Elizabeth he wa s deposed and im ~ d prisoned for a short time, and then went abroa , o f T a t had a seat at the council rent, and died

Louvain . T he first of the Elizabethan bishops was a m a n o f considerable influence . Edwin S andys was descended f m f m O f S a n d se s ro the ancient a ily the y , belonging m m S t . . to Bees , in Cu berland He had been aster of Catherine Hall and vice - chancellor of the university m on a of Ca bridge . Perhaps account of his vowed m f m sy pathy with the Re or ation , he had been selected by the Duke of Northu mberland to preach a serm on f him m m f be ore , when he ca e to Ca bridge a ter the f m f . death o Edward VI , in his unsuccess ul atte pt to apprehend the Lady Mary . It was a delicate a n d S m f perilous task but andys acquitted hi sel so warily, f that no serious consequences ollowed . He was taken

prison e r, however, by the soldiers of Queen Mary , m when Northu berland fled . Fuller says Dr . S andys , hearing the bell ring , went, according to m his custo and office , attended with the beadles,

into the Regent house, and sat down in the m chair according to his place . In co eth Master 2 0 2 \VO R C E S T E R .

of m m Mitch, with a rabble so e twenty Papists , so e t him f m endeavouring o pluck ro the Chair, and

m f m him . T he so e the chair ro doctor, being a man of m etal , grasped his dagger, and probably had m m of . . despatched so e the , had not Dr Bell and Dr

Blythe, by their prayers and entreaties , persuaded him to patience . He was then spoiled of his I f goods , and sent prisoner to London . he had “ ” m not been so wary in his ser on , worse things m would have happened . He was per itted to escape m / m . to Ger any, where he re ained till Mary s death Honour and prom otion were in store fo r him m m o n his return . He was added to the co ission

- for the revision of the Prayer book, though , appa r e n tl o ne of m m y, not the original e bers , and, in

1 of . 5 5 9, was appointed to the bishopric Worcester T h e parochial clergy were generally tranquil , not

‘ m of vehe ent partisans either side , and disposed to accept, with at least outward acquiescence , whatever charges were im posed by authority. A curious f of instance is ound in the records Newbold Pacey . T he 1 register, which begins in 5 54, notes that John

Puncheon , the vicar, was there in place of Mr. l Hi ton, who had to leave the place because he m was a protestant and arried, and who died three years later in Oxfordshire . Mr . Puncheon was, pre su m a bl m y, well disposed to the Ro an party ; never the le ss he accepted the order of things under Elizabeth

m for quietly ; he held the incu bency forty years, till B u 1 5 93 . t there were other elem ents of disquiet in S m the diocese, and with these andys soon ca e into ” S of m collision . andys was a man etal, as Fuller

2 04 WORC ESTER .

old Lawrence Vaux , late warden of the Church , Man

m . chester, was ordered to re ain in Worcestershire Great care was taken in every county to scatter a ll the little groups of disaffected persons likely to form

Conspiracies . All o f m this was necessary , if the peace the kingdo was t o be preserved . But it caused much irri t a tion in the diocese against the newly-appointed

v him bishop . His first isitation involved also in a m personal quarrel . T h e m ore zealous of the Ro an Catholic laity were indignant at the new state of m things . It was very grievous to the to see the m endow ents , given by their ancestors, in the posses T sion of a church which was to them heretical . hey were aggrieved by a m arried clergy holding the m f m v w onastic revenues , and per or ing ser ices hich ,

as they believed, could only be entrusted to hands “ ’ ” of hallowed by a vow celibacy . Priests wives were obj ects o f their abhorrence the word was to

them synonymous with the lowest degradation . In the letters of the time there is no feature m ore dis tin tl m Am f c y arked than this . ong the leaders o the m ir Ro an party in the diocese was S John Bourne . H e reconciled a fi rm grasp o f church doctrine with a

fi rm n T he m O f grasp o church property. anor Bat ’ t e nhill f m , Prior Moore s avourite anor, had been f m taken ro the Church at the dissolution . Other spoils fell to his lot in the general scramble for wh o plunder. His nephew, Gilbert Bourne, had been made bishop o f Bath and Wells by Queen

Mary, held a prebendal stall in the cathedral . He , for of too , had been noted the warmth his attachment AN D MARY ELIZABETH . 2 0 5

m ’ S t . to Ro e , and, when preaching at Paul s , and asserting that Bonner, under King Edward, had been unjustly deprived, a dagger hurled at him by one o f the congregation stuck into a pillar near the pulpit . ir f f S o . n John , himsel , was a man mark He was o e o f the secretaries of state under Queen Mary . He n t was o altogether unmerciful nor bigoted. He in t e rfe re d to protect the boy Davis , when in trouble for his Bible reading . S andys recognised his influence in the diocese, and endeavoured to con him ciliate by courteous invitations to the palace . But at this first visitation he contrived to give m hi great offence . He had been informed o f a ’ u stone altar in Bourne s parish ch rch , which he f ordered to be pulled down and de aced . Bourne, on e according to account, defied the bishop , and caused it to be rem oved to his own house his own ’ m story, however, was , that the bishop s co mand had for been complied with , and the stone used paving T h f . e r o the aisle result was , on the pa t Bourne, a determination to annoy the bishop and the m cathedral body in every possible way . He ade a m co plaint against the bishop to the privy council, f heaping u p random charges o every description .

T he bishop , he alleged, disputed the legality of Elizabeth ’s title to the throne he had taken ser m vants , who Bourne had discharged ; he was not “ ou t in his right senses, having been once of his ” f r wits o love . Other charges were brought against “ ” the dean and chapter. Petty canons were wa s allowed to serve cures , whereby the quire oftentimes unserved they had chosen tailors and 2 0 6 WORCESTER .

for - others singing men , who served the dean and h a chapter, and had no other wages ; the sc ol rs were n ot always elected gratis and divers O f the alm smen m n n ot were e Of wealth , and did reside in the college ; they would have pulled down the great leaden own steeple , and sold the lead for their profit, if they had not been prevented by an order from the court the bishop would have done the sam e with

- if the charnel house, he had not been prevented by ” the dean and chapter. But the bitterest accusa n tion was against the wives of the prebe daries . T hey had persuaded their husbands to melt the

- e a se organ pipes into dishes , and to make the into bedsteads they had divided the silver - plate am ong m the selves , and would have done so with the copes m if and other vest ents , they had not been prevented by t h e unm arried m embers of the chapter ; they m prevented their husbands fro using hospitality, and m sold the corn allotted to the , not in Worcester, m l cl . A l u but in the earest arket fines , perq isites, and o f i profits corn , instead of going nto the chapter f f unds , were divided yearly, and Spent on finery or the wives so that they were known in the town by of T he the splendour their garments . indices taken at a later period show that there were som e grains of m truth in the edley of passionate vituperation, as r C egarded the dean and hapter. S w andys , however, defended himself ith dignity and success . He repudiated the Charge o f neglect f T o . duty here had not been, he says , six days since first he came to Worcester but he had fre qu e nt e d common prayer, either in his own chapel

20 8 W ORCESTER .

shop, where he smote him so that he was in great ” of T A ot danger death . hen ntony Bourne g his ’ ’ sword sharpened at a cutler s, and went to the bishop s “ ’ ” - ? palace gates , asking , Where be the bishop s boys ’ T he ou t w bishop s man went in ans er to the challenge ,

- and there would have been a fight in the palace yard , ’ n had it o t been prevented by the bishop s bailiff. m Bourne was repri anded by the privy council, and m m sentenced to a short i prison ent in the Marshalsea. on S It is said that this first visitation , andys dis c overed great immorality among the city clergy, and even m entioned it in 1 a sermon preached in the for cathedral . If true , this accounts his making a o f on visitation the diocese his own responsibility, the year after performing the sam e o flfice as c om m T issary for the archbishop . his gave offence to

Parker, who wrote an angry letter to S andys .

His grievances are various . S andys had been over rigorous in depriving two priests ; he had put the diocese to needless expense by his second visitation he had not obliged his clergy to wear a strictly canonical dress ; he had held ou t tem poral induce m ents to get the people to church above all, which ,

probably, was the real sting of the whole letter, “ he was of a Germanical nature , by residence in m ’ Germany he had contracted Ger an tenets . S andys m replied in a dignified and te perate letter. He had

deprived two clergymen , but it was necessity the visi t a tion was strictly according to laws and injunctions m fa r it had re edied disorders , and, from inflicting a his tax upon the clergy for own benefit, he had been

2 of £ 4 out pocket by it ; as far as he knew, his AN D MARY ELIZABETH . 2 0 9

clergy dressed decently and soberly, and in accordance ’ with the queen s injunctions for the sake o f the soul he did not hesitate to feed the body, because without loaves the people did not follow the word ; he m m f spent all his inco e, and ore ; if it were not or ’ “ ” God s work he would soon be at a point, that , in T he m extremity . allusion to Ger any, however, he m war ly and emphatically resents , writing , as it were , with his hand upon his dagger ; Germany had brought f m m orth as any good natures as England ; so e, and m “ here is a ho e thrust at Parker, that had been

- n or exiles there , had neither been big hearted proud m f minded , but in all si plicity had been ollowers of ” the kingdom of Christ . T he dispute was hot ; but O f S it is to the credit both andys and Parker, that it does n ot appear to have caused any lasting interrup s m tion to their mutual e tee . n ot m S It did see likely, that andys would Obtain prom otion . His ecclesiastical views were rather those of the Germ an than of the English school and the latter was in favour with the archbishop and with the S queen herself. andys says that he was nearly de prive d of his bishopric for his Opposition to the f ifi xe s o cru c . restoration in churches But , when the of m 1 0 bishopric London beca e vacant , in 5 7 , by the

’ o f Grinda l m promotion to York , the people cla oured for S andys to be appointed, as a stirring and stout ” m man , who during his residence in London had ade him self very dear to the citizens . S andys was in doubt whether or not he was desirous to leave Wor

r n ot . T he ce ste . He was happy in his diocese quarrel with Bourne had caused much bitter feeling P 2 I O WORCESTER .

im “ h . against He writes wearily and sadly, this m m ” m s all stor , the quarrel with Bourne , aketh ” T many to shrink. here was no religious earnestness am ong the county gentlemen the continual Changes m had so unsettled the , that they only studied how f to hold their religion , so as to be sa e , whatever T m might occur. hey istrusted the stability Of the T him f i present state O f things . hey had used un a rly for in taking his servants soldiers , and keeping their m n o w . own servants at ho e . Nor was his person safe f “ m Wales , with the border thereo , was vehe ently to

be suspected , and in case of a rising, the first attack

him - would be upon . He wanted a body guard for m f T he o f hi sel . letter indicates a feeling annoyance o f r with the diocese , and a pressing sense his insecu ity. f But he was n ot desirous o London . His pecuniary m position would n o t be so good . S o e new charges “ f f ” of ees and ruits had been introduced, with

which he was dissatisfied . His reluctance, how m ever, was overco e, and he accepted the bishopric of f London , and thence , again ollowing Grindal , n 1 passed o to York in 5 7 6 . S of m andys was too hasty a te per, and of too O m bstinate a will, to find uch acceptance in a

f ha ~ so fi rm diocese where the old aith d a hold, f especially among the leading amilies . But , e ven if “ t oo m m he was hot of te per, too e phatically a man m ” of etal , for managing a diocese which required m tact and delicacy , as well as fir ness and de “ cision was n f An , he a man of si gularly holy li e . ” a excellent and painful preacher, s ys Fuller, of a

- ” i in - 1 p ous and godly life , which increased old age,

2 I 2 WORCESTER .

h m verry good liking. S e received a cri son velvet a purse , cont ining twenty gold pieces , which probably A n she liked even more . fter sayi g her prayers , she went over the cathedral , and especially ex ’ “ a mine d m King John s to b , and the chapell m of the and to be her dear uncle , late Prince ”

A . rthur Probably , not only the dean and chapter, f but also the citizens o Worcester, had reason to con gratulate them selves on the foresight which had put Arthur’s “ chapel in at least a decent and orderly f ” T condition or the royal inspection . hence she ’ - went to the bishop s palace , and remained there . O n S unday she attended the cathedral service “ T h . e in state, riding thither in her coach f h e r f Earl of Leicester ollowed with led pal rey, and the people thronged the streets , crying out, “ ‘ ’ u Ma e stie God save yo r j , God save your Grace , m r s n f o n unto who she, y y g , Showed hersel both cot ch e m ‘ I sides the to them, and oftenti es said, ’ h thank you ; I thank you all . T e queen sat in “ or o f her traves, seat, at the end the chancel A ’ next to Prince rthur s chapel , and Bullingham , as h m . T e bishop , preached the ser on queen remained p t o at the alace till she went Elmley Bredon . m It ust have been a costly visit to the bishop . ’ In addition to the queen s suite, he had to sh entertain no less than four bishops , the bi ops of f Lichfi e ld a n d Here ord, Gloucester, Coventry, a e of and Rochester, e ch bringing a retinu attend h m i . T e n ants excite ent caused the county , even in the little parishes , by the royal visit, is quaintly reproduced by an entry which the loyal AN D MARY ELIZABETH . 2 13

of m parson Harrington , in his enthusias , thought it “ : right to enter in the parish register Elizabeth , the renowned queene of England, came and stayed in ’ ” the bishop s Palace at Worcester the whole week . ff Am O ne good e ect wa s produced by the visit . ong the preparations was an order that the citizens should “ Clear away all d onghills o r m yskyn s from their Wh ite l m e premises , and y and colour their houses ” with com ely colours ; which m ust have been very “ ” for m desirable , not only the co ely colours , but li ol som n s f for the sweetness and w e e e s o the town . “ Bullingham only retained the warm nest o f his O ld f r age o six years . Fuller notes that in the first twenty ’ of years Elizabeth s reign only five bishops died , “ but seven in the two following years . Nicholas ” “ Bullingham , he adds , began the breach . m f Bullingha was succeeded by John Whitgi t , then m T . master of rinity College, Ca bridge His history belongs rather to Canterbury than to Worcester. m m f Here he distinguished hi self by an exe plary li e , a nd zealously discharged his duties as a bishop, ’ preaching every Lord s day in his own cathedral, or m in so e neighbouring parish church , notwithstanding m T his im portant and incessant e ployments . hese employm ents could scarcely leave him much time

- f for his diocese . He was vice president O the marches f m ff occu o Wales , which ust have given him su icient

i n wa s pa t o . He also appointed to visit the cathedrals Lichfi l of Hereford and e d to redress abuses . His ’ m h o wn im . diocese, too , ust have given trouble ir S ir S John Russell and Henry Berkeley, like the

Capulets and Montagues, came to Worcester, with a 2 1 4 WORCESTER .

of great following servants and attendants , to the sessions, and nearly broke out into open warfare in ’ the streets . It does credit to the bishop s clever m m anagement and kindly te per, that he persuaded

0 0 0 0 the adherents, who numbered 4 or 5 , to give up their weapons into the custody of his servants , whil e the principals came to an Open reconciliation , and ” - - in - attended him to the town hall , hand hand . Fre a ke Whitgift was succeeded by Edmund , who m was translated fro Norwich . He had been bishop of f m Rochester, and , while holding that pre er ent , o n had been in Worcester, in attendance Elizabeth m when she paid her visit to Bullingha . H e had been successively prebendary of Westm inster and o f archdeacon of Canterbury, prebendary Windsor, o f f o f S dean Rochester and a terwards dean alisbury . f 1 8 Be ore his first visitation , in 5 5 , he issued search o f b e ne fi c s ing inquiries as to the patronage the e , m the academical degrees of the incu bents, their residence upon their cures , and the presence in f th eir churches O the Bible required by law. S ome h o f the answers are curious . T e vicar o f Chorde

n Honeybour e answers , that he had in his church o f the Bible the last translation , authorised by the f T h synod o bishops , in the lesser volume . e curate o f Claines answers, that they had not the Bible of the last translation , and that he did not preach in his

own or . T h e o f church , elsewhere vicar Feckenham f answers , that there was in the parish church a ayre Bible of the large volu min e and newe t ra nsla cO n ” wh e a th e r S but, he adds , it be allowed by the ynod ” o f B ish o e s or . pp no, I know not He was also rector

2 1 6 WORCESTER .

ha d u for some j stification the charges , which he had h brought against the chapter . T e plate belonging to m the cathedral had been converted, so e into vessels “ m n for the Holy Co munio , other portions into saltes ’ and cu ppe s of silver and gwilt for the dean and canons ” T he m hospitality . copes and vest ents were partly for m m T turned into coverings the Co union able, and m the rest divided a ong the dean and prebendaries . T m m here had been uch waste in cutting down ti ber, which should have been for the repairs o f the T he of m church . houses so e of the prebendaries had been extensively repaired , while the church was ff T a su ered to fall into ruin . here was suspicious

disappearance of money from the treasury . Nothing a ppears to have been done , but the accounts m A were m ore strictly kept from that ti e . nother o f curious resolution orders, that, when any the deans or prebendaries went to preach in any of the bene fi ce s appropriated to the cathedral , they should not

m 5 . d . receive ore than 3 4 , if the church was within

m . 8 6 s d . twenty iles of the cathedral , and if it was over twenty, a provision being added, that the churches must not be those of their own livings . T h f r Fre a ke died in 1 59 0 . e see lay vacant o two years at the end of that time Richard Fletcher was appointed to it . He had been dean of Peterborough , o f and present in that capacity at the execution Mary,

of S . queen cots , at Fotheringay Castle He was then o f made bishop Bristol, whence he was translated to

1 — this diocese. He held the see till January 5 94 5 , when he was again translated to London, where he d Af ied suddenly two years afterwards . ter another AN D MARY ELIZABETH . 2 I 7

interval of two years, the vacant throne was filled by

T homas Bilson . He came to the see with a great of reputation for learning, and was warden Winchester m College at the ti e of his appointment. He held m the see for a little ore than a year, when he was translated to Winchester. 2 1 8 WORCESTER .

C H A P T E R X I I I .

CIVI L STRI FE .

T H E opening o f the seventeenth century was a time o f m o inous and sullen waiting, like the stillness of a summ er ’s day when the thundercloud is about to

fu burst . England had been guided by the watch l eye f r T h and strong han d o the g eat T udor queen . e dread o f the Papacy had united the various Protestant sects , acquiescing, however unwillingly, in the supre o f for o f macy the English Church , the sake its m m f cha pionship against the com on oe . But now m m m this danger see ed less i inent . For the first tim e in English history the forces of religious and political fanaticism were unrestrained by any pressure from T h without . e wise counsellors round the throne of f r Elizabeth had passed away, and been replaced , o fl i m or ro a t e s. m the ost part, by parasites p g Ja es him sel f was unconsciously doing all that lay in his power to irritate the nation, by his extravagant ideas of o f m the royal prerogative, his need oney for his c on favourites , and the cunning avidity which was tinu a lly m anifesting itself in petty encroachm ents and tyra nnical exactions . Our o wn diocese shows T h e his eagerness to grasp at church patronage. ’ f m m . Bishops Registers, ro the first year of Ja es I f I . o to the third year Of Charles , contain no record

2 2 O WORCESTER . the presence of a dignified and high - minded gentle m a n o f ut , plain and downright speech , b kindly in heart and ready to help, a shrewd magistrate , a keen an m Observer, earnest church an and zealous royalist , if ready to give up property and life, necessary , in the o f cause , and yet without a trace that coarse railing or at his opponents, religious political , which usually d isfi u re s o f da g the literature the y , whichever side it ir . S o f m represents Ralph Clare, Kidder inster, was ’ f Richard Baxter s chief opponent, the chie hinderer

of . of his work , and the main cause his removal Yet e ven Baxter’s virulent pen sets before us a noble and “ m An old m n a char ing portrait . a of great courtship — m and Civility ; very te perate in diet, apparel , an d sports —seldom would swear louder than “ ‘by his ’ troth ; he treated m e with personal reverence and m m respect beyond y deserts , and we com uned together f m ” with love and a iliarity . S uch men as these of S were the real strength and stay Church and tate, in Worcester , as in other dioceses . T he m ore repulsive aspects o f the tim e are also of represented in the annals the diocese . Punish m ents were rough and cruel , hastily pronounced and u of unmercif lly executed , rather the result the hasty and indiscriminate ferocity Of fear than of deliberate “ T he m O f u r ni j u stice . desperate re edies a u m e " ’ sera zzzzu m S ir m as John Harrington called the , were f u nsparingly applied to all diseases o the body politic . T he for ff gallows was in constant use male o enders , T Wretched wom en were burnt at the stake . here is ’ a pitiful entry in T ownshend s Diary concerning o n e

Ursula Corbett, of Defford, who was burnt alive at CIVIL STRI FE . 2 2 I

Worcester for poisoning her husband “ only m arried ” A m m - three weeks . short co ent of the kind hearted ' writer gives a glim pse of the stern home discip line of m of the day, as well as the motive of the cri e . “ A sad thing when parents force their children to ” m marry against their liking . Men and wo en were ’ publicly scourged, whipped at the cart s tail through m the streets , exposed to painful and igno inious m m punish ents , such as the tu brel and the pillory, for o f Offences which we should deem venial . Women or loose character, who had been seduced , were f dogged and harried rom parish to parish, lest the consequences of their evil doings should add to m the parochial burdens . Vagrants were ercilessly

flogged and deported to their parishes , as if the very

o f An fabric society could only so be preserved .

“ 1 68 8 A entry of in lvechurch parish books , recording

1 r how two wretched children , aged 4 and 9 e spe c “ t ive l y, were whipped according to law and sent to ” “ their own parishes, is signed by Rice Jones , ” f f Curate . Even such relie as had o necessity to be given was m ade as sham eful as possible to the recipients by com pelling them to wear a conspicuous of badge, usually a large P, with the initials the T h e parish . restriction too , attempted to be placed on n of the i crease of population by the law Elizabeth , that no one should live in a cottage unless four of f acres reehold ground were attached to it, was, at f least occasionally, en orced in all its rigour . In ’ “ 1 6 1 2 on e of n n William Dench, Lo g do , was sued to ” f outlawry, because , having a wi e and seven small i children , he had been allowed by a k nd neighbour 2 2 2 WORCESTER .

“ on to live in a little sheepcote , probably the borders m m of Longdon marsh . During the Co onwealth , the strictness with which the law was administered

for f appears to have been relaxed, a ter the Restoration we find the magistrates at quarter m of f m sessions co plaining its frequent in ringe ent , and ordering such cottages as had been built without regard to its provisions to be pulled down “ n as a great gr ievance . Lusty you g people who had ventured to m arry without provision of such a dwelling as the law authorised were told, with a ”

oke . ribald j est , that they might lie under an Another class o f crim inals has left frequent traces f in the history o the diocese . Witches were persecuted of r with severity, the records their t ials presenting n m m m not u co only the strange pheno enon , that the f m m accused , ro i becility, or to escape, even by death, m or f m m from their tor entors , ro sheer bewilder ent m m m and perplexity, or si ply through a orbid i agina

. o f tion, freely confessed their guilt One the entries in the T ownshend Diary tells of four wom en executed 1 6 f “ at Worcester in 44 , two con essing and two ob sti ” 1 66 0 o f m a n nate . In is an account a wo an d her r m m daughters , and a man f o Kidder inster, who were T put to barbarous trials . hey were flung into the “ ” “ r S eve n , when they would not sinke, but soared “ a lof a n d were searched for the teats which were supposed to be indelible indications of S atanic inter course , and which are said to have appeared, when ' the poor wretches were laid upon their backs . From som e strange motive the elder daughte r made a boast of her supp osed powers. It was well they were

2 2 4 WORC ESTER .

Nay, the proof was at his own doors . Many witches , “ S u f he tells us , were lately put to death in f olk, whereof ” “ o ne , he notes with a little polemical malice, was an ” l own o d reading parson . Nearer still to his home ” “ m ~ at Kidder inster, I have, he writes, in my pos session at this present a flintston e voided by a be m T he witched child at Evesha . child , he adds , was f m m freed ro its tor ent when the witch was executed . T he existence of witches is to him a help to his belief

m m . in i ortality, and a sure refutation of the atheist He can account for S atan ’s dealings in the matter on T h logical a n d philosophical principles . e only thing which perplexes him is the relation in which they stand to the Rom an Catholic Church . On this he is be n n t ra ye d into occasional inconsistencies . O the o e w n hand, hen he wishes to throw discredit o the o f Papacy, he has a legend an abbess , to whom the devil was accustom ed t o bring the host from the n altar through the air ; o the other, when he wants of on e proof of the malice the evil , he avers that many m have been cured by popish spells , pilgri ages , and ex f m f o rcism s. O the com plicity o f any o the clergy in the trials of the witches a curious proof is given in the

T . I 1 66 0 one ownshend Diary n , Joan Bibbs, of Rus

hock , who had been tied and thrown into a pool as a n Witch, had the bold ess to bring an action against ” S 10 . 10 . Mr haw, the parson , and recovered £ ( lb ) m A m . o . S as co pensati n ltogether , fro Mr haw and

2 0 i . others, was rece ved for costs and damages A more legitim ate exercise of ecclesiastical authority in social m atters is found in the frequent of T records penances and excomm unications . hese CIVI L STRI FE . 2 2 5 were used not only against Roman Catholics and m Nonconfor ists, but as a remedy for smaller social evils , which could scarcely be reached by law . wa s m in l 6 1 4 , Margaret Bache, exco municated _ not only as a com m on scold and a sower of strife and d e fi sedition among her neighbours, but on the more nite charge of “ m isbehaving her tongue towards her ” -in - A mother law at a visitation at Bromsgrove . nother use of excom m unication is found in the records of the o f w 1 6 18 parish Haleso en , in which , in , the church

of 1 2 d . wardens had to pay a fee to the apparitor, “ when wee was excom municated for not re pa ring the ” church by a set day. T h e m ore genial aspects o f the time are also re pre m sented in its ecclesiastical records . Pera bulations f o parishes were still Observed, but were losing their religious character and becom ing occasions for con vivia lit T he y . entries in the earlier records of money r given on these occasions to the poor and p isoners , that they, too, might have share in the parochial festivity, diminish gradually as the tavern expenses o f m increase . One relic the religious ele ent survives

S t . in a charge in the parish of John , in Worcester, f “ d . o 3 for gospel bushes , that is, for the bushes set up at every place where the Gospel was read . Another feature O f the time was the habit of presenting preachers from another parish with a measure of wine ; whether for refreshment and con a lit vivi y in the vestry, or to be taken home , does not

T h e of . appear. usual gift was a quart sack But a m bishop was honoured with a ore liberal allowance. ’

I S t. n the register of Michael s , Worcester, it is n oted Q 2 2 6 WORCESTER .

of o n o f that the bishop the diocese, the occasion his “ preaching, received a rundlet of sack, at a cost o f 1 1 on £ . os . , besides e quart of sack and one quart of

for m m m . white wine, apparently i ediate consu ption One of his chaplains was also presented with a silk T h . e girdle , for preaching twice Puritan ministers

seem to have been as convivial , but coarser in their

1 6 2 m tastes . In 4 a Mr. Hackett, see ingly a Parlia “ 2 5 . 6d . mentary preacher, received in wine, beare , ” . 1 0 Tom e s 6 . b and tobacco In 3 Mr , probably ’ Baxter s inveterate opponent, was presented with n m wine and sugar o his first co ing to Worcester . Presents of wine were considered suitable even on

days of fasting . In 1 6 3 7 wine a n d sugar were given to the m inister who preached at the cathedral on the day of hum iliation and in 1 6 5 8 a bottle of sack was given to the m inister who preached and prayed on m 2 h t . the fast day, Dece ber 7 Ministers appear to v ha e been held in greater respect than lawyers , for S “ a erj eant Groves, when he was pleased to give ” t o his advice the parish , received only a quart of

cider . T he pa yment of the sm aller fees due to the clergy was enforced with strictness and regularity. Pente costals or Whitsun farthings appear in m a n v parochial A accounts . trace of the original custom, by which

m - they were paid to the other church , and not to the f parochial clergy, is ound in the grant of Henry VIII . , which gave the Pentecostals of several parishes in the of l diocese to the dean and chapter the cathedra . In som e instances these were paid up to a very recent An date . entry of saddle silver appears in the

2 2 8 WORCESTER .

at the Reformation , is illustrated by one Of the of o f 1 66 2 queries in some articles visitation , Doth the parish clerk or sexton take heed to admonish the for living , by the tolling of a passing bell any that own are dying, to meditate on their deaths, and to comm end the other’s weak condition to the mercy ” o f God ? Many parish churches appear to have been adapting f S their urniture , and, above all , their ervice Books , n A to the requirements of the ne w state of thi gs . t ’

S t . 1 Michael s , Worcester, in 593 the old Church m B ible was sold for 7 5 . 9d. and the old Co munion “ f f r . B o 5 . d ook 3 4 , while, a new ayre English Bible ” of the l ast translation authorized in the church , “ ’ ” 1 2 probably the Bishop s Bible of 5 7 , was bought for 1 6 m m for shillings , and a new Co union Book

8d . f . 6 5 . But the prices o Bibles varied At ( ’ t A 16 0 S ndrew s, in Worcester, in 4 , a book of ” n f r Ca nons o Ou r parson cost 1 6d . and a Bible

3 65 . In this case the old Bible appears to have been

1 0 5 . 6 d sold for . Other books were added in pro m n portion to the eans of the parish . A inventory ‘ taken I n 16 80 of the books belonging to the W S t. parish of Nicholas, orcester, gives an idea o f those most comm only used . In addition to an S f English Bible, eleven ervice Books , and a Book o m ’ Ho ilies, the parish possessed Jewell s works , a T he o f book called Musculus , Whole Duty Man ,

. f four books given by Mr Gri fiths the rector , the A th e f Companion to the ltar, Occasional O fices , a book “ o f Canons , and a book concerning God and the — “ T King besides books for the poor . here is also C IVIL STRI FE. 2 2 9

a charge for chains and staples for the books , which

n appear to have been urge tly required , since three “ ” copies of the Whole Duty of Man , given to the

m ; church so e years previously, had disappeared . “ ” “ Musculus was the well- known Comm on Places ” f of Christian Religion by Wol gang Musculus , which appears to have been a favourite in the diocese . “ T h e Book about God and the Kin g it is diffi ~ ’ “ ” cult to identify . Fox s Martyrs appears in som e ’ cases . Jewell s works seem to have been n ot onl y f n avourites with the clergy, but positively insisted o 1 6 1 2 by authority . In there is an entry in the parish

of S t . Peter, Worcester, for fees paid by the church “ wardens in the Consistory Court, when they were ’ ” f r called there o not buying Jewell s works . T he furniture Of the Com m union T ables varied according to the disposition of the clergy and 6 10 . 1 A S t . parishioners In the parish Of ndrew, ‘ 6 1. d. n Worcester, was content to spend 4 o a Com m union T able with a form ; probably for t he adm inistration of the elem ents t o seated com m uni d f 1 6 1 6 m . cants . In the sa e parish thought 6 su ficient “ ” cost for three trenchers for the Comm union T able . f of But it is recorded, offerings were not in requent At f &c for . decent urniture , the sanctuary Evesham in 1 6 1 0 Margaret Hay hath given this Com m union T ’ m able as her widow s ite , desiring all good Christians to im itate her in godly desire and love towards t h e ” f n f e a d . o Church , both in li e in death Many thes offerings disappeared in th e days of the Common inv n T he of S t . e wealth . parish Michael heads an of t o T tory furniture belonging the Communion able , WORCESTER .

of on e Consisting chiefly carpets and hangings , flagon

o n e of and pewter pot three pints , with the note , All the rest of the parish goods were plundered by m ’ Cro well s soldiers . Probably m ore than is generally supposed of the beauty and stateliness of the Old churches had T h escaped the Violence o f the Reform ation . e Puritan of ff mistrust all beauty , and, worse still , the indi erence i of a later age, have had quite as much to do w th f m o f the de ace ent parish churches , as the iconoclastic f m At m zeal o the Refor ers . Evesha the grand gate of 1 6 0 way the abbey was still standing in 4 , and windows were still glowing with the arm orial bearings f m A o the noblest county fa ilies . ttempts were being made to awaken church people to a sense of the beauty and reverence which are the fitting attributes f h f o worship . T e beginning o the century found the O f cathedral body, in spite the occasional monitions f o . f the bishops , in a state of disorganisation Many o the prebendaries appear to have evaded their Obliga T h m tions to residence . e S unday ser ons were not m always preached, and the discipline of the com unity S of n was relaxed . uch a state things was ot likely to escape the vigilant eye of Laud . S ome Orders sent down in 1 63 5 point out clearly the neglect into which the cathedral worship had fallen . Prebendaries “ are required to be continually resident , as ” the statutes of the church require . N O m a n is to be adm itted into the choir except he is first approved for his voice and skill in singing . Hoods , square caps, and surplices are to be worn by all the f ministers belonging to the church , rom the dean

WORCESTER .

no Offence may be given . It has always been their “ n p u rpose to provide a fayre new pulpit . On o e “ T h or two points they make a stand . e Old seats m ’ mm d were re oved by the king s co an , and the new

ones erected in their place are costly and convenient . Burials in the church and churchyard m ust be mode ” T h e rated . churchyard has been raised by graves m f m a n T h e above three feet within the me ory o . m accusation , which see s to have most truth in it, and

which is neither denied nor excused , relates to the T appropriation Of the school buildings . hey say that they intended to convert them into a library and a pre ' b n a l T m m e d residence . hey see to have got into so e T h e quarrel with Bishop Prideaux . closing sentences O f the answer relate to a charge brought against “ T su b- wh o omkins , the dean , protests that he hath ” no desire to offend the city ; that he is sorry he has lost their love is m ost anxious to recover it by ” all offices Of love and cou rt e sie ; and will carry m f m m hi sel with all sub ission , respect , and hu ility to o f A the bishop the diocese . further conference between the chapter and the corporation gives a clear T h l insight into what the city really wanted . e o d seats m are to be restored, probably to their original co fort of and ugliness the right burial in the church , as well b e m as in the churchyard , is to recognised on pay ent o f the old fees ; the school is to be returned to the former place a yearly stipend of £4 0 is to be allotted to the lecturer appointed by the city ; the offended bishop is to have satisfaction and his consent O b

t a in e d to the retractation of the petition ; and Mr . ” T h T omkins must submit . e case is probably illus CIVIL STRI FE . 2 33 t ra tive of the selfishness and prejudice against which the Church had to strive in attem pting to restore the ’ o f beauty God s house , and the reverence of worship . It is n o t Clear why Prideaux took a prominent part I against the cathedral clergy. t may have been a or yielding to popular clamour, the petulance and f T or m of obstinacy o Mr. omkins other me bers the body may have forced him to take part against them . It is not safe to give implicit credence to the “ ” n word scandalous , which the Purita s apply so of m freely to the clergy their ti e . When Baxter f o f wished to take the place o Mr . Dance as vicar m of n ot Kidder inster, he wrote freely him , only as a “ m a n weak and ignorant , who preached only once ” u of m a q arter, but as a frequenter alehouses , so e f f times drunk But , when a terwards con ronted with

Bishop Morley , and aware that he would have to give

of . A proof his assertions , his tone was altered ccord ’ m u n ing to the bishop s account, which see s to be he contradicted , he said then of Dance, that was a ” m a n O f m f unbla eable li e and conversation , though not of such parts as would fit him for the care of SO ” T great a congregation . hese last words reveal the f T weakness of the parochial clergy o the day . hey were not strong in pulpit oratory . Whatever may have been their conscientiousness in the quiet dis of d charge their aily duty, in this they exhibited negligence in some cases, and incapacity in others . T his excited the scornful indignation of such men “ as Richard Baxter in denunciations of readin g 2) n f parsons . T his weak point had bee le t unguarded . 2 3 4 WORCESTER .

h T e work which had been done, coarsely, but vigorously, by the preaching friars , was left untouched f T he ff m by the Re ormation . only e ort ade in this way had been turned to the advantage of the enemies T h e of of the Church . order Elizabeth appointing “ lecturers in all cathedral churches might have been

used to provide eloquent and enthusiastic preachers, bo u nd to the Church o f England with as firm a loyalty as that which held the m inor orders to the f m o . Church Ro e But jealousy, as between the of m regulars and seculars , and, probably, distaste so e ’ of the lecturers appointed under the queen s order, had operated so prej udicially upon the minds of the a r clergy, that the lecturers appe to have been con side r e d as not only rivals , but even direct opponents , 1 f m of the clergy . Into this work , partly ro conviction of of its necessity, partly because it was a way f opposing the Church success ully, the Puritan party A threw all their strength . good illustration of their of position is found in the will of Mr. Rudge, Eve 1 6 0 m s sham , who, in 4 , left oney to the churchwarden a m for of Evesh a lecturer , to preach in the parish r S f or da in church eve y unday a ternoon , some y the T he week . first lecturer was to be appointed by on conform ist m of n four celebrated N inisters Londo , and his successors by four of the m ost “ able and f ” f m T h pain ul ministers o the sa e city . e appoint

m on con formist m re ent by the N inisters, and the ference to the churchwardens as holding the keys o f

1 ” m a r e for a e a e H oldforth of Co p , inst nc , M st r Woodstock, S ’ “ h ” in cott s Ke nil wort .

WORCESTER .

so long as it seems good to this house . By what authority the corporation claim ed the power of appointing a preacher in the cathedral church , T he of is not evident . order Elizabeth was , that the divinity lecture should be read thrice in t h e week by some able person at the com m on charge “ o f the church , if no spiritual living have been ” T of old tim e appointed for such purpose . his scarcely covers the claim m ade by the corporation for a lecturer to be appointed and paid by them selves? T h e lecture was for years a continual source o f strife bet ween the city and the cathedral . “ 1 6 6 T In 3 hornborough certifies , that he is less troubled with N on comformists since Mr. Wheatley S ” of Banbury gave over his lecture at tratford, and adds that “ during this heavy visitation at Worcester (probably the plague) he had caused the lecturer to ” A f m f cease . report o the sa e year rom the sam e bishop to the Archbishop of Canterbury gives further insight into the position of the lecturers . H is m ’ T aj esty s instructions, hornborough reports, are care f T ully observed . here are only two lecturers in the “ ” comform a ble city of Worcester, and these very , and they shall continue no longer than they are so . T h e S unday lecture was once held in the cathedral and

m su ffe i a n re oved , because the city would not y prebendary to hold it . I t is now held on a S unday (he says) in one o f the parish churches after cate; chisin f n g and service , ending be ore eveni g prayers T in the cathedral . here were difficulties about this m arrange ent, for the bishop adds, that the afternoon m prayers ust begin early, and the catechising be CIVIL STRI FE . 2 3 7

shortened, and the evening service in the cathedral f be put back to a late hour, if space is to be ound h for the lecture . T e Royal inj unctions of 16 2 9 v of pro ide for decent order in the delivery lectures , that every lecturer should read divine service in his surplice and hood before his lecture, that the “ preachers should use their gowns, not cloaks as m any do , and that every lecturer appointed by of a corporation should have some cure souls, as soon as it can be procured for him , also declaring it advisable that catechising by question and answer should be substituted for the afternoon serm on in “ country parishes , where and whensoever there is not som e great cause apparent to break this ancient ” and profitable order. In the beginning of the seventeenth century the episcopal throne was occupied by Babington . He was a devout man , in repute as a preacher in the quaint 1 and cumbrous fashion of the day. It was popularly believed that he possessed a little book containing only three leaves , which he turned over night and m T he f m orning. first lea was black , to re ind him of ’ m God s judg ent for sin the second was red , typifying f Christ and His passion the third was white, to signi y ’ God s m ercy through the merits of His S on in His j ustification .

His successor, Parry, was considered a learned divine, and a preacher of unusual excellence . King I James . , whatever his faults , could appreciate a

H e publishe d se rm ons e ntitl e d Comforta ble N ote s on the " Five Books of Mose s . 2 3 8 WOR C ESTER .

of scholar and an orator, and considered Parry one the best preachers whom he ever heard T he King of Denm ark gave him a m ore substantial m ark of appro ba tion in the shape of a valuable ring after a serm on f delivered in 1 6 0 6 . Probably the taste o James would rather approve O f quaint illustration and subtle theological argument than of fervid stirring appeals to the conscience of his hearers . A fa r more notable person was his successor in T m the see . hornborough has done hi self injustice by the fantastic epitaph which he devised for hi mself. His name is associated rather with the m idea of a dreamy alche ist , than with any energy of statesm anship or power Of adm inistration . But m w his alche ical studies, though probably they gre him f a upon , in his later years , with that ascin tion which they exercised in those days over the strongest f o n e o . minds , represent only side his character He was esteemed by his contemporaries a wise and fore seeing politician . Ireland in those days presented m a proble well nigh a s insoluble as in our own . T hornborough had some experience of this during his tenure of the bishopric of Limerick under S ir m Elizabeth . John Harington bears testi ony to f n of his ability in this di ficult positio , to the integrity o f his purpose, as well as to the soundness his judg m ment . If so e others had been so willing to have opened to her majesty the disease of that country and m a m its proper cure , it y be it would not a long ti e have needed those desperate remedies of seca ndu m ct

u r ani u m m , as sharp to the surgeons, oftenti es , as to ” T the patients . hornborough strove to introduce

2 4 0 WORCESTER .

1 6 0 of was in charge in 3 , and one his converts was , T h rn r h T h m o b o Ou . e it is said , a daughter of g na e ’ also of one of the bishop s sons is attached to a of tale pretended conversion , ending in his infamous betrayal of the priest who , at his own urgent request , had admitted him to the comm union o f the Church o f ff Rome, and who su ered in consequence a severe T h f imprisonment . e bishop sought re uge in his ’ m d of alche ical studies , and in reams the philosopher s f ston e, rom the political troubles which he foresaw, and from the vexations which were harassing him at T h n home . e only relics of his studies are a work o

Ai eo e e w uco alchemy, entitled, g p g, and the epitaph, a puzzle for the many antiquaries, on one side , “ ” PhilO S O horu m Denarius p , dum spiro , spero, on the “ ”

1 0 s e ra bo . other, In uno, , non spirans p A probable explanation is founded o n the m ystic 1 T h phraseology of the Pythagorean philosophy . e m onad , the point from which all extension proceeds , indicates the first principle ; the duad, or line, as i f bounded by two po nts, extension ; the triad , sur ace , length and breadth ; the tetrad the perfect figure ; while or ne ce s the decad, denarius , comprehends all that is T h sary to perfection . e epitaph may be paraphrased h m thus T e to b is the way to perfection . While H im I live I hope for it in Who is the source, the “ beginning, the middle, and the end of all , and

m f f . Hi sel per ection Even when I live no longer, ” I shall hope . Or, perhaps, the first line was m f eant to indicate , that his whole li e had been a

1 h R S e e t e a v. A. h e e O . . of w ugg st d by l t Fox, M , Knig t ick . R CIVIL ST I FE. 24 1

n strivi g towards perfection the second , that this end could only be attained , when the Perfect One should give the clearer vision in death . Or the aged prelate meant to confess the One God in three ne persons , the Perfect O , as his hope here and m ever ore .

’ T h rn or u h s o b o . Bishop g successor, Dr Prideaux, a of was born , as his epit ph in Bredon Church relates , m an old Devonshire fa ily reduced in circumstances . H is father was the owner of a sm all hereditary estate of m 0 on e of f so e £3 a year, but , as a large amily , f the uture bishop had to carve ou t his own fortune . A tradition of his early life represents him as bitterly disappointed by a failure to obtain the office of parish rr Clerk in the neighbouring Village of Ugbe ow. He f managed to receive an education at Ox ord , and there attained the position of Regius Professor of h . t e olo Divinity, and Rector of Exeter College H is ica l g views were moderate , leaning to Puritanism , but T h f in his politics he was a zealous royalist . e test o T h e his political principles wa s not lon g in coming . m f stor was about to burst in all its ury , when he f died . It ound at Worcester a bishop and a cathe dral wrangling about many things , but united in the firm bond of a passiona te attachm ent t o the throne . Dean Potter, who had succeeded Mainwar

1 6 ing in 63 , had already signalised his loyalty by ’ of sending to the king the plate Queen s College , of wa s Oxford, which he the head , declaring that ou t of he would drink , like Diogenes , the hollow m of his hand , rather than see his ajesty in want.

1 6 1 m In 4 , the Parlia entary troops , under the Earl R \VO R C E S T E R .

f o Essex, entered the town , and the cathedral becam e a scene of savage profanity and wanton T he f m o f devastation . fierce anaticis the Puritan soldiers was inflam ed by the discovery o f a number ’ a m for of r s destined the king s service , secreted in the cathedral precincts by Dean Potter and on e of

. T h the prebendaries . But the storm blew over e

m b - dam age done , though it beca e a y word through m the country, was li ited to petty desecrations , and to ' tearing in pieces church vestments a n d b ooks of T h e r service . O gan escaped through an accident to

a soldier, who was about to find vent for his religious

fervour by its destruction . Essex and his troops on S passed to hrewsbury, and a j oyous peal Of the cathedral bells welcom ed the return o f their bishop f after an absence o eleven weeks . But this was only m a lull in the stor , a short and precarious respite .

T h e o f f 1 6 6 approach the Puritan orces, in 4 , was the o f m m herald a ore thorough and co plete destruction .

‘ “ u T own sh e n d o n th 2 rd m records how, July e 3 , any . gentlem en went sadly to the six O ’clock m orning “ ” prayers in the college to tak e farewell of the

Church O f E ngland service . T he organ had been taken down som e days before among the taunts of

m . O f the triu phant Puritans One the bystanders , m a n j eering at the who was taking it down , o u t if called that, he would wait a little , they would

him r . T o a m save the t ouble which the nswer ca e , of on f not to be so sure that, for e O the troopers o f Essex had already tried his hand and broken his neck m Wa rm e sl in the atte pt . Dr . e y and Richard Baxter took occasion O f a short cessation O f hostilities

2 4 4 WORCESTER .

d of one emergent island , over the whole iocese

Worcester . of It m ust have been a time Of perplexity. Many of v the laity, even those most deeply and fer ently of attached to the church their fathers , thought it right not to rej ect the only Spiritual ministrations

m u n possible to the , even though these came in an m of m w p alatable for , and deprived uch hich they S ir f valued highly. Ralph Clare, though a stead ast ’ Opponent to Baxter s principles, was accustomed to S attend his church once every unday, and allowed his fam ily t o attend the catechisings and meetings for religious instruction , though he would not come to the Holy Communion unless he could receive it

. m kneeling Others , in this time of trouble, dee ed it a Christian duty to provide that the pe ople should not f t be le t in spiritual destitution , but should be aught m f so ehow, even by intruders into the old, and in the fashion prescribed by a law which they resented as for a tyranny, and detested the irreverence with which A it handled the most holy things . curious entry in ff MS . . the of Mrs Joyce Je eries , residing near the

V of - -T m little illage Clifton upon e e, records that, in

1 6 6 old for 4 , the good lady paid fourteen weeks a ” “ weekly diet Of three shillings for 3 preachers at ” - - m h ou T . S e Clifton ea adds quaintly, as if her con if f f science was uneasy, and as to set hersel ace to face “ with her m otives for so acting : I gave it ou t of my well-meaning to maintain a weekly lecture at

- - m Am f on T . Cli ton ea ong the clergy, good men ff decided the question in di erent ways, and equally f o . with the approval their consciences If to some , in C IVI L STRI FE . 2 45 a fter years , it was a proud thing to tell , how they had given up all, and followed David into exile , others

- could write with equal self congratulation , that they “ had never gone abroad as some others , and had scarcely been absent from their flock from the day m when they had beco e its pastors . Many faithful men , A w such as rchdeacon Hodges , at Ripple , ere able to retain their posts all through the Comm onwealth . At S helsley Beauchamp , the rector, Charles Nott , not ffi only continued at his post , but accepted the o ce of T he registrar under the Act of 1 65 3 . signature “ ” of this Vicar O f Bray in the register accommodates 6 m itself to the tim e . Up to 1 4 6 he subscribes hi self ” simply for cle ricu s ; during the Com mon “ ” wealth he becom es only pastor ; but imm ediately on the Restoration he blooms out into the full dignity “ ” f Of rector . In a curious return , herea ter to be m “ entioned, he is described as an able preaching ” minister .

But not to every ministe r was the choice allowed . Many were ejected from personal j ealousies or political m rancour, who ight have accepted the directory and m m continued in their charge . Baxter see s to ad it this

f t o re - m a ll in his willingness , a ter the Restoration , ad it those who had not been ejected for scandalous living m f or absolute incapacity . It is not clear What beca e o the many clergym en who had either been ejected or who had resigned their parishes for conscience sake .

r I n many cases they remained in the diocese , o old lingered about their parishes , ready to discharge in secret any o f the church - O ffi ce s which m ight be W . a rme str required at their hands . Dr y, though he “ 2 46 WORCESTER .

1 6 m resigned his living of Whitchurch, in 43 , re ained f m som ewhere in the diocese , and is ound in com uni old r cation with his Opponent, Richa d Baxter, respect of ing the Worcestershire agreem ent . In the diary f of ff Mrs . Joyce Jef eries are entries o erings paid at f mm . o the Holy Co union to Mr Greene, the vicar

f -on - T 1 6 - 1 6 8 Cli ton eme, at Easter, in 4 7 4 , when a f Parliam entary m inister was in possession o the living . m T wo other curious entries point in the sa e direction . In 1 64 7 there is an entry of the birth of -a son to a cousin who resided with her, to which is added , “ him ” baptised after the New Directory God bless .

But in the following year the kindly old lady records, of upon the birth another Child, that it was baptised “ t ’ on S . John s Day according to the Old ritual ,

m . at least with godfathers and god others , ould Mrs ' ” l m f fl ri B a r ck e e e s . y and ysel , Joyce J , were gossips Perhaps the m ost curious instance recorded is at

- ou - S m Upton evern , where the ejected inister, Mr .

f . Wood ord, and his successor, a Mr Warren , lived on m f together in the parsonage the ost riendly terms , so that, when Mr . Warren was superseded by the of m two ff authority Parlia ent , the together o ered strenuous opposition to the intruder, till he was put m in possession by soldiers fetched fro Worcester. the m m Here, too, ej ected inister re ained in the neighbourhood ; for the parish register contains entries , inserted after his return, Of marriages per m him m for ed by during his suspension . In any other registers there are entries , as at Fladbury, which indicate that the ejected clergym en continued their ministrations , preserving records Of them in their

WORCESTER .

i 1 6 t ne d . a In 5 3 , a registrar, one Roger Pickering,

' was formally appointed by the magistrate, and the ne register from that tim e is kept in perfect order. O o f the earliest entries is of a marriage by a justice of ’

S t . the peace . In other parishes , as at Martin s , in

Worcester, the registrar was appointed by a parish m S f - ou - T m eeting, not, as at helsley and Cli ton e e , by

a formal act before a m agistrate . In this case the registers contain entries of marriages before j ustices of w o f the peace , as ell as marriages performed by a

Mr. Juse , the Puritan minister . It is not easy to ascertain what became of the

ejected clergy, or how they were supported till the T h w m . e w Restoration fifths , hich ere no inally allowed m m by Parlia ent, see to have been capriciously allotted

and irregularly paid . Many found refuge under f o f m m of or the roo s e bers the flock, received n m m co tributions from them , till better ti es ca e . S om e o f the most distinguished found a warm

welcome in Westwood, under the kindly protection

k T - o f P a in ton . Lady Dorothy g hat well known book , “ ” T he whole Duty Of Man , clearly belongs to this m period, but whether the diocese can clai it as the of m m work this esti able lady, is a qu estion al ost as f il undetermined as the authorship o Eikon B a s ike .

In both cases the point is, whether the handwriting M S . of a may be accepted as a proof of authorship , o r m only of transcription fro an early copy, and

o f intimate acquaintan ce with the actual author . m Hearne, as is evident from an y passages in his m diary, was uch interested in the question , and f m n ound it i possible to satisfy himself. In o e place CIVIL STRIFE . 4 9 he transcribes a note from the papers o f Bishop of m Moore Ely, containing a declaration , ade to

. T C a u lt on v the bishop by a Mr homas , icar of ' “ ” e fle ct A o f Worksop , to the that Madam yre ,

Pa kin ton Rampton , a daughter of Lady Dorothy g , him M had shown a S . which she said was the “ ” n of T he w o f origi al hole Duty Man , and had o f asserted that her mother was the author it, but h that it had been corrected by Dr . Fell . S e also claimed for her mother the authorship of another h ” work entitled T e Decay of Christian Piety . T his m m declaration was ade with so e solemnity , and m for evidently considered of much i portance , Moore “ ’ m a u l n T . C t o s adds a note , his I wrote fro Mr m own mouth , two days before his decease , Nove ber 6 1 1 8 . 5 , 9 Hearne, however, attached little weight “ for to this seemingly positive evidence , he adds , I am in doubt more than ever, she might transcribe ” and yet not be the author. In another place Hearne 1 68 2 writes that Bishop Fell , in , declared that he was the only person in England who knew who was “ ” o f T h e o f the author whole Duty Man , and adds “ of f w T he that the copy the ellow ork , Decay of ” Christian Piety, in the Bodleian library , is in Dr . ’ Fell s handwriting, but disguised . Hearne , in another A MS . place , speaks of a in the handwriting of rch

a ncroft own bishop S , and elsewhere gives it as his

Opinion that the real author was a Mr . Woodhead . I t is diffi cult to understand why Lady Dorothy ’ P a kingt on s n am e was brought so prominently for ward in connexion with the book , unless she had S he some share in its production . may have noted 2 5 0 WORCESTER . down with loving care the words of one or another of the Gamaliels , at whose feet she sat, during their residence under the shelter of Westwood . controve rs ' with dis Bishop Morley, in his y Baxter, t inctly Charges the Puritan preachers with neglect o f ' m m onl in a d the Holy Co union , not y their private ministrations to the sick and aged , but in the public “

h . services o f the C urch . If Mr Baxter, he says , speaking of com pulsory kneeling during the a dminis “ t ra tion m , thinks it so great a punish ent to be m n deprived of the Holy Co munio , why do they deny it to so m any who cannot com e to church by reason of lam eness or other bodily infirmity ? Why do they suffer so many parishes in England t o go without it so many years together when under their charge , as ” I a m credibly inform ed they have ? Probably the intruding m inisters had a difficult task in m any r pa ishes , where the greater part Of the population would naturally look on their services with contem pt m on m and istrust , and the selves with personal aversion . Crom well appears to have been ear nest in his desire that no parish in England should be left in spiritual des i A titu t on . curious record of his care in this matter is “ ” of still extant in the report an Inquisition, appointed 1 6 in 5 3 , to inquire into the spiritual condition of f T h o . e parishes , in the county Worcester return only n r extends to the hundred of Doddi gt e e . T he com m issioners excuse them selves for not extending their on of t o f inquiries further, account the shor ness the m o f ti e allowed , the badness the weather, and the T he a great size of the hundreds in the county . p rishes belonging to the diocese included in the report are

2 5 2 WORC ESTER . would be well paid who received a fourth or fifth p a rt of what would n ow be an adequate stipend . One parish in the diocese may be fairly taken at this time as a m odel of the highest Puritan ideal of parochial administration under a man of the highest ability and holiness . Richard Baxter held undisturbed u d r le over Kidderminster. He had receive ordination T at the hands of Bishop hornborough , and had been i l censed by him to teach a school at Dudley , where he preached his first sermon in the parish Church . T hence he went to Bridgnorth as assistant to a Mr . W Ma d sta rd illiam , apparently as a preacher, and with full liberty to cond u qt the services according to his own caprice . He tells us that he often read the m f a d Com on Prayer be ore he preached, but never ’ m S a inistered the Lord s upper, never baptised child of with the sign the cross, never wore a surplice, and ’ m never appeared in a bishop s court. Fro Bridgnorth he removed to Kidderm inster in 1 64 0 . T h e Circum stances under which he u ndertook the charge were peculiar . Probably Mr . Dance, the vicar, was scarcely ffi r su cient in learning o preaching for that post . He m yielded to the stor , and arranged with his parish ione rs 6 0 by consenting to pay £ a year to a lecturer, whom they Should appoint , whilst he should read the prayers and attend to all other parochial work . Baxter was sim ply a lecturer appointed by the c on r a tion g e g , and independent of the vicar, with right to of use the pulpit the parish church at his own will , but with no pastoral charge beyon d that of preaching . h But his ministry at that time wa s not popular. T e country, he tells us, was devoted to the king , and C IVIL STR I FE . 2 5 3 scarcely disposed to give a kindly welcom e to a m m inister whose sympathies were with the Parlia ent . T he n people , then , as ever, turbulent in dispositio , and ready to resent anything like an assertion of authority, were furious at the arbitrary interference of the Puritan party with their rights and privileges . Doubtless the friends of the old vicar were not likely ’ of to take a charitable view Baxter s words and acts , n or t o trouble themselves to rem ove popular mis f apprehensions . He was accused o attempting to put an end to the rough games customary at their annual T h fair . e anger excited by the order of Parliament to deface the emblems of the T rinity in parish cru cifi xe s churches , and to pull down the in the public places , was vented upon him . Baxter may have been unjustly suspected in both cases, but his politica l and theologica l principles were unacceptable o f m to the people in that time fierce excite ent , and f he thought it best to fly be ore the storm , and to withdraw from Kidderminster for a while .

For o som e little tim e he was at Gloucester and of m Coventry , under the protection the Parlia entary of forces . He was with them at the siege Worcester m 16 6 . in 4 , and held an a icable disputation with Dr

r At of Wa rm e st y , the general ejection the parish clergy he return ed to Kidderminster . According to wn m his o statements , the ter s on which he entered

on his office were most generous . He says that he of o ld or declined to take the place the vicar, to T h turn him out of the Vicarage . e living had been m r m sequestrated by the Parlia enta y com ittee, and im B u t was o ffered more than once to h . he would WORCESTER .

o f 1 0 0 m only accept a stipend £ a year , which see s of to have been paid very irregularly, and the rent a “ ’ ” T h few room s at the top of another m an s house . e of f e m rest the tithes, a ter deducting l gal pay ents , of 0 old and an allowance £4 to the vicar, were

. S to go to a Mr ergeant, who had been appointed ” e . preacher, b fore Baxter returned He has left am ple and particular details of his T f ministry . horoughly in earnest and utterly sel m denying, he i posed an iron rule upon his con S re a tion . g g He preached once every unday, and r T once eve y T hursday. Every hursday he held an m o f one of m evening eeting parishioners, when the

- m was called upon to repeat his sermon , no s all ff of m m e ort e ory considering its length and intricacy, — “ and another to pray, in order to exercise f m . m o the Once a week , also , so e the younger m “ me bers of the congregation , who were not fit to m b ” pray in so great an asse ly, met together and T spent three hours in prayer. here were also “ meetings every S aturday night for repeating the ’ ” of f m sermon the or er Lord s Day , and to prepare for that which was at hand . Godly women were expected not to make the birth of a child an occasion m o f for merri ent and gossiping, but a day thanks m giving, praising God and singing psal s , yet not m m of f without so e reasonable easure sober easting . In the early part of his m inistry he adhered to the of f old practice catechising in church , but a terwards two days in every week were devoted to private f catechising, he and his assistant taking ourteen f m m a ilies between the . He was ready to baptise

2 56 WORCESTER . Nichols is told that “ he would not m eddle with m o what is called exco munication , but that he sh uld o f n acquaint the Church his sin and separatio , and that he was no longer a mem ber of the Chu rch or of his pastoral charge, and is therefore exhorted to f be present at the meeting and pro ess repentance . But George Nichols had a good deal to say for himself, and was as obstinate in his own way as

Baxter himself. His answer to the summons is S ir — extant, in the following terse note , Except

a rsh a ll P e , your constable, will come to church and acknowledge that he has done me wrong in saying

I not . S o that was drunk , I shall appear I rest, ” your servant, George Nichols . ’ Many of Baxter s flock gave him as m uch trouble S ir n as George Nichols . Ralph Clare, while accepti g m his inistrations as inevitable, and reverencing his fi rm private character, was a opponent. But the populace forgot their old prejudices and listened to n m his ear est and practical ser ons with rapt attention . T he fine old parish church had to be enlarged by the u f building of five galleries . It is like a page o t o the Pilgrim ’s Progress ” to listen to Baxter ’s descriptions of the families , which might be heard singing psalms and repeating sermons by those who passed along the ’ n streets o the Lord s Day. I n some streets there was not on e poor family who did not worship God and n call upon His ame, and scarcely a family, even in

- m inns and ale houses, who had not so e person who m seemed to be religious . He la ents that ou t of possible communicants he had only gathered f 60 0 a band o some , but these were thoroughly in V CI IL STRI FE . 5 7

t o of earnest , and willing endure the test a rigid dis ci line f p and a searching inquiry into their private li e . His ministry at Kidderm inster was em inently successful in winning souls to Christ . T h e T secret lay in a variety of causes . here was

of n t the excellence his preaching, a new thi g o Kid de r m inste r m , and brought ho e by personal intercourse and frequent conferences with every m ember O f his

. T O f r1 a te f flock here was the influence his p v li e . His people saw him spending him self utterly for m on the , undertaking hard and unceasing labours f ff f m their behal , even while su ering ro constant k O f m u m l wea ness health and al ost nre itting pain , ike ” the apostle who was in labours more abundant , “ ” “ m n and yet had a thorn in the flesh , the esse ger ff hi ” O f S atan to bu et m . He was unsparing o f such n m sle der eans as he possessed . His personal in m 6 0 or 8 0 of co e , aided by the £ £ , the profit his him v m books, enabled to gi e large al s among the m “ m poor, which , as he says si ply, uch reconciled ” them to the doctrine which he taught . His o wn books he distri buted freely ; to every poor fam ily T h m which was without one he gave a Bible . e ost prom ising O f the children were taken from school “ h for and sent to the Universities , w ere, eight

or o f pounds a year, ten at the most , by the help my ” d f friends I m aintained them . His knowle ge o medi ih f cine was freely exercised their behal , till , partly “ n of m m him a rtl o account the ultitude who ca e to , p y ” “ f o f m iscu rin because , as he says , the ear g and doing ” on e m m any har , ade it an intolerable burden , he “ ” t o u a procured a godly, diligent physician set p s 2 5 8 WORCESTER .

. An I S practice in the town . incidental glimpse given of m w here of the condition the ti es , hen a town like Kidderminster could procure the presence of a m edical f m a n only by the personal influence o Baxter . One T h more cause contributed to his success . e weavers

could set up their books against the loom , or discuss matters with one another probably as they worked ; o f to the disparagement Dance, and of the very indifferent curate to whom the preaching seem s to “ m m T he have been co itted . advantage was, that I came to a people who never had any awakening r ministry before , but a few formal , cold se vices from the curate ; if they had been hardened under a

fu r - power l minist y, and been sermon proof, I should ” have expected less . T wo docum ents of public interest belong to this period of Baxter’s life—the Worcestershire petition T h and the Worcestershire agreement . e first of these was caused by a petition of officers to the Council “ 1 6 2 at Whitehall in 5 , that the unequal , troublesome , m ” and contentious way of tithes ight be taken away . Baxter discerned in it a purpose to abolish altogether of r T the existence a settled minist y . herefore he

m - - procured a nu erously signed counter petition . He s peaks Of thousands of signatures to a petition to be presented to Parliam ent by Colonel Bridges and T f homas Foley , setting orth in strong language the im portance o f the ministry to the spiritual and te m

poral welfare of the country, and the sin and danger T which would be incurred by subverting it . his pro du ce d f m an angry reply rom George Fox , in a pa phlet “ h entitled T e T hreefold Estate of Antichrist. Baxter,

2 6 0 WORCESTER .

m S m who of inister, i on Moore, had taken possession T h A the cathedral . e nabaptists , and the various sects ,

into which they were continually dividing, were

f l o f . o ten hand ed , necessity, with unsparing severity On n o sect did the hand of the civil power fall so '

heavily as on the Quakers . In Worcester diocese , the m chief severity was during the Com onwealth . At Evesham they were punished with an alm ost savage

A - f brutality . cell is shown , twenty two eet square f and six eet high , in which (it is said) they were con n fined for fourteen weeks, the du geon being never ou t m m be once cleaned during the ti e, till the s ell

m - ca e so noisome even in the street, that passers by T could not endure to pause there . heir food was

bread and water, passed through a hole in the wall f m f our inches wide . In hot days so e o the prisoners m e n m lay like dead , their breath being al ost stopped , and in cold nights there was n either room nor ” m m n or aterial to ake a fire , space to walk in . Fem ale Quakers were thrust with brutal indecency in the stocks and left there in hard frost fo r a day and

night, and then ordered to quit the town . Cromwell o f and his lieutenant in charge the county, Major m ff General Berry, did his best to itigate their su erings som e fi nes were rescinded and so me prisoners dis

charged . T h e o u Quakers brought this trouble themselves , by running naked through the streets of towns and V ff con illages , and by scarcely su ering a service to be

or m ducted without interruption , a inister to pass by of without insult. Baxter was the Object their intense

n aversio . T hey came into his church and railed at CI V I L STRI FE . 2 0 1

’ him t h e howlin a f him ; they followed in streets , g t e r him “ m the day of the Lord is co ing, when thou shalt ” T w perish as a deceiver. hey stood under his windo , o f for crying to the people , to take heed the priests , T him they deceived their souls . heir wild threats put T m in bodily fear. hey ca e to be regarded as public pests , and were treated accordingly. 2 6 2 WORCESTER .

C HAPT ER XIV .

T N H E R E S T O R A T I O .

e WH EN the Puritan deluge had passed by, th re was

M . . T S rejoicing at the cathedral ownshend, in his ,

on A . 1 1 66 0 records that ugust 3 , , the first service

in the cathedral was perform ed by Mr. Richard “ m ” Browne according to ancient custo , and that on “ m 2 wa s m S epte ber , there a very great asse bly at n morning prayers by six in the morning, and by ine ’ O clock there appeared at prayers all the gentry, many m f citizens, and others nu erous , and a ter prayers Dr . D odde swe ll sic , a new prebend [ ] , did preach the first ” T h l . e o d sermon good dean had passed away, worn

- out with persecution , and broken hearted at the exe n c u tion o f the ki g . O f the prebendaries only three of m T had survived the hardships the ti e, Giles horn

. f . T m borough , Dr Herbert Cro t, and Nathaniel o kins , of whom the last had so m anaged his submission as bu t not only to retain his prebendal stall, also to be appointed to the two livings o f Harvington and

- on - S Upton evern , both held simultaneously with his f m 1 cathedral pre er ent . T he new dean , Oliver, was a learned , devout

a h a T m wa s a m I t wa s a o f N t ni e l o kins good usici a n . s id h i ha h a e e r th e r a ha a H is m t t e could pl y b tt on o g n t n on te xt .

a r wa s h a m of . H is fa h e h a d e e p t on Bis op Willi s, Lincoln t r b n r a o f th e ha e R a o g nist C p l oy l .

2 64 WORCESTER .

in the last Siege , and had friendly debate with Baxter about the holiness of churches during one o f the m intervals of war . He co bined a thorough loyalty to Church and king with som e leaning to a wider m co prehension in the Church . He had been driven from all his preferm ents at the rebellion and forced m m to shelter hi self in London . H is na e is recorded am ong the Signatures to the attem pt m ade by Baxter

to found a church on the broadest basis , known as “ ” the Worcestershire Agreement . He also was “ ” for e zealous the Propagation of the Gosp l , as it m was understood in those days . His na e occurs in w m o f connexion ith the baptis Dandolo , a converted T urk , who attracted much attention at the time, and “ o f whom he published a m em oir with a picture of m the said Dandolo in a T urkish habit . His na e

1 6 6 occurs again in 4 , as baptising at the S avoy a m m c o n converted Jew, na ed Isaac Go er, whose o f T he version had been interest in high quarters . f w S ir m god athers ere Charles Berkley, co ptroller to ’ m m E s his ajesty s household, and Willia Coventry, q, T he secretary to his highness the Duke o f York . m f of S ir god other was Lady Carteret , wi e George ’ - m f m o . Carteret, vice Cha berlain his ajesty s household T h e m O f f b e na es the god athers , both apparently f m longing to Worcestershire a ilies , suggest that the

conversion was m ainly due to Wa rm e stry him self. All O f the zeal , ability , and personal influence the f T he n e w clean were needed o r his o wn cathedral . “ - fabric was well nigh a wreck . Hardly T “ f writes ownshend , will put the abric in such ” T ' . order as it was before the Civil Wars . here ' E T H RESTORATION . 2 65

m of were troubles also in the anagement their estates . T he records o f the cathedral Show that the dean and chapter o f Worcester had their full share in the ffi di culties with which , as Clarendon relates , all the cathedrals fo u nd them selves face to face at the

Restoration . Old church tenants , who had been com pe lle d to rep urchase their rights from the Parlia m or ent to sell at any price , expected that they should be recom pensed for the conscientious loyalty which had forbidden them to buy the rights of the T u Church . hose in possession cried o t that it would be a gr oss inj ustice that they should lose the money which they had disbursed on the faith o f the Govern

- m ment which then was . It was well nigh i possible to T h listen to the form er claim s . e dilapidated fabrics o f the cathedrals perem ptorily dem anded im m ediate T he ff supplies for their repair . su erings which had been endured for fidelity to Church and king did

v fo r m of not always pre ail itigation fines , while “ purchasers who Offered more m oney did not fare ” f r m m the worse o the villanies they had co itted . f m Nor could the dean and chapter satis y any, who m m m had local clai s upon the , by presenting the to m f the inor O fices connected with the cathedral , or m o f because , by urgent request positive andate the king, these were given to Old royalist soldiers or for other sufferers in the cause, whose appeals com i n T pe nsa t o could not be denied . hey were com pe lle d to pay m any claim s which they considered very questionable . Barnabas Oley, the treasurer, has expressed his dissatisfaction in quaint notes a p m “ m h o f . . S pended to many the ite s Mrs ith , W o 2 66 WORCESTER .

said that a rre re s were due t o her husband before the m O f S a rre s . . V w , £5 Mr Jack an , icar edgeberrow,

h 1 0 5 . m re te n de t . T which he p to be due, £3 7 ho as S mm w tallard, for co union ine , unpaid [as he says in — ] 1 6 2 . ye years 4 3 , £4 Even the scholars in the m m wa s cathedral school brought in s all clai s , which it “ An n m t im possible to check . Given to Willia s y ’

s. pre tended pay due to her son as king s scholar, 7 T h e dean and chapter set them selves m anfully

. T f r to their task hey were o tunate in a treasurer, at once an ardent churchman and an energetic man f of business . Barnabas Oley had been president o m “ w ” Clare Hall , Ca bridge , hich University, says his o f n biographer, never bred a person more learni g, m m h acco panied with so great odesty, and suc an ” 1 m exemplary holiness O f life . He ust also have had m m so e hu our and even eccentricity in his character . An o f m ou t of own increase inco e , which he gave his

m n of Kirkthor private eans to the poor livi g p , in m Yorkshire , where he was born , was acco panied with “ the conditions that the vicar should n ot smoke f w tobacco , nor wear a periwig , nor go o ten to the to n ” f of Wakefield . Both be ore and after the rebellion o f n he was vicar Great Gransde , in Huntingdonshire , to which parish he was a liberal benefactor . He also for a short tim e held the archdeaconry of Ely with his other appointments ; this , however, he soon “ f m ” “ resigned, on the ground o hu ility, as not ” m f ffi fo r deeming hi sel su cient so great an Office . T he energy which he thre w into the work o f cathedral

f f r S e e the e o e e H e r e r . , Li G o g b t

0 0 . 0 d. we . 5 find that he received £ , while his ser T h vant was rewarded with o n e shilling . e accounts for on 5 0 prove that contracts , even works grand a

scale as this , were unknown in those days . Eleven “ m labourers who wrought seven days in six, ca e 8 . 5 . early and wrought late , received £3 Five pounds were paid to three surgeons who attended m a n o n a who was slain , and another inj ured by f f m a all ro a cradle in the south aisle, and

1 f r o f A £ o the funeral the man killed . lto

m 1 2 su . d . gether, Oley records the of 3 s 16 6 1 as having passed through his hands in , and

1 . 1 66 2 f . A e w 4s 5d in . years later the ’ chapter return , in answer to articles in the bishop s t visitation , tha they had spent above on cathedral repairs : a su m equivalent to som e

in the present day . T his large su m had been raised T h fi in various ways . e rst step of the dean and chapter had been to borrow £5 0 0 upon their reve

T m n ri nues . his was supple ented by liberal co t bu

. 0 0 10 0 tions Lord Coventry gave £5 , the bishop £ , o f 0 m f m e while a contribution £5 ca e ro B rkshire , o f o f through the hands Fell , the dean Christ Church . f m T h No contributions are recorded ro Charles I I . e “ m ” king wrote to the dean and chapter, to i prove ’ n their te ants rents , so as to spend more on the

repairs of the cathedral , and to advance the stipends

m 1 O f the choir en to £ 6 or 2 0 . T he restored chapter showed that they were n ot ’ forgetful of T hornb orou gh s exhortation to hospi

T he f o f 1 66 2 m m . tality . audit east was e orable Men were sent round the city to invite the resi T H E RESTORATION . 69

A m a n dents . and horse posted about the county m S ir to su mon Lord Coventry, Rowland Berkeley ,

° o f and a host county magnates , among whom n T he f stout S ir Ralph Clare was ot forgotten . are provided was sum ptuous . A dozen and a half of ” “ ” 8d . m a r bon e s 5 . y cost 5 ; braune , and all the

m - f 2 8 . d . o . s charge him , £ sa phire, 4 twenty seven

f . 1 d . 2 of . o n stone bee , £3 3 s 3 ; two sheep, £ ; e 8 T 1 on e 1 5 . e veal, ; pork , h re were seventy “ o f coks a r tri e o ne of eight beate and p g , brace “ ” “ ” h e sa n t s - p y , and foure quist or wood pigeons . “ T - fi sh here is no entry of sea , except a lyng and d ” haber ine , probably salted ; but there were perch , “ ” tench , salmon , flounders , eels , and a greene fish . “ T l of st u r in or here was a so a keg g caviare, and “ in r T a c sos e s. o f 6 lb . of g his exuber n e hospitality

A s was curtailed on future occasions . resolution wa passed lim iting the expenses of the audit feast t o “ ” 0 ou t o f . 5 , till the church was debt T he im portance o f keeping up the succession o f bishops had been m uch in the m ind of the king a n d ’ his wisest councillors during his exile . Clarendon s correspondence gives various schem es proposed for providing titular occupants o f the sees at the death w of the existing prelates . Clarendon a s scanda lised by the eager rivalry with which the com petitors “ ” m . l pressed their clai s If I could he p it, he “ to - m writes , if the king were at Whitehall orrow , he should never prefer any m a n in the Church An d that sought it . I think that I have reason ” o f to believe that the king is the same mind . ' Especially these j ealousies h a d b e e n excited in regard 2 0 7 WOR C ESTER .

to Worcester. It had been destined, most worthily, for the pious and learned Ham mond ; but the objection had been raised that “ it was not right ” to raise a Presbyter to so noble a see . Clarendon f m m does not say ro who the objection came, only “ that the obj ector m ust be of age to remember that he who was last bishop of Worcester was never bishop ” of any other place. Bishop Kennett, in his note S on the passage, alleges that Robert kinner, then f bishop of Ox ord , was the objector, and that he had an eye upon Worcester for himself ; but Kennett is T h e occasionally spiteful . king would have per not sisted in his purpose, had it been prevented o f m by the death Ha mond , in the quiet shelter,

A 2 1 6 0 on 6 . which he had found at Westwood , pril 5, Ham mond’s connexion with the diocese commences with his residence at Westwood in poverty and exile after the m urder of the king. His time at West

' in stu d in o f wood was spent prayer and y, defence Act the Church and of its doctrines , and, till the of

1 6 f m m r 5 5 interdicted the clergy ro iniste ial act, in o f the duties his calling, so far as health would allow. Act After the passing of the , he relinquished his f ministerial duties , not from fear for himsel , but because he would not risk bringing persecution on the friends who had given him a kindly welcome . “ Charity for the fam ily where he was made him consent to adm it o f an expedient which secured all for f real duties , whilst he a short time orbore that attendance upon the altar which was the very joy f ” of his li e . He was seized with a sharp and painful illness on

2 7 2 WORCESTER .

“ A earnestly for her spiritual welfare . lways , the day m f before she received , she ade a voluntary con ession f ff O what she thought she had o ended God in , either m m f for by omission or co ission , pro essing her sorrow m m m it, and pro ising a end ent of it and then , kneel ing down , she desired and received absolution in the ” form prescribed by the Church . He had a keen wit . “ What do the Arm inians hold ? ” is said to have h im “ T h been once asked by a country squire . e ” best livings and deaneries in England, was the ready

answer. His religious views were slightly tinctured

with Calvinism . His reputation stood high for gene “ ro sity and forbearance under provocation Morley ” will never be the richer for it, said Charles I I . , a

shrewd judge of character, when he promoted him

f m . ro Worcester to Winchester One David Morgan , ' “ for ra ilin a sad liver, had been fined g in church ; the bishop sent for him and gave h im m oney to pay him w ” the fine . He had better have had hipped , is ’ T ownshend s com m ent .

Morley wa s received with great j oy . His recep t of ion began , as he passed down the Slope Broadway

hill, along what was then a steep and rugged road, m l f O f and , fro the little vi lage at the oot the hill, “ ” threw his first glance over his noble see , over the “ o f f golden vale Pershore , over the air plain in

which his work wa s to be done . His progress was m m T h a triu phal arch . e clergy flocked to welcome “ T h . e him poor, as the chronicler quaintly ex “ f m of presses it, (the a e his charity having com e sooner than his coach) cam e in great numbers m begging . He gave the his blessing, and (what T H E R ESTORATIO N . 7 3

m m some of the , perhaps , valued more) his oney . “ ” My Lord was no Presbyterian , was the general “ outcry, because he gave his money so liberally ” At to the poor. Pershore he was met by “ ’ “ Captain Kite s troop , who saluted him with a f ” f m i o . S r volley shot Four miles ro Worcester, John Pa kin ton r p of g , with a gallant t oo volunteers , formed A . t the escort Red Hill , Lord Windsor, the Lord m Lieutenant , was waiting with a great co pany Of T h loyal gentlemen . e procession passed on to the “ : cathedral city first the clergy, two and two ; then all

sic the Prebends [ ] of Worcester, except, the chronicler “ ” notes as a marked exception , Mr. Reynolds , the son o f the Puritan bishop Of Norwich ; then Lord h Windsor, wit the bishop on his right hand ; and m T he then the troops and gentle en . day ended with “ f of a east at the palace , worthy the hospitality a ” bishop and the generous m ind o f him who gave it . I m m n so great and pro iscuous a ultitude , entertained 50 f o f m with great plenty and a fluence eats and wine, o n e m o r not person was seen inte perate , in any way f ” to have passed the bounds O sobriety. T h e shouts o f welcom e had scarcely died out of o f the ears the new bishop, when his attention was T h called to less pleasant m atters . e palace was well m mm f nigh in ruins, and de anded an i ediate outlay o But the duty nearest to his hand was to institute an inquiry into the ecclesiastical position o f those who held any charge o f souls in the T he m the diocese . arrange ent of the sequestrated

m be ne fi ce s livings , and the contending clai s to the , l might be left to the a w. It rested with the bishop 2 7 4 WORCESTER .

e m to ascertain that thos who held the , whatever their legal title might be, had been ordained according to the order of the Church . Many of the livings in the diocese were held by m e n who had either received no ordination at all or only at the hands of Presbyters . One of the first m easures of the new bishop was to issue articles of inquiry into the canonical quali f wh ffi fi ca t ion s o those o held o ces in the diocese . T he n ot inquiry included only schoolmasters , but ” ’

. A . S t chirurgeons In ndrew s, Pershore, William “ ” Haynes is returned as practising as chirurgeon , S m and Jonas Lyte as schoolmaster. Emmanuel ith , of the rector Hartlebury, produced not only letters of orders , institution , and induction , but a licence from Bishop T ho rnborough to preach and to practise the m edical art . Robert Jennings held the cure Of Alston Wa shborne O f and in the parish Overbury . He had received ordination as a deacon from the bishop of Oxford but beyond that only Presbyterian ordina n ” l cla m - i sse t e r i. tion , per 5 presby He was

1 “ T h e e e r e fe t o th e a e or r words vid ntly r cl ss s, cou ts , which und e r th e pre sbyte ria n mod e l we re form e d in diffe re nt r for a m e r A m e of e h r dist icts d inistra tiv pu pose s . nu b r n ig bou ing a he r a e e e e e a n d e f m e a p ris s , o din rily b tw n tw lv tw nty , or d “ T h r f a ll th m r cla ssis . e cou t consiste d o e iniste s be longing t o th e district a nd of t wo or thre e e ld e rs from e a ch p a rish “ E T h H m e H n . e a h ( u , ist . g , viii . , p . ordin tion in t is “ ” a e wa s r a re e e fr m H a h e re t he a e c s p ob bly c iv d o oll nd, w cl ss s e a h e m e r I n S a the ra e we r usu lly distinguis d by nu b s . cotl nd p t e wa s u se e rr r a e a a s the re e r of ic to t ito i l d sign tions, p sbyt y ” “ ” r f A r r a e ha h o S t . e Edinbu g or nd ws . But it is p ob bl t t t h e num e ra l syste m m a y h a ve b e e n found more conve nie nt in t h f a e country districts o Engl nd .

2 7 6 WORCESTER .

should be shown to him . Nor did his ecclesiastical position appear irreconcilably at variance with the m m m Church , if only discipline ight be ade ore m elastic, and boundaries more co prehensive . He had a great idea of unity and of subm ission to

authority . He had passionately denounced the “ m f m sectaries in the ti e o Cro well . He was ready to accept episcopacy , not only as con

i n f n e t o . ve , but as the ancient order the Church ” Only it must be a prim itive episcopacy ; and of what consitu t e d a prim itive episcopacy he m ust be “ ” “ a m the judg e . I satisfied , he writes , that the apostles them selves have de ju r e successors in all that part o f the work which is to be perpetuated o r continued until now, though not in their extraordinary ” endowments or privileges . He declines to com m it m f m hi sel to any Opinion on the i portant question , whether bishops have sole power o f ordination or only a negative voice . It would be presum ption in “ m e , he alleges , to speak confidently, where so m uch has been said on both sides by many learned

m e n . But , whatever authority was given to the m m bishop, ust be exercised, not only no inally, but “ n T he actually, in co junction with his Presbyters . of present pastors the Church , though but Presbyters , are the true guides Of it while the bishops are absent , and true guides , conj unctively with the bishops when ” they are present . ’ T o the king and his councillors Baxter s opinions appeared in no way incompatible with an acceptance f T ff o f the highest dignities o the Church . hey o ered him the bishopric of Hereford ; but he gave a p e T H E RESTORATION . 2 7 7

re mptory refusal . T hough desirous that a fair pro portion o f bishoprics should be filled by m e n of his ffi m own . school , the O ce had no char s for him One thing only he desired with all the energy of his pas i n m H is s o a t e nature . He loved Kidder inster. work had been done there with success . His personal influence was greater there than it would be in any h other place . His roots had sunk deep into the ric , tenacious soil . He asked to rem ain u ndisturbed . h m T e first difficulty was the ano aly Of his position . o f m Dance was still legally vicar Kidder inster, and m n n ot ow . could be re oved, except by his consent Baxter suggested that som e prom otion Should be ff m or O ered to the old vicar, so e prebend place of com petent profit for I dare n ot m ention him to any pastoral charge or place that requires preaching. T h e chancellor offered to provide an incom e for o u t of m Dance his private purse, till so e fitting f A t ir O fice should be Obtained . letter o S Ralph Clare shows im patience that the plan could n ot be “ u a m ou t O f carried o t at once . I a little coun t e n a n ce f o f that , a ter the discovery such a desire in his Majesty that Mr . Baxter should be settled at d m m m ’ Ki der inster, and y pro ise to you by the king s nc direction that Mr. Dance should receive very pu t u a ll m o f or y a reco pense , by way rent , upon his

u m . your bills , charged pon y steward, Mr Baxter ’ hath no good fruit of this his Majesty s good in te n him tions towards , so that he hath too much reason to believe that he is not so frankly dealt with in this ” matter as he deserves to be . Nothing came of

- the negotiation . Dance was a kindly natured man ; m but, considering the unguarded conte pt with which of him Baxter had habitually spoken , it was not likely that he should be very eager to effect an accomm oda ir l ir Pa kin t on tion . S Ralph C are and S John g were t him a his back , influencing in a direction adverse to ’ the chancellor s wishes . Nor would it have shown ordinary prudence to give up his vicarage for a pension dependent on the will of the chancellor and

f r o f m . o an indefinite promise pro otion Probably, n o of too, the Court found that they had need m Baxter. Nothing ca e of the attempt to procure for m him the vicarage of Kidder inster. Baxter was still eager to continue in his present la w or position on the lowest stipend allowed by , n T h . e wa s even with no stipe d at all question , r f whether his licence should be granted o re used . T hus the whole responsibility of his continuance at m At Kidder inster was cast upon the bishop . first m m Morley was willing that he should re ain , and ade a promise that the licence should be granted ; but f he soon changed his mind , and re used to fulfil his m O f ir pro ise . Perhaps the influence S Ralph Clare u him and others had been brought to bear pon . Probably Baxter showed him self in his worst aspect m S . at the avoy Conference His impatient te per, his

m m f- confi overbearing dog atis , his overweening sel w o f n ot dence , his utter ant courtesy, were likely to ff conciliate those in authority . Great O ence , too , was m m l T h e given by an argu ent which he e p oyed . “ e n oin e th bishops argued , that whatsoever book j w f wf wf nothing but hat is in itsel la ul, and by la ul ” T ~ u e n oin e th f . a thority , j nothing Sin ul his proposi

2 8 0 WORCESTER .

m n m o S t . It ust have ter inate d a little later, Bartholo ’ m m ew s Day . But circu stances gave an appearance

T wa s m ~ o f harshness and inj ustice . here uch bitter ness between Morley and Baxter at the S avoy con T h m ference . e bishop refused to ad it Baxter to in o f Wa rm e str an interview, except the presence y, “ ’ m a n f foreseeing what report a O Mr . Baxter s prin cipl e s and tem per was like to make o f what might ” T pass between us . here was some reason in this m m precaution . Rigid accuracy is seldo co patible f f ’ with the dangerous gi t O fluency . Baxter s vehement

obstinacy, and his perfect confidence that whatever o r o r he thought, said , did , must be right , exposed him O f m n to the danger unintentional isrepresentatio . i Bishop Morley was in a false posit on , driven to f w j usti y a course which he kne to be inevitable, by m ’ the best argu ents , which were available . Baxter s ministry for th e future would have been a scene of “ ir perpetual strife and insubordination . S Ralph f m e Clare did reely tell [he writes] , that if I could f m t o o f con or the order and ceremonies the Church , f m a nd and preach con or ity to the people, labour to I n so set them right , there was no one England fit to n ot wa s m a n be there , but if I would , there no so ” f r n unfit o the place . His parti g address to his flock “ m t o was temperate, advising the to keep the public m m o f m asse blies , and ake use such help as ight be ” had in public, together with their private prayers . “ Yet he m ade three exceptions ; when the preacher set ” “ f f o r himsel to make a holy li e seem odious , preached “ ” “ or f " heresy , was utterly insu ficient, such as alas ” they had known to their sorrow : a parting blow at T H E N RESTORATIO . 8 1

Dance . He adds a warning not to take every bitter on m o r reflection the selves others , occasioned by ff o f f di erence Opinion or interest , to be a su ficient cause to say that the minister preacheth against god ” lin e ss . , or to withdraw themselves A still larger eli mination of the Puritan elem ent

m a l a m fro the diocese was at hand . C y gives the nam es o f thirty- two m inisters who left their cures in

. m m a t the diocese Bu t so e , as Benj a in Baxter, m old m Upton , erely gave way to the incu bents who m had been unj ustly expelled . S o e were m e n Of piety and learning, whose loss was to be deplored , and m " so e were attached to the Church , though they m T he m e n of m could no longer inister in it . the ost T m tender conscience were the first to go . ho as m Of m “ Bro wich, Ke psey, had been over persuaded

t o f . take the declaration , but could go no urther m a n He was a good and quick , who frequented w m the parish church ith his fa ily , received the Holy m did Com union , and all things required by a lay ” f m m o f o f . o e ber the Church England Cooper, “ Mosely, was a Hebrew scholar, who read the Masorah and Jewish Com m entaries as if they were ” ’ T m of Latin . Dr . ho as Hill, King s Norton, was a m a n holy and learned , who gave valuable books to the

m m . S of S library at Bir ingha Richard erj eant , tone , of him o f had been assistant to Baxter, who records , m e f all the years he assisted , I know not o any person wh o him or of was against , accused him doing any ”

m . thing a iss Once, when some of the congregation , h f who had expected Baxter to preac , le t the church S when erjeant entered the pulpit , he was bold enough 2 8 2 WORCESTER .

“ to address them with a telling reproof Friends , if u you come to hear Mr. Baxter yo will be disappointed , for m he is ill if you co e to hear the Word of God , ' ” ld I a m here to preach it . O friendships were not S ilsbu r o f m in every case torn asunder. p y, Bro s m grove , a man venerable and loving , resu ed his old f m l riendship with any of the c ergy, especially with

m . Bishop Hall, whose sister he had arried White, m the vicar of Kidder inster , preached a funeral sermon f - T h f or . e o Baldwin , of Chaddesley Corbett son m of William Kimberley, of Red arley, became dean

Bristol . It was not with these ejected ministers as with the clergy ej ected in the rebellion . Many had left other o n trades and occupations , which they could now f m wa s all back . Prestwood , under the Foley fa ily, , ' m of m to so e the , a shelter , as Westwood under the

Pa kingtons had been to the ejected clergy . Benjamin ’ Baxter s O ld age wa s tended by the Le chm e re s of

S - evern End . But poverty and distress were often the result Of their u nflinching obedience to the dictates of a tender conscience . Care wa s taken that none who were in pos session of sequestrated livings should be ejected

of - fi fths of except by process law, four the income f of being le t in the hands the churchwardens, until the titles o f the present incumbents should be

- - . on S legally decided In general , as at Upton evern , the intruding m inisters departed without appealing to the law . But it was a dilapidated heritage to which “ T he of their successors returned . whole revenue the ” a n Church , says Cl rendo , supposing, which even

2 8 4 WORCESTER .

- wanting, and the locks and keys of the parish chest T h e defective . churchyard was not properly fenced ,

nor decently kept , and much trespass by sheep and ’ T he m kine was permitted . washing of the inister s

surplice four tim es a year wa s not provided for . nor

timely notice given o f bu ryin gs and ch riste m ngs. “ On on e occasion he had disappointed the receiving Ofthe Com m union after harvest ” by not providing the 1 a f bread and wine . He had ppropriated the wine a ter

T . celebration . here are other allegations He neither

sends his children nor servants to be catechised . He does not check the irreverence of the parishioners

in not kneeling during Divine service . He is rarely f at church at the beginning of service . He is o ten at f O f the alehouse during a ternoon service , instead com ing to church to prevent the loiterin g and playin g T o f o f youths . here are other charges appropriating m f for of oney le t charitable purposes, and intruding m i ffi m hi self nto the o ce of churchwarden . He ing wa s f m to deposed ro his Office , and the mandate the parishioners to elect a successor was read publicly in “ church im m ediately after the reading of the Nicene

C reed . S ometim es the bickerings in the parish came from old m th e other side . Many incu bents , especially those who had retained their livings by compliance C with Puritan ideas, had ontracted careless ways , dis f T tasteful to the younger m embers o the flock . here

of 1 6 6 is a curious correspondence , 9, between the v o f o f icar Hanbury, and his nephew, registrar the

1 h me Cle a rly h a rve st th a nksgiving s we re custom a ry a t t e ti . T H E RESTORATIO N . 85

’ Af bishop s court at Worcester. ter some recrim ina tion about other matters , the nephew goes on to the charges of slovenliness in the perform ance of the “ I f m o f service . to be covered in the ti e Divine t a ile s service , to sit upon their when Glory to the a —I sa w o n e F ther is given , or the Gospel read , sit at — T h e . e the Creed , b not slovenly, I am in fault laws of the Church com m and us to stand at the

m . Creed and Gloria Patri , custo , at the Gospel If the o f m Gloria Patri be not repeated at the end every psal , as the canon directs , the duty cannot be said to be ” T discharged with decency . here is a further Charge “ ” ca nonica ll about a right coate , which had been “ ’ ” n l T h e worn o Al Angels Day. latter passage o f proves the habitual Observance the festivals , even in m country parishes , where the incu bent was not z ealous for the discipline o f the Church . T he proctors sent from the diocese to the convo

O f 1 66 1 m l cation were Dean Oliver, Willia Dowdeswe l ,

for A proctor the chapter, rchdeacon Hodges , Joseph

A. D D S M. Crowther, , and Henry utton , , proctors f r o the clergy . T h e chief weight o f repression fell on the Quakers A and nabaptists , and in the case of the latter it was justified by the turbulence o f their proceedings . T he Quakers were no worse off than in the tim e

T 1 66 1 Of Cromwell . ownshend , in , records that he and another justice of the peace released out of the castle j ail of Worcester forty -four Quakers and A m fourteen nabaptists , upon their pro ising to appear m at the next j ail delivery, and in the ean time to keep the peace . It was not only the refusal of the 2 86 WORCESTER .

Quakers to pay tithes , which were a legal due , f off en forced by law, but the re usal to take their hats o f in a court justice, their persistence in carrying

n on S of o their business undays , and their habit forcing them selves into congregations and proclaim ing that the clergym an was a lying witness and a false prophet , which brought upon them the sentence of the law and the personal resentment of the magis

m . S trates , who they defied till more insolent were

1 6 6 of m the Anabaptists . In 9 a troop them asse bled m at a funeral at Bro sgrove , interrupted the service , irreverently threw the corpse into the grave, and

finished the service with their hats on , in spite of the

ff f m 1 6 6 e orts o the inister . I n 7 there is an account of the Quakers then in Worcester gaol ; but it is All m m added which persons so co itted are , by the

m o f ff - ff over uch indulgence the late sheri , under Sheri , m and gaoler, per itted to goe at liberty about their r occasions , which we conside doth encourage them to persist in their contem ptuous and incorrigible n behaviour, and they are not to be fou d in prison unless for about an houre or a night once in six or ’ ” eight weeks time . One of the unhappy effects of the Conform ity Act was apparent in the nu mber of Nonconformist congre i n i h a t o s . T e g , which it called into ex stence Puritanism which before had been a leaven within the Church , wa s m now e bodied in sects , all bitterly hostile to the T w m Church . o docu ents are in existence from which some estimate may be formed of the effect T o f produced in the diocese . he first is a return o f 1 66 . conventicles in Worcestershire, 9 It is

2 8 8 WORCESTER .

f m . T Papists , and only 5 Noncon or ists ardebigge of m appears to have been a stronghold the Ro anists , as it returns 3 7 Papists against 2 7 8 Conform ists and f A m 6 m . t A Noncon or ists lvechurch , in the sa e o n f deanery , the other hand, the Noncon ormist m m m m 6 m e m ele ent was ore pro inent , nu bering 5 f m bers against 2 0 9 Con or ists and 3 Papists . C haddesley Corbett has 2 8 Papists against 44 7 Con f m At m fo r mists . and 5 Noncon or ists Kidder inster, m a r m 8 the nu bers e , Confor ists , Papists, ; f m 1 Noncon or ists , 4 as if the inhabitants had taken ’ m Baxter s parting advice , and contented the selves with the m inistry of the Church . In the Pershore o f f m deanery, the centres Noncon or ity were at

Eckington , and Holy Cross in Pershore , which 8 1 0 return , respectively , 44 and 3 against 4, and

2 f m 4 5 Con or ists , there being no Papists in either m r two parish . Evesha deanery retu ns only Papists in 1 8 o n e o ne its parishes , at Littleton and at Broad wa f m y , the total return being, Con or ists , f 0 2 m 0 . o Papists , ; Nonconfor ists , 9 Out the 4

1 parishes in Kington deanery, 3 return neither m 2 8 Papists nor Nonconfor ists , and in no Papists , the largest number in any single parish being 9

m 1 B ra le s at Il ington , and 3 at y , the total being, f m 0 f m Con or ists , Papists , 4 ; Noncon or ists , T h m 1 44 . e Ro an Catholics were strong in the m Warwick deanery , the nu bers being , Conformists ,

m 1 10 T 8 1 . Papists , 3 ; Nonconfor ists , hey seem also to have been scattered over the country .

nl a e m O y four parishes r without the , and these very s mall and unimportant : S n itte rfe ld with 1 7 3 inha bi T H E RESTOR AT ION . 89

8 Woolfe rdin ton 8 tants , Morton Bagot with 4 , g with 5 , h and Kinnerton with only 48 . T e greatest propor tion of Rom an Catholics to the general population is A found at rrow, where the numbers of Church people ,

m 0 2 Papists , Nonconfor ists , are 3 , 7 5 , 5 ; at Coughton ,

1 6 2 6 6 1 1 1 33 , 7 , o ; Bidford, 5 , , 3 ; Rowington , 7 , 2 6 T 0 0 0 1 6 , 4 and anworth , 4 , 3 , while little Norton Lindsey reckons 6 Papists against 6 8 Conformists and 1 Noncon form ist ; and the still sm aller Weethley has 7 Papists and 2 Nonconform ists against only 3 7

Conform ists . T T hese returns were not absolutely accurate . hey would scarcely represent the entire strength of non f m T a con or ity . h t they were honestly made , and m with an approxi ation to accuracy, may be inferred from a com parison o f the return from Kidderm inster ’ with Baxter s rough estimate o f the population as “ of m or m about persons , who ore were m I f m of age to be co municants . a argin is left for f m w for Noncon or ists , who ould evade the census , and ’ inexactness in Baxter s calculations , the results are

fa r not very apart . An d for so the diocese was at rest a season , righting f m for on e itself a ter the great stor , and preparing which was about to break upon it fro m an unexpected quarter. 0 2 9 WORCESTER .

A CH PT ER XV.

T H E N O N J U R O R S .

BISHOP MORLEY was succeeded by Gauden, pro m f moted fro the see o Exeter . It is not within the Scope O f this history to discuss his claim s to the f “ B ilik ” authorship o Icon a s e. It would have been better for his reputation if his letters to Clarendon with regard to his promotion had been allowed to perish . It is an instance of the inj uriousness of preserving a fam iliar correspondence never intended to go out o f the possession O f the persons t o . whom h it was addressed . T e letters are those O f an T he f ambitious and disappointed man . see o — Worcester was given , in his own words, not without ” r f much solicitation . N o did it satis y his idea of him what was due to . He had been urging with per m of sistence his clai to the rich diocese Winchester . Nor can it be too m uch for me if it fits any other

n m i ma , who I cannot think g ants nor myself a ”

m . pig y Probably all this urgency told against him , if Clarendon was in the same m ind as when he wrote “ f m that If he had his will, no pre er ent should be ” f r m gi ven to those who sought o it . It ust have been m ortifi ca tion f a to Gauden , when h e was orced to if content himself with Worcester, especially he had m not only received a pro ise of Winchester, but had

2 2 9 WORCESTER .

He had also been chosen to supply the place of o f f any the bishops or archbishops , prevented rom

attending the S avoy conference . He had a literary

w n reputation , is credited ith havi g translated into “ ‘ ” ’ “ Ba silike Latin the Icon , and Hooker s Eccle ” i of s astical Polity , and with the authorship a clever ” Mi r m r of c ocos o a hia . book characters , entitled g p He was translated to S arum a year after his appoint m ent here . Bishop S kinner was translated from Oxford to the ” w noble see, on hich , according to Kennett, his f r eye had been o a long time fixed . He was an old f man when he came to Worcester, and died a ter ’

o f a e of 8 1 . seven years tenure the see, at the g T he him m only thing recorded of , here, is an atte pt to alter the practice o f dividing the m o rning service h into two parts . T e dean and chapter give their reasons for preferring the old custom as a m atter o f on convenience to the worshippers , and the ground “ i o f rubrical exactness . We do conceive that th s cus tom is conform e to the ru bricke and canons of the u w Church , as first to the r bric before the litany, herein f it is ordered, that the litany be said or sung a ter

m S &C . orning prayers , on undays , , which words do intim ate a Space between m orning prayer and the old f m m litany ; second , the rubric be ore the co union a dista n ce doth necessarily imply, that there Should be of tim e between the prayers and the communion ” u service, and the new r bric doth not direct otherwise . wa s Bishop S kinner convinced , and retracted his —“ order for the alteration upon experience of the former [sir] inconvenience did acknowledge his in H N T E N O JURORS . 2 93

it advertency, and desire might be restored to its ” former course . Walter Blandford was also translated from the see m a n f . A of Ox ord . He was a Of literary pursuits him MS . account of the cathedral by is extant and at his death he left books of the value of £5 0 to of the cathedral library, to be selected by three the m T m . w prebendaries , Dr. ho as La plugh , Mr Ed ard

Reynolds and Mr. Barnabas Oley . He died, after

of of . ten years tenure the see, at the age 5 9 He had retained his fellowship at Wadham during the usurpation . His successor was a royalist o f a m ore de m cided sta p . Bishop Fleetwood had been with

Charles I , at Edgehill , and rendered good service in f f carrying Off the young princes to a place o sa ety . He had been re warded with the rectory o f S utton C oldfi e ld , which even his near relationship to Fleet

not him wood, the regicide, did enable to retain during m m m the Co onwealth . He became tutor to any of the nobility during their exile, especially to Charles and A m e of m . t Es , successively dukes Rich ond the ’

m o f . Restoration he beca e provost King s College , and Of afterwards bishop Worcester. He was diligent as

m . m to confir ations He held a confir ation at Evesham, on 6th 1 6 6 Wor October , 7 , and at the cathedral at c r n 2 h 1 T h e m e ste o t 6 . , March 7 , 7 7 large nu ber pre

f m m . sented on those occasions ro Naunton , a very s all

" parish , indicate , either that the rite had been neglected for m or some ti e , that the bishop was not strict with 1 68 f regard to age . He died in 3 , a ter an episcopate

f f 8 1 o o . eight years , at the age 2 9 4 WORCESTER .

William T hom as had adhered to the cause of

1 6 Church and king during the troubles . In 44 , as he was cond u cting public worship in the village m church of his little Welsh parish , so e Puritan soldiers him interrupted the service , and threatened to pistol , if he went on reading the prayer- book and praying for the queen . He quietly proceeded with the prayers .

o f m One them snatched away the book , when the na e f m o the queen was entioned , and threw it at his head . T hom as continued the service with such m eekness and m si ple earnestness , that the soldier was struck with m m f co punction , and his co panions were orced to carry T m him out Of the church . During the rebellion , ho as m m was reduced to poverty, and aintained hi self by At keeping a school . the Restoration he became of m him chaplain to the Duke York , and acco panied

- fi h 1 in o n e of the sea g t s with the Dutch . In 6 6 5 he m o f 1 6 8 was ade dean Worcester , and in 7 was also ’ presented to the bishopric O f S t . David s . As dean of Worcester he acquired an intim ate knowledge Of of the reforms most needed in the cathedral . One his first thoughts as bishop was to provide for the ff n f m ore e ective renderi g o the cathedral service . o f c H icke s With the concurrence lean , he procured a chapter act, that two prebendaries should be in m two residence every onth , and that at least should mm T h be always present at the Holy Co union . e duty which he enforced on others he was careful in per

m f. As m forming hi sel long as his health would per it, he was unfailing in his attendance at the six o ’clock morning service in the cathedral . He was also con n stant in preaching, notwithstandi g feeble health and a

2 96 WORCESTER .

m His latter days were passed in troublous ti es . Loyalty to Church and king had been characteristic

o f his earl y life . His allegiance to the king was to be

severely tested , when the two watchwords appeared I f adverse to each other . any personal feeling could him f m o f have alienated ro the cause royalty , it would have been the treatm ent which he m e t with from ’

. m m . Ja es I I , during that onarch s visit to Worcester T h e king had been received with cerem ony and

loyalty by the corporation and the cathedral clergy . T he next morning he perform ed the office of touchin g ’ fo r d the king s evil in the cathe ral , but in the evening, m ’ S t . it being Bartholo ew s Day, he went in state T h m cor to the Rom an Catholic chapel . e ayor and pora t ion were loyal e nough t o attend him to the “

f . door, but no arther I think, your Maj esty, we ” m fa r have gone al ost enough already , was the bold

of o n e of m w answer the , when they ere pressed T h e to enter. corporation devoted the interval to “ ” n B u t refreshm ents at a neighbouri g inn . the good bishop m ust have been sad when he saw the m king, who he had loved so well , turning away from the cathedral . Greater vexation was in store

r him T h e on fo . bishop entertained the king his t e n return from chapel with a costly banquet . t o he was about say the grace at his own table, the king interrupted him with the rem ark that his own T he chaplain was present . bi shop retired with tears T h ’ . e in his eyes king s attendants carried away, ’ hi of as s majesty s perquisite , a piece cloth valued

2 for at £ 7 , which the bishop had laid down his n Maj esty to tread o . T H E N N O JURORS . 2 9 7

’ T h e Old m an s loyalty was proof even against a ff strain so severe as this . No personal o ence could unsettle his allegiance . Yet this allegiance could f not inter ere with still higher responsibility . He refused to sanction the “ Declaration for giving “ of on Liberty Conscience, the ground that it was the duty of a bishop to secure his clergy from n ot t o m sins and perils , and order the to circulate a paper with which his own conscience was abundantly ”

. f dissatisfied On the other hand , he stead astly refused f the oath o allegiance to William and Mary . He m m own writes , a hu ble man sub its , suspects his j udg m e n wi h I f t t a ve n e ra ble respect for law . startled by any S constitution in Church and tate , he frequently prays, m w seriously discourses , odestly counsels ith others ; if f x m if , a ter all e pedients , he re ains dissatisfied , he m m cannot swi with the strea , he will not trouble the

. m w waters He deter ined to ithdraw peaceably . He prepared to retire to Wolverley . But he was spared the of grief laying down his Office . He was stricken with 2 0 th 1 6 8 th e sudden illness on June the , 9 , and died at on 2 th 6th O f n palace the 4 , in the 7 year a lovi g and f f holy li e . He had orbidden that his body should be “ ” for laid within the cathedral walls , the church , “ for he said , is the living , not for the dead . His sim ple grave was dug not in the fellowship o f m the bishops and deans , who he beneath the pave ent o f in - f the cathedral , but the north east corner o the “ T he f r m . T h o f. e Cloisters epitaph , he wrote hi sel o f m unworthy dean Worcester, the ore unworthy ’

of S t . bishop David s , and the most unworthy bishop

of . Worcester His last wish was granted . He had 2 8 9 WORCESTER .

r S tillin fle e t w itten to g , to express an earnest hope , tillin fl that he might be his successor . S g e e t was appointed in his stead .

Bishop T homas was fortunate in a dean like - minded i m H ick w th hi self. Dr . e s was an able and earnest man . He was connected with the diocese as well as A with the cathedral , having held the living of lve f m 1 6 A m church ro 6 8 until his deprivation . speci en o f of o f the vigour his preaching, and the fearlessness h ou t m with whic he spoke his ind , is found in a m 1 68 on ser on preached in the cathedral in 4, the anniversary of the Restoration , and published at “ ” the j oint and earnest request of the mayor and m . m alder en In the preface to his ser on he says , I m or never saw ore gravity in any public j oy, more universal temperance or sobriety in any public f ” easting . Dean H icke s was zealous in helping the bishop to of secure the constant residence prebendaries , and m m n their regular attendance at Holy Co unio . H e m f pro oted the wel are of the Cathedral S chool . He found a zealous fellow - worker in on e of the preben i m n d a r e s H n a . , William , opki s , a pious and able m 1 6 At 1 Hopkins was born at Evesha in 4 7 . 3 o f T f years age , he was sent to rinity College, Ox ord , f 2 1 and took his M. A. degree be ore he was . In 1 6 1 S m 7 , he went to weden as chaplain to the a bas 5 0 sador at the S wedish Court . During his journ in “ S m of weden , he applied hi self to the study the ” a septentrional ntiquities , for which he was peculiarly “ qualified by the knowledge which he had of the o l - S d English axon language , and by his conversation

3 0 0 WORCESTER .

m m told e he would co plain to the king, whose book

seller he had the honour to be . Hopkins left proof of his learning in two polem ical

works , which passed through two editions . One was B e rtra m n o r R a tra mn i entitled , wherein Mons eur ’ Boileau s Version and notes upon B e r tra m n are con ”

side re d f . T h e , and his un air dealings in both detected on e of other, the numerous answers to the notorious m 1 “ S a uel Johnson and his notorious book , Julian ” “ m n A A o . the postate, entitled ni adversions Mr Johnson ’s Answer to Jovian ”9 S om e tim e before his ’

S t . death , he was made master of Oswald s hospital

the salary he devoted entirely to the hospital . He

h 1 0 0 of on 1 8t . died fever the of May, in 7 With so zeal ous a coadjutor H icke s effected many ’ for S T changes the better in the King s chool . hey wrote to the principal of Magdalen Hall that it would be an advantage to the school and to the college if the exhibitioners from Worcester school were selected m ff on the at a public exa ination , and they o ered , part O f m the chapter, to provide for the exa iners during their stay . It was their purpose to petition the king, ’ t to reduce the number of king s scholars , hat such as m f were chosen might receive a ore su ficient allowance .

S a mue l Johnson wa s a politic a l wr ite r a t t h e tim e o f th e r e h e e h e m e a e r o f e r e m e re a volution , w os v nt ss tion xt public n p rinciple s brought on him d e g ra da tion fr om th e pri e sthood a nd ’ a r a H e wa s m a flogging a t th e c t s t il . co p e nsa te d for h is ” ffe r a m I I I . S e e a a a H a su ing s by Willi ( M c ul y , ist . En l nd , — g 10 108 . ii . , 4 ; iii , 2 N e ith e r of the se works is pre se rve d in th e ca the dra l a libr ry. N T H E N O JURORS . 3 0 1

Another petition was a self- denying request for a s of new strict tatute, to put it out our power to grant patents to the inferior m embers and ofli ce rs of the m m Church , than which , though nothing is ore custo ary , m m yet nothing is ore prej udicial to the govern ent, ”

of . good order, and discipline such societies T hese bold and j udicious m easures of reform were H ick interrupted by the deprivation Of Dean e s. Many efforts were m ade to retain him in the service m of the Church . His most beloved friend, Ed und of S ff Bohun , Westhall Hall , in u olk , exerted influence A and argument in vain . bout this time Dr. George H icke s , the dean of Worcester, and my most beloved m o f friend, ca e up to London , and at the request his sa tisf e relations I laboured hard to y him , but could m not, though he said he was ost willing to be satisfied . o f By his order I wrote a short state the affaire , and ‘ stiled it An Apology for the Church of England in ’ relation to the Revolution , which I gave him to read . ” T h m He said it did not sa tisfye him . e sa e paper f a n r f m was a terwards sent to S c o t with the sa e result . “ Bohun adds sadly : T hus I lost my two best and f greatest riends . con scie n It would have been well , if to this brave t iou sne ss H icke s had added the sweet and modest m f o . te per his friend , Mr Hopkins , or, like Bishop m “ T . ho as , had retired without troubling the waters

But he could not bring himself to this . Before O f e T the installation his succ ssor, albot, he boldly affixed a protest to the cathedral door . For this he An narrowly escaped severe punishment . information was ordered to be laid against him by the Attorney 3 0 2 WORCESTER .

General, and was only allowed to drop through the intervention of Lord S omers . H ick e s f After leaving Worcester, ound shelter, first m n A . at Westwood, and then with Kennett, at brosde “ ” . S He died in obscurity in London trange , it was “ said at the time, that he , whose brother had been executed as concerned in Monm outh ’s rebellion f m ff as a Noncon or ist minister, Should su er as a ” m of . T he f cha pion the Nonj urors en orced leisure, in which the rest Of his life was Spent, allowed him “ to compile the T hesaurus Lingu a ru m Ve te ru m ” S e t e ntrion a liu m m m p , which still re ains a onument of his learning . T he Clergy of Worcester were a loyal clergy in a

- pre em inently loyal county . But in spite of their ff for reverence and a ection their dean and bishop, they were well disposed to listen to the argum ents O f f Lloyd , their uture bishop, which were so effectual in bringing over the clergy generally to the A fe w new government . in the diocese were found to f m O f ollow the exa ple their bishop and clean . T heir m T o f S e ve rn k na es were Ralph aylor, rector sto e ;

- of T r Joseph Crowther, vice prebendary and rector e ’ in n d t o S t . g Henry Panting, rector of Martin s , Wor c e ste r - on -S fi , and Upton evern John Grif th , rector m T m S t . Of Nicholas , and inor canon ; ho as Maurice, of T curate Claines , and minor canon ; homas f t o S . S Roberts, rector within, and minor canon ; a N orrice o f R lph , vicar Littleton S amuel S ands, O f T m rector Willoughby ho as Beynon , curate of

-on-S T m A Upton evern ho as Wilson , rector of rrow ; m T . T homas Wilson , jun ho as Keyt , rector of

0 3 4 WORCESTER .

Beatrice . I n the Herbert letters is a curious glimpse

of another nonjuring minor canon . Godwin Attwood o n 2 2 1 6 writes January , 93 , to complain of the f “ f ” audacity o Parson Roberts a Noncon ormist . Roberts had been sent for to pray with a m aid v m ser ant, who lay sick , and to ad inister to her the

Holy Communion . On entering the house he desired w t all to withdra , and asked her how she would e “ c ive e . On her replying, according to the Church ” o f England as now established, he told her that his wa s church in the right, and, unless she would receive m ol in his way, he would not ad inister the H y S acra m A m . t ent this so e , who had been listening at the him door, broke in and desired to pray with her, f f which he re used to do, and le t the house . On another occasion this sam e Roberts “ and another ” brother rogue tooke o n e o f their brethren to be

- o u t of buried , and snatched the prayer book the hand o f the parish clergyman, and buried the Jacobite as ” they thought fit. 2 1 6 0 O n July 9 , 9 , Mr. Dowdeswell of Pull Court , writes to Henry Herbert, to tell him the result of a foray which had been made by order of Lord S hrewsbury, probably in the apprehension of some m Jacobite rising, a ong his nonjuring neighbours . S ome were summ oned to take “ the new oaths and ” m the test. One was sent to the com on gaol in con “ sequence of his disrespectful behaviour . T h e on others , their refusal , were confined at Ledbury,

m for . S m with a file of usketeers their guard o e, who n ot w were summoned, did attend , and warrants ere A issued for their apprehension . nother portion of T H E N ONJURORS . 3 0 5

z of m the letter recounts the sei ure horses, for the ost “ of part very mean e carthorses , under the value £ 5 ” T apiece . hese, apparently , were restored to their owners when the danger o f a rising had passed “ ” “ Bu t n a f away . a saddle g, ( about ourteen hands ” and an inch high , and stands fire very well ) was “ ” m adjudged to be forfeited, though the com issioners n o m had received authority appointing the judges . “ —I f m o f It is added , orgot to ention , that the curate

- on - S f Upton evern , having re used the oaths , had been mm l ” T h “ ” co itted to gao . e curate was probably

Beynon .

Dr . Joseph Crowther was a man of greater note . During the exile of the royal fam ily he had acted as of f chaplain to the Duke York , and had o ficiated at “ m Ann his arriage with Hyde, in the night between o f eleven and two , according to the rites the Church ” f of England . As usual with the chaplains o the m Duke, he had obtained quick promotion . I mediately after the Restoration he becam e Regius Professor of o f f Greek in the University Ox ord, chantor and ’ f of S t . o Cathedral , and rector prebendary , Paul s

T . 1 6 6 1 redington In , he was appointed to a pre n a l T f m b e d . stall in Worcester his pre er ent, however,

1 8 f m he resigned in 6 0 . His other pre er ents he t ill on e o f retained his death . He was also the 1 proctors for the clergy at the Convocation o f 16 6 . T m He was presented to redington before the inister , he who had possession during t Rebellion , had left it,

‘ so that for two or three S undays Crowther preached at one end of the church and Durham at the other .

Hot, hasty , and obstinate , he yet appears to have x 3 0 6 WORCESTER .

- T been a genial and kind hearted man . redington l of was a peculiar living , conferring a power holding

an ecclesiastical court once in three years , which of .Crowther exercised , to the annoyance the Quakers ,

several of whom were sent by him to prison . He m see s , however, to have had nothing to do with the m o f Fox T arrest and com ittal George , in redington , “ ” “ where, the Quaker account says , we had a very ” ’ large and precious meeting in a barn . From Fox s

- in- son law, apprehended at the same time, Crowther

heard a home truth scarcely palata ble . Being asked on his trial whether it was not reasonable to send F x w of o to gaol , hen the parson the parish had

lost the greater part of the parishioners , Lower boldly of r answered, I have heard that the priest the pa ish V flock — , b comes so seldom to isit—his ut once or twice a year to gather tithes , that it was but charity in ” r rl f Geo g e Fox to visit such a fb orn and orsaken flock . Crowther made matters worse by threatening to sue ’ Lower in the Bishop s Court, which only provoked the

answer, that the whole parish would be brought in

evidence . Crowther visited Fox in prison , and strove

to bring him to a better way of thinking. If Crowther in his prosperity meted ou t hard measure to the

r n him . Quakers, ret ibution fell o in his old age ” “ In his last days , says Kennett, he was committed of prisoner to the Fleet, in London , by the endeavour S ir T homas Draper, because he refused to renew a ’

r n S t . co ps belo ging to Paul s Cathedral , then in pos ir T session of S homas, which the Doctor intended

I N a e o ces e S e 2 o k , W r t r cts , p . 55,

3 0 8 WORCESTER .

A T CH P ER XVI .

T H E N N EIGHTEE TH CE TU R Y.

S OME glimpses of the work done in the diocese - during this period m a y be obta ined from the legacies left for various kinds of church work . Even in city S m parishes, a single unday ser on was held sufficient by many clergymen for the requirements of their for Office . Provision further spiritual instruction was frequently made by private m u nifi ce n ce or parochial f . o S t . subsidies In the accounts Nicholas parish , 1 0 8 of Worcester, in 7 , is an entry £5 paid to the “ f r curate o a sermon every sacramental day, in the ” - f f r . o a te noon, since Easter last In an entry later

o f S t . date, in the parish Michael , the parsonage d f m m on house was excuse ro all pay ents, condition that the minister should preach a serm on every Good A Friday . nother entry allots an annual guinea to the clerk for singing a psalm “ between the two ” 1 A services every S unday . further proof that a sermon on Good Friday wa s not regarded as a duty f o . S by the clergyman , is found in the will Mr tephen

A o f S t. shby, who leaves to the rector Nicholas,

2 0 5 . Worcester, for preaching a sermon on Good

Pr oba bly b e twe e n th e m o rning p ra ye r a nd the H oly Corn m u r e a r e a s e r e . nion, g d d distinct s vic s E N N T H EIGHTEE TH CE TURY . 3 0 9

Friday, and adds a request that the parishioners of t m a S S within y attend the service, and that the blessed S acram ent of the Lord ’s S upper may be m t ffi o f ad inistered , if here shall be a su cient number m T he com unicants . daily s ervice was desired by

1 6 w of A f many . In 7 4 Ed ard Moore, lvechurch , le t for for money , partly in bread the poor, partly the m encourage ent of daily prayer in Bromsgrove Church . Catechising formed a prom in e n t portion of the church I n 1 1 a rwa rdin e of work of the day . 7 7 , Margery C , ’

S t . f 2 0 John s , Worcester, le t , the interest to be spent “ in Bibles for the poorer sort of young people every

Easter, who have best rehearsed the Catechism in ” An the Lent before . y money remaining was to be “ laid ou t in catechism s for the poor children who attend the reading school . Phineas Jackson, of “ m o f m Bro yard , left the rent so e land to the young people in the parish o f Powick who can best say A m the Catechism at Lent . t Little Ha pton John “ 1 1 10 Martin left, in 7 3 , a yearly £ to an orthodox m ” and pious inister to read prayers , preach and S 2 for catechise every unday in church , and 5 shillings teaching poor children to read and learn the Church m T he m su m wa s m catechis . sa e left to the inister of fu Bengeworth , and a rther residue of personal m estate to the minister of Ha pton . Various sum s were left for serm ons to be preached f ’ on o . . the day the testator s burial Mr Norton , of

1 2 1 f Claines , 7 , was care ul to provide not only a d m . 2 0 5 . ser on , but an au ience He left to the clergy man who should preach a sermon on the anniversary

2 0 5 . of his burial , and to be given in twopenny 3 10 WORCESTER . h ousehold bread ” to the poor who attend to hear the m e n sermon , and the residue to clothe five poor of a n the parish who usually attend church , d who come ’

m . T of S t . to hear the ser on imothy Nourse, John s , 1 6 8 o f in 9 , and Richard Collies, Powick, left sums to for buy clothing the poor, on condition that the initials of the testators’ names should be attached conspicuously (Mr . Noake says in

. d a to all the garm ents Collies ad s th t , if these letters “ ” O ff or were pulled damaged, the faulty person should be incapable Of receiving any further benefit from the bequest . T he Consistory Courts were active, not only in r ff st ictly ecclesiastical matters , but in social o ences Blu ck beyond the dom ain Of civil law . John e has to an swer for setting up a gravestone in the church “ a t w sl a n d e r ou se sca n da lou se yard Fladbury ith a , , ”

libe lou se on . f and inscription it Mary Bent, o mm Great Witley, is su oned for practising midwifery ; T o f S for S and Deborah orrent , toulton , teaching chool, f R u h ck . o s o e without licences William Osborne, , “ f ” m m and his pretended wi e, are su oned to prove their marriage or answer articles for fornication while of from the same place Joan , the wife Gerard Palmer, for and Judith, his daughter , have to answer not only absence from the S acram ent (sic) but for sowing dis f m cord and de a ing their neighbours . At Elm ley Castle the wife o f T homas Leonard is excomm unicated A for not giving public thanks after her delivery . t T a Wolford John aylor, the vic r, has to answer arti

- m cles for non residence . Churchwardens co e from Alcester to certify to the repair of the lichgate from ‘

3 1 2 WORCESTE R .

was sentenced to the same penance in 1 7 60 but the “ ” citation is endorsed with the word married , as if m the offence was purged by matri ony . Nor was the penalty exacted only from the weake r T f m se x. 1 1 In 7 3 , George andy per or ed the same m ff 1 0 for . penance the sa e o ence In 7 3 , one George — f - in A o f Flower, o Henley rden , being convicted the abom inable and detestable sin o f false swearing to f r o . obtain a marriage licence one J Dunne , Of Was rton m A p e , and Da aris dams , had to perform the same m ff —in penance three ti es in three di erent churches , 1 f Wasperton Church on November , in Bar ord 8 Church on November , and in Kinwarton Church

m 1 on Nove ber 5 . In the same year, Mary Wilson , o f Dodderhill , was ordered to make recantation before the minister and churchwardens o f S toke Prior for f m of T de a atory words spoken one Elizabeth inker,

of Dodderhill . Excom m unication from all the privileges o f the o f r Church , even the right burial, was freely exe cised on those who refused to conform to the Church . T wo classes appear to have been especially subj ect to it, m the Ro an Catholics and the Quakers . T S t . here is an entry in the parish books Of Nicholas , “ f r x m d . o e co Worcester, of 4 a paceboard for the ” m u n ica te d on persons, on which to fix the list the

6 1 0 f f xc m . 5 . or o e o church , and £ the charge the i n m u nica t o . Roman Catholics were long the subj ect of unjust suspicions . Perhaps in the diocese of Worcester the feeling may have been the keener from the connexion of the chief conspirators in the Gun p owder plot with o ne of th e great houses in the 1 T H E EIG HTEENTH CENTURY. 3 3

T county. hey were continually harassed on the At m o f slightest pretext . the least ru our a Jacobite rising, their houses were subject to domiciliary visits , their horses taken away , and their persons put under ' T if e r restraint . hey were fortunate they escaped p f sonal injury at the hands of the in uriated mob , whose favourite am usem ent at any tim e of excite f m T h ment was to burn the chapels o the Ro anists . e m of i pudent fiction a Romanist plot , invented by T on e itus Oates , found victim in the diocese , a of f priest holy li e, John Wall, who was executed , h for wit all the horrible butchery of those days , high

o n A 2 2 1 6 . treason , at Red Hill , ugust , 7 9 He was m n convicted as a priest re aini g in the realm , contrary 2 T he to the statute o f 7 Elizabeth . penalties of excom m unication m a y not have troubled the Roman m Catholics very uch during their lives , but they of occasioned inconvenience after death . One the earliest entries in the register book of the Worcester m o f Ro anists is John Gabriel, who had been o f m reconciled to the Church Rome , but had to re ain “ e xcom a week unburied , because Parson Pye had T h m u n ica te d him for being a Catholic . e difficulty could only be got over by taking the body to Mon At m d 1 68 1 8 mouth . so e ate between 7 and 7 7 , H orn old in Father y , a zealous and courageous priest of a re charge the midland district, only escaped pp h n si n m i e o while saying ass , by exchanging his periw g ’ ’ fo r a wom an s cap and throwing a woman s cloak over his vestments . Ann It is pitiable to read of widows like Heming, a 1 6 2 f Quakeress, dying in Worcester gaol , in 7 , a ter 3 14 WORCESTER . having been imprisoned for above four years for ‘ re or fusing to pay tithes, of a poor woman sent to prison for a fe w pence demanded for the repair of the parish fi church . But it is dif cult to see what else could s have been done . It was impossible to pa s over m e n the conduct of such as Edward Bourne , who could n ot be content without fixin g a paper on the f door o the steeple house at Worcester, denouncing “ A ’ the clergy as ntichrist s ministers and false prophets ,

' ” h u h T w O so g t their gain from every quarter. here is ’

S t . an entry in the parish books of Helen s , Worcester 1 68 m of in 3 , giving the na es certain poor persons, who had garm ents purchased for them with the Quaker’s ” o n . t h e money . Probably the epitaph tomb of m A Willia Walsh , in reley Kings churchyard, dated

m 1 0 2 Nove ber 3 , 7 , expresses the dislike and dis trust with which they were popularly reg arded, “ ruinated by three Quakers , three lawyers , and a ” m fanatic to help them . Yet Quakeris seems to have flourished in the diocese in spite Of persecution m and conte pt . Of the turbulence of the Anabaptists in the diocese a notable example is given in a com plaint m ade to 1 66 T Willm ot the county session in 9 by homas , the f m f m vicar o Bro sgrove , that, while per or ing the ff funeral service , he was a ronted and disturbed by a of A tumult nabaptists , who came to the grave , threw fe e te the body roughly into it , and with their cast in ” T h e f the mold and covered the corps . leader o the more m oderate Baptists during the Rebellion was T m of w the celebrated John o bes Be dley, who was engaged in perpetual disputes with no less a champion

3 16 WORCESTER .

m ~ parish , the teaching being com itted to a Con f mist - or ; with another, who had been a fellow student ’ m S t . at John s , Ca bridge , he maintained kindly inter m course to the end of his life . In the co mon talk T ill son of the day he was associated with T illotson . ot and S tillingfle e t were the two excepted by name from m the per ission given to Rochester by James , to select

Protestant divine s , for disputation with the Roman

Catholic chaplains belonging to his court . Probably, S tillin fle e t as Macaulay thinks, g was excepted, not only as a consummate master of theological con t rove rs m f y, but fro personal o fence given in his r of answer to the papers , containing a summa y the argum ents used by the Romanists against Pro t e sta n tism , which James had published as having f f f been ound in the strong box o Charles I I . a ter 1 6 88 h im f his death . In we find as archdeacon o ’

o f S t . London and dean Paul s , again in conjunction T with illotson and Patrick, persuading the city clergy at a great m eeting to refuse to read the Royal f n Declaration o Indulgence . He had a place amo g mm the co issioners of 1 68 9. His reputation as a fervent and eloquent preacher “ stood high . He was habitually spoken of as the ” De lla rm ine of modern controversy, and the highest dignitaries urged their friends to go and hear “ the ablest young m a n to preach the Gospel since the ” of A m f days the postles . He had held prefer ents o importan ce. S ince he had left his country be ne fi ce O f S f utton , in Bed ordshire, he had been preacher at ’ o f S t A the Rolls , rector . ndrew s , Holborn , lecturer T m a l at the e ple, ch p ain in ordinary to the king, T E N N 1 H EIGHTEE TH CE TURY. 3 7

’ and dean of S t . Paul s . It seemed a matter of course that he should receive one of the earliest T h bishoprics va cant in the new reign . e diocese o f m 1 6 8 Worcester was dee ed fortunate when , in 9 , he m was appointed to the see . S till higher pro otion f r him seemed to be in store o . Queen Mary pressed for his appointm ent to the archbishopric o f Canter on T bury, the death of illotson , as urgently as she was ever known to press for anything. It was pos si l of b y owing to the weak state his health , that her wish was not gratified . He died at Worcester, in

1 6 T fi ve 99, having survived his friend illotson only o wn t o years . In his cathedral he strove zealously take up the work of Bishop T homas and Dean H icke s , and to compel the prebendaries to a more Act constant residence , the Chapter passed for the d purpose having proved voi , as inconsistent with m A MS . their statutes . in the La beth library proves how zealously he strove against the practice, common in those days , and not unknown in our own , of “ giving bonds of resignation . H e asks whether m ’ it be not a snare to any an s conscience , to be put on taking an oath against all simoniacal con tracts, when he hath entered into a bond in order to a presentation, which , by canon law abroad and ou r own ecclesiastical law, hath been judged a simo ” nia ca l contract .

n In the Bohun Diary is an account , given o the E a ch e r authority of Laurence , of a conversation S tillin fle e t m T h between g and King Willia . e bishop urged the king to make profession of his adherence h to constitutional principles in Church and S tate . T e 3 1 8 WORCESTER .

’ king s a nswer was that he wou ld build his hope and or put his trust in the monarchy loyall party , though for the present he was forced to do otherwise a n d to ” T h e favour the contrary party . bishop repeated the of conversation to the bishop Norwich , Reynolds, o n o f e the same theological school with himself, m and he to m any others . It see s scarcely com ’ patible with the king s intimation of the secrecy in which his real views were to be veiled, that he should have wished the conversation to be repeated . Pos i l s b y some resentment, either at the pressure put on him by S tillingfle e t at an inconvenient moment or at the want of reticence which divulged the conver sation , may have had something to do with the choice of T e nison o f for the archbishopric Canterbury . S tillingfle e t scarcely seems to have taken to heart ’ his predec essor s warning, that a bishop should never use the property of the Church for his own family. In his haste to grant to his son a lease Of episcopal property he overlooked the fact that the for term which it had been granted to the occupier,

ir r . S Henry Parker, had not entirely expi ed Law tr suits followed, which at acted much attention, either r from the social position of the pa ties, or from some subtlety in the legal points which were raised. In f m the end, a ter any contradictory decisions, the S ir H r r victory rested with en y Pa ker. Bishop Lloyd was an ardent student of unfulfilled T h orn r u h f bo o o . prophecy, as g had been alchemy In both cases the fa scination of a visionary pursuit . was so exaggerated by the ill will of their oppo ne nts a s r , , to obscu e the fact that they were both

3 2 0

A sistent with his ordinary impetuosity. pamphlet,

however, purporting to be by a Dr . Bray, and pro fessing to contain a “ narrative given by the Bishop o f believed to have really proceeded T from his pen . his is probably referred to in a “ MS . curious Jacobite , preserved in the Phillips ” “ An A A o f collection , entitled , nswer to an ccount of i of the Birth the Pretended Pr nce Wales , as f Delivered by the Bishop o Worcester. But the zeal and energy of Lloyd were not likely to exh aust themselves in the collection or even W writing of pam phlets He could n ot refrain from a

more active part in the political strife , which raged around him through the length and breadth o f the 1 0 1 land . In 7 an address was presented to the king “ f m t h e m ro county of Worcester, signed by so e

m m o f xf thousands , a ong who were the bishops O ord ” m if and Worcester, assuring his ajesty that the county members did not com ply “ with his just ” desires, they would send to the next Parliament such as should . No doubt the Bishop of Worcester was f At the m oving spirit o this address . the n ext elec tion for the county he did all that could be done to m ake good the boast which it contained . No thought Of the holiness of his Office prevented him from em ploying every artifice, from exhausting every influence ,

or m O f S ir legitimate illegiti ate , to prevent the return a kin n 1 0 2 T John P gt o at the election Of 7 . here was m some mingling of personal en ity with party zeal . T he bishop was made very angry by the alleged co m plicity of S ir John Pa kingt on in the distribution through the diocese of a pamphlet which had been T H E N EIGHTEE TH CENTURY . 3 2 ]

o f written against the translation bishops . Probably it m a y have contained some pers onal all u sions t o the rapidity with which Lloyd had been transferred ’ f m A Lichfi e ld f Lichfi ld t o S t . e ro saph s to , and rom

Worcester . It m ust ha ve been astounding to S ir John Pa king t on l ova l , that a house which had been so to the so m f Church in its need , and to which any o its most em inent prelates and divines had owed so deep a n gratitude, should be so soon requited in retur ing prosperity with such animosity at the hands of the

wa s bishop of the diocese . His first step to appeal f m its to the bishop himsel , in a letter re arkable for m m to cal dignity, which ust have brought a blush ’ f the bishop s cheek . It begins with an expression o the “ veneration ” which the writer had al ways felt for o f bishops , and his persuasion that the present occupant o f the see had been led by designing m e n “ to conduct which m ust lessen his character in the ” n ot o f world . He is conscious any provocation given , except in the votes , which he had recorded O f m m to honestly in the House Co ons , according of m fo r of the best his judg ent, the service Church T h and S tate . e bishop had not hesitated to assail his character with reckless violence . Not content m ou t with aking him to be a drunkard, a lewd of person , and guilty every vice , he had not scrupled ” f to rake up the ashes of the dead , and to vili y an f “ ancestry incapable of justi ying them selves . If I ” were in error, he concludes , your lordship surely m f ” e . ought to convince , be ore you condemn me f n ff T he violence o the bishop had o t the e ect of. Y 2 3 2 WORCESTER .

of S ir Pa kin t on hindering the election John g , who o f represented the county, with the exception one m f m of Parlia ent, ro the age nineteen till his death

2 in 1 7 7 . But he was not content to vindicate his ’ ff character in a letter . Lloyd s O ence had been so outrageous , that it could not be passed over without An m of exposure . inquiry, ade by order the House f m m d o n o Co ons, reveale , undoubted evidence , an unscrupulous em ploym ent of means so violent and m so unjust as to be al ost incredible . Welland, curate o f A a nd o f F lfrick Lulsley, and Pountney M produced lists of freeholders which the bishop had m sent the , with the names marked as they had voted a t the last election , accompanied by directions to use all their influence to induce them to vote o n this occasion as Lloyd desired . But this audacious a ttem pt to convert his clergy into electioneering o f agents was the least the Offences, which were A brought home to the bishop in the inquiry . m m clergy an na ed Hodges testified, that the bishop S ir Pa kin ton had Openly asserted, that John g was m a n o f f a lewd li e , a drunkard, and a swearer, and had dared to appeal to the mem ory of the saintly h 111 on Lady Dorot y, order to put a keener edge his a ccusations . He had inherited all the vices of the f m of of males Of his a ily, and none the virtues the fem ales . T enants of the see gave evidence that m t he bishop had told the that, if they voted for Pa kin ton g , he would never renew their leases , and that he would set a mark against them for his suc m ce ssors. Even anorial rights had been used as an " engine of oppression against his opponents . Mr

3 2 4 WORCESTER .

m T he mm spoken of with co mendation . Duchess i e “ ” dia te ly ordered that a good fa t doe should be sent “ a to the preacher, to be sh red with such as were of

the sam e kidney in the University . Lloyd the bishop was a different m a n from Lloyd ffi the political partisan . In his episcopal o ce he was gentle, earnest, unselfish , and especially courteous m T and forbearing with Nonconfor ists . o the Quakers he showed unusual tenderness in memory , it is said, of the kindness shown to him during his i m prison T ment in the ower by Richard Davis , a M “ ” the only man who visited him in his captivity. T h e legend is scarcely true, considering the great o f of popularity the prisoners , and the throng sympa l T thise rs of all c asses round the ower gates . Davis may have been one of the deputation of Noncon form ist m inisters who had visited the bishop in the T o f ower, or he may have had private opportunities

assisting Lloyd . But the story sounds as if invented t o account for a liberality and courtesy strange in m those ti es . T he sam e wide sym pathy expressed itself in a great desire to com prehend foreign Protestants in som e sort ‘ f of union with the Church o England . Macaulay can scarcely have read Lloyd’s correspondence on this A T e nison him subj ect with rchbishop , when he wrote “ f- f T he down as a hal crazy anatic . letters display

a thorough knowledge of the subject, a calm calcula tion and statesm anlike forecast of the difficulties

with which his proj ect was surrounded. T he m ost aim ed at was some scheme for admitting these Pro “ t e sta nts m m a into lay co munion , for more y not be T H E N N Y 2 EIG HTEE TH CE TUR . 3 5

f r h e m m hoped o . Even then t ter s ust be such as would not give excuse to any in the Church o f

for m - England leaving it, nor prove a stu bling block to any desirous to com e over from the Church o f m A m Ro e . nother difficulty was the violent and se i political oratory I n which the m ore fanatic O f their T e n ison preachers indulged . had suggested that such preache r s m ight be restrained by the tem poral f authority . Lloyd recognises the necessity o some such provision , but adds , with a shrewd perception o f the Objection which would be raised against “ for such a measure, He knows how hard it is men o f m their te per to keep within bounds , and thinks they will be Opposed against any agreement that will put them under the temporal power o f the king or ” T h state whose church is aggrieved . e letter closes with a schem e for establishing colonies o f French f O f m Protestant re ugees in cheap parts the kingdo , or m or or such as Carnarvon , Pe brokeshire, Carlisle , f m som e parts O Ireland . He esti ates that in such places seven or eight fam ilies m ight be kept for £ 10 0 a year. T he m con sa e generosity and liberality, curiously t ra sting with his irritable tem per and passiona te self m will , were brought into the general ad inistration O f T h “ ’ ” his diocese . e charity called Lloyd s S chool o wes its existence to the refusal O f the bishop to f accept certain estates which had allen to the see , m f m f o . o through the cruel urder Mrs Pal er, Upton S o f r u ffi a n s o wn nodsbury , by a gang with her son a t their head . T he Jacobite party appear to have been strongly 2 6 3 WORCESTER .

’ represented in the diocese during Lloyd s e pisco T pate, especially in the cathedral city . hey were not likely to forgive the man whose ingenious argum ent

had brought over the clergy to the new Government, nor to forego any Opportunity of retaliation on the bishop who had outrageously insulted a house so All honoured by them as Westwood . through his episcopate the press teem ed with the effusions of a

o f host Jacobite scribblers, in bad prose or villanous S m of rhyme . o e these found acceptance Probably their virulence and m alice were sufficient for to atone the absence , not only of real wit or f of poetical eeling , but even the ordinary laws of

“ m m T h I n rhy e and etre . e dean and chapter came f r o a large share of ridicule. T h e O ld on attack the cathedral services , as for attended purposes other than devotional , is

of m . repeated in rude verses , full pole ical bitterness T he d ladies, it is declare ,

a h a ll h e r a pl inly s ow by t i ctions , ’

T he m ra e r m e ra a . y ind not p y , but n s t ns ctions

While directly service is over,

T h e m e n in ha e th e -r m st to club oo trot , ” T m e a a n d r o s ok pip e d ink a pott .

T he satirist gives a sting to his accusation by

adding that they drink a pott of beer, because they

are too stingy to treat themselves to wine . A witty writer caricatures the cathedral body in of queries , which , in spite the indelicacy inseparable of from the period , are graphic sketches the peculiari

2 3 8 WORCESTER .

T he m t o same i putation followed Lloyd the last . S f o r m wi t, who knew no reverence for age infir ity, “ writes o f him in his ninetieth year that he went to h ” T h t e . e queen and prophesied prophecy was , that f in our years there would be a war of religion , that the King Of France would be a Protestant and fight o n their side , and that the Pope would be destroyed . In 1 7 1 7 the great bell of the cathedral was tolling f r o . Lloyd He died at Hartlebury, aged and was buried at Fladbury , where hi T h e rector. last entry connected ’ “ c athedral is in the ringer s books , Ringing the great ’ bell for Bishop Lloyd s death every day till ~ h e was b ” uried . T he consequences o f the electioneering quarrel

d id ff . m T not a ect the bishop alone Willia albot, w h o had succeeded to the deanery , was also ' o f f two f m zzz bishop Ox ord , holding the pre er ents ’ r mmena a m o . He was a political associate , probably f f o . a personal riend, Lloyd His partisanship with Lloyd aroused against him the anger of S ir John

kin n S m m ff Pa gto . o e repairs at this ti e e ected in w O f the cathedral ere , probably, the consequence a m S ir m representation ade by John in Parlia ent, that the dean and chapter were neglecting their duty . T he cathedral body exerted them selves for the pre

1 6 servation of the f abric . In 94 the dean and chapter had made an order that no workman should be em ployed on the cathedral except by order o f the treasurer with the advice O f the dean or sub d 1 0 2 ean . In 7 their ideas of expenditure were l im ited to repairing a portion of the roof and T H E N N 2 EIGHTEE TH CE TURY . 3 9 sweeping and whitewashing : the church to be cleaned and whited , and to be swept every S aturday

1 1 2 and Monday m orning . But in 7 extensive ff o f alterations were e ected , including the erection O f the external spires , at a cost But the f 1 1 unds available were soon exhausted . In 7 3 , the diflicu ltie s chapter were in pecuniary , and had to 0 of f borrow £94 to repair portions the abric, which were absolutely ruinous . T h e connexion of Hough with the diocese co m m e nce d some years before his elevation to the e pisco 1 pate . In 67 8 he had been chaplain to the Duke of of Ormond , then Lord Lieutenant Ireland, and

1 6 8 f in 5 had been made prebendary o Worcester .

He held this prebend, with the presidentship of Mag 1 6 0 o dalen College , till 9 , when he resigned it n being f f T appointed to the see O Ox ord . his is not the place to enter into the details of the fi rm and dig nifi e d resistance which he m ade to the attack by m f . o n th o Ja es II e constitutional liberties England , in the attem pt to force a president on Ma gdalen own m a of College by his arbitrary andate , in defi nce the college statutes .

It would be natural to suppose that , thus deprived of the income and the duties not only o f the presi d e ntshi o f p but his fellowship, Hough would have fallen back on the prebend in Worcester. But he appears never to have com e near Worcester at the

m 1 6 8 ti e, since in 7 he was fined by the chapter ’ for not having kept his term of twenty- one days resi f m dence . His expulsion ro Magdalen did not last m long. Headstrong and unscrupulous as Ja es was , 3 3 0 WORC ESTER .

m he quailed before the com ing stor . Hough and f the other ellows had been expelled in October, 1 6 8 for 7 , and the mandate their restoration is dated 8 1 6 8 . October, m His conduct on this emorable occasion , as well as his high repute for learning and holiness , had given him a claim o n the new sovereigns for promo f f . 1 6 0 o tion In 9 he was made bishop Ox ord , still holding the presidentship of Magdalen ' I n 1 699 he succeeded Lloyd Lichfi e ld 1 1 m and Coventry ; and 7 7 , aga the sa e

m b . prelate , he beca e ishop of Worcester It is said that he had the offer o f the archbishopric of Can t e rbu r on T e nison it y the death of , but declined through his modesty . T he anecdotes told of Hough all Show his muni fi ce n ce f , his kindly thought ulness for others , his

m . A bow hu ility and courtesy shy young curate, in ing with an awkward reverence, had thrown down

- T h and broken a favourite weather glass . e kind hearted bishop set him at ease with a ready wit . u Do not be neasy, sir ; I have observed this glass m d o f al ost aily for upwards seventy years, but I never l knew it so ow before . He always kept in the house for any emergency, and once, when one of the diocesan charities wanted assistance, and he had

m 0 0 pro ised £5 , his steward made signs to him that m “ he could not find at once so large a su . You n are right , Harriso , replied the bishop , wilfully misinterpreting the gesture, is not enough give them the that we have stored away. A poor widow cam e to ask him to remit part of ’ a

3 3 2 WORCESTER .

T he old bishop speaks regretfully of the departure of of a guest, because it spoils the evening game quad m w rille, and thankfully of a glea of sunny eather in m the autu n , which enabled him to amuse himself f o . with bowls , to the great advantage his health On “ Kn i htl 1 1 . e February 4 , 7 3 7 , he writes to Mrs g y, You m m o f are pleased , Mada , to ask y Opinion inoculating

m - the s all pox , and I must own to you I have been a great stickler for it ever that Lady

M . Wortley brought it into En whole kingdoms " m practise it universally, and the others are the An operators with great safety. English physician tells me he saw the practice of it at Constantinople about forty years , and never heard of more than two that m iscarried . S ince I lived in this place I have had opportunities o f learning som ething from m y ir T own observations . S homas Lyttelton inoculated

f . his ten children without the help o a doctor Mr .

Nash , a neighbouring gentleman , did the like to o f eight as did Lord Coventry to his three sons , all f whom went through the distemper success ully, and n o f ill consequence ollowed ; notwithstanding this , the method loses ground , for parents are tender and fearful ; not without hope their children may escape the disease or have it favourably ; whereas , in the way f of art, should it prove fatal , they could never orgive ” themselves . In these letters there is not one unkindly word or o ne o f - m line ill natured gossip fro beginning to end . on e o f f His great sorrow was the death his wi e . T he anniversary wa s observed by him as a fast to f f o . the end his li e , to the injury of his health N T H E EIGHTEE TH C ENTURY . 3 33

T he handwriting of even his latest letters is beauti fu l - . In a letter written in his ninety second year, he f him f r speaks o a severe cold, which had allowed o a “ while to do nothing but doze away the time in m ” “ ra bling, incoherent thoughts , but adds , by the l mercy Of God, I can stil say that I am never sick , A f . nor eel any sharp pain nother letter, written “ m just before his death , begins with the uncom on pleasure ” which he felt at good news concerning the “ m f on fa ily o his friend Lord Digby, and goes , I presu m e to tell your Lordship that my hearing has n m e a m lo g failed ; I weak and forgetful , having as little inclination to business as ability to perform it ; in other respects I have ease, if it may not more properly be called indolence , to a degree beyond a wh t I durst have thought on, when years began to m ultiply upon m e . I wait contentedly for a de ou t of f c n liverance this li e into a better, in humble o

' fi de n ce m e rc of God , that by the y , through the merits of S on His , I shall stand at the Resurrection on His m o right hand , and when you , y L rd , have ended those days that are to com e (which I pray m a y be m any and prosperous) as innocently and exem plarily as o f those that are past, I doubt not our meeting in that place where the j oys are unspeakable and will ” h l always endure . T e last e tte r f rom his pen is

1 . 8 o f m dated May 4 , 7 43 He died the th the sa e m onth in the g3 rd year o f his age and the 53rd of his consecration . T he epitaph beneath his stately m onument by R ou bilia c in our cathedral goes n ot beyond the ’ truth in extolling the good bishop s m u n ifi ce nce and 3 3 4 WORCESTER .

courtesy, his diligent discharge of his episcopal duties, and his spotless life . Contemporary writers agree in “ enthusiastic praises . Pope writes of the noblest ” trophies,

’ S h a s H ul ie m r e S h e uc on ough s uns l d it in , D fr An d e a m m a h e a r e h e . b , g ood igby, o t lik t in

Lord Lvttle ton writes of ce ste r in his ” drooping age,

’ H e wh o a ra f e e in youth ty nt s rown d fi d , ’ rm a nd e h is r e Fi intr pid on count y s sid , h a m h a nd h H e r e e e r m i e . bold st c pion t n , now lde st guid

m “ ’ By the sa e pen , in the Persian Letters, Hough s f r Character is drawn o an ideal bishop . In the h e first place resides constantly in his diocese , and has done so for many years ; he asks nothing of the Court for himself and fam ily ; he hoards up no for t wealth his rela ions, but lays out the revenues of his see in a decent hospitality and a charity v oid of T ostentation . hough he is warmly serious in his f o f m ff pro ession religion , he is oderate to all who di er with him a friend to virtue under any denom ination an enemy to vice under any colours . His health and Old age are the effects of a temperate life and a quiet T conscience. hough he is now some years above four u Score, nobody ever thought he lived too long, nless m him it was ou t of i patience to succeed . Even wri Macaulay, not enthusiastic about bishops, tes “ A m a n o f m e inent virtue and prudence, who, fortitu de a nd having borne persecution with , , pros

3 3 6 WORCESTER . than He died at Bath in 1 7 74 in c onse qu e n ce of a fall from his horse . h of T e episcopate his successor, the Honourable f m w o . Brownlo North , was not long duration He ca e m Lichfi e ld 1 to Worcester fro and Coventry in 7 7 4 ,

W hch s r 1 8 1 and was translated to i e te in 7 . S hort of for as was his tenure the /see , it was notable the formation o f on e of the m ost important o f our diocesan charities . It had been the cu stbm of the choirs of Wor ce ste r f , Here ord, and Gloucester cathedrals to meet f m m together . once a year to per or sacred usic . Beginning with musical clubs in the three cathedral f cities , the meeting gradually developed itsel . Dr . f 1 2 Bisse, the chancellor of Here ord , who, in 7 4 , origi m m ated the idea, that a collection should be ade at the church door for the orphans of the poorer clergy and m m of m e bers the respective choirs , speaks , in a ser on , “ of the original m eeting as enjoying a good and for m m f T h growing report so e ti e be ore that date . e conduct of the m eeting rested entirely with the w musical members , but it gre rapidly beyond their

m 1 manage ent . In 7 54 it was in some danger of of being dropped, but gentlemen higher rank under took to act as stewards , and to relieve the choirs from T all pecuniary responsibilities . his was resolved upon

1 at Gloucester in 7 54 , but was first done at the Wor c e ste r of 1 meeting 7 5 5 , the stewards being Dean an d S At Waugh the Honourable Edward andys . this meeting the system was inaugurated Of procuring A musical talent to assist the local choirs . t first great r T he perfo mers gave their services gratuitously . T H E N EIGHTEENTH CE TURY . 3 3 7 stewards state that when they were in London in the “ m m winter, in order to induce more co pany to co e to

Worcester, they used their endeavours to secure the m C best perfor ers that ould be procured , and succeeded SO well that som e persons of the greatest eminence in their profession offered to give their assistance for the 5 0 benefit of the charity, that they have reason to f m think , that there will be such musical per or ances as f m will give entire satis action to all the co pany, that ” countenance the Charity by their appearance . T h e charity seems to have been in the m inds of T h e the stewards as much as the music. results were an addition to the collections . But the benefits con ferred on the poorer clergy were scarcely ade quate to O f their necessities , and the diocese owes a debt grati tude to Bishop North for placing the Charity on a “ m f 1 8 fir er ooting, by founding, in 7 7 , the society For the Relief of Distressed Widows and Orphans o f ” Clergymen, which continues to flourish in the three m m dioceses , in close connexion with the usic eetings . T he progress o f the society will be best noted by a comparison of the collections m ade at decennial 1 2 —2 —2 6 periods . In 7 4 5 , at Gloucester, Worcester, f and Here ord respectively, the collections were — — 1 . 8 . 1 6 £3 £4 and £49 ; in 7 3 4 3 5 3 , at f 2 8 . 1 0 5 Worcester, Here ord and Gloucester, £7 , £4 ,

0 1 — —6 f and £7 ; in 7 44 4 5 4 , at Here ord , Gloucester,

0 1 1 8 . d 0 5 6 . 1 0 0 and Worcester, £9 , £ . , £ ; in

1 — 6 7 54 5 5 5 , at Gloucester, Worcester, and Here o f f ford , under the new system stewards rom

f f 1 8 the county and per ormers rom London , £ 7 ,

2 1 d 1 8 2 1 — — . 5 . 6 6 6 6 £ 5 9 5 , and £ ; in 7 3 4 5 , at 8 3 3 WORCESTER .

H 2 6 2 Gloucester, Worcester, and ereford, £ . 6 6 — — 1 d. . 5 . . 1 2 1 5 . d £3 5 . , £3 7 5 9 ; in 7 7 3 7 4 7 5 , at

0 . Worcester, Hereford, and Gloucester, £5 3 — — d . 2 . 1 8 8 6 2 2 . 5 . 8 £ 5 9 , £5 5 in 7 3 4 5 ,

. 6 . 2 2 d . 2 5 . 6d 1 . 5 . . 8 1 5 . 6 £3 4 . 9 , £3 3 , £4 9 d , at

Worcester, Hereford, and Gloucester. From that date the collections show no m arked increase till

1 0 6 6 8 . , when they rise at Worcester to £7 1

2 d. 0 1 8 1 8 6 . 5 . and to £93 5 , with £7 from the sale of the sermon preached on the occasion by T he 1 8 8 the Rev . W . Digby . royal visit in 7 pro 6 0 2 s 1 8 u ce d . d £ . 7 ; the collection in 7 5 having

6 . 2 1 5 . d been £4 . 9 T he successor to was one of those illus “ ” m n e . trions , whose m blossoms in the dust m of In si plicity in earnest piety, in the l liberality with which the i episcopal revenues were ff dispensed , in the a ection and reverence with which f men regarded him , the li e of Hurd coincides with

of . m that Hough Both lived to extre e old age , and f both refused the archbishopric o Canterbury . ’ Hurd s great learning, elegant scholarship , and holy life had been early recognised . He had been su c c e ssive l of mm m r y Fellow E anuel College, Ca b idge , o f archdeacon Gloucester, assistant preacher at the Lichfi l e d . Rolls Chapel , and bishop of He had also been Clerk of the Closet , and private tutor to the

O f . m e t Prince Wales Once, it is said, he with a poor man , whose frequent attendance at the church he had Observed, and asked him why he had been absent of late . On the man replying that he got more good from the plain - speaking of the Metho

3 40 WORCESTER .

1 88 George III . (in 7 ) to the good bishop at Hartle A bury , and to the Worcester music meeting . bout the clergy in general the writer is sarcastic the dean ” is represented as playing at push - pin with young ladies and being defea ted by them and then the poet tells of the enthusiastic loyalty o f the crowds

H ow e e t o fa m e littl cl rgy prig s , unknown , ’ h e r m a r a nd e e consi n d h a me Lost t i s rt cu ls, w r g to s , ’ H ow m a a f e re h u rl d a ir ny wig s lo t w in , e a h h h e f th e r a e Gr t bus y wig s w ic l t docto s b r , ’ E e n H ur d him se l f h a d be e n e xpose d to vi e w o r h a h h his e m e r But f t e b ys w ic round t pl s g e w.

A e b note is added,W present amia le , i of learned , and ingen ous bishop Worcester, who m sets indeed a very bright exa ple , as well to his own diocese as to the clergy in general 1” T he writer goes o n to describe another aspect of the royal visit

N ow h e th e r e a e e m e fl ow , w il c owds in c s l ss nu b rs , Y e r e a h e r the e -tr m e p c s , loud Gosp l u p t blow ’ T e h e m he of e a rr ll t t ir sins, rth s co upting thing s, Who is King G e o rg e be fore the King o f kings N R a H —ll th r h e e a ow, owl nd , y t op i s wid displ y, An d e e S e - e th h e w giv , quit t ntor lik , y lung s t ir a y . ’ ’ ha e e r t h r r e e e r h a e e e W t y wo ds or doct in v b n , T h -f r e a n d e I h a e e e y pulpit o g b llows v s n, ’ ’ Witn e ss d h ow fa r a m a h h d n tion t ou could st t row, ” - And re d h ot a e l th e foe . b lls , lik El iot, on

l A . note says , Mr Hi l came to Worcester on this o ccasion, but his congregations were not answerable ” to his expectations .

r 1 88 Bishop Hurd died at Hartlebu y in 7 , in the T H E EIGHTEEN TH C EN TURY 34 ]

- of eighty eighth year his age , having held the see of

- Worcester for twenty seven years . T H icke s re Dean albot , who had succeeded to , signed the deanery in 1 7 1 5 on his appointment to f f r the bishopric o S alisbury. He had held it o some years previously in conjunction with the less valu

of . able see Oxford His successor, Hare, had been

- m chaplain general to the ar y in Flanders, under ’

f of S t . Marlborough . He was a terwards dean Paul s A f and successively bishop of S t . saph and o Chiches o f m is ter. His annotated edition the Hebrew Psal s evidence that he had claim s to prom otion . Littl e o f m S tillin fle e t is known his successors , Ja es g and m Ed und Martin , except that they were pious and 1 1 able men . Dr . Waugh, who was made dean in 7 5 , m m was unusually learned in civil and in co on law, s his son of and a sisted Burn in great work . He was o f of the bishop Carlisle, and chancellor the diocese, and had been o f great service to the king durin g the f 1 T he f Wor siege O that city in 7 4 5 . deanery o

ce ste r . ir d was his reward His successor, S Richar f Wrottesley , had taken holy orders late in li e , having m o f m been a Me ber Parlia ent , with a place at the

Board of Green Cloth . He only held the deanery

f 1 6 . for our years , dying in 7 9 Valentine Green gives a graphic description o f his discovery of the sculptures at the east end o f Prince ’ A 1 in rthur s Chapel, plastered over ever since 5 4 7 , order to conceal their mutilation at the hands of th e f of Iconoclasts o Henry VIII . But nothing note was o f 1 8 66 b effected till the great restoration , when , y o f the zeal and liberality the county, as well as by 3 4 2 WORCESTER .

f the untiring e forts of the dean and chapter, more than was spent upon the fabric, and the new clock and bells ; the latter work being inau f m u ra t e d on e o . . g by the inor canons, the Rev R

a ttl e M. A. C y , T he dean and chapter threw them selves into the m m m patriotic ove ents of the troubled ti es , with s m d n which the pre ent century co mence , with an e t hu sia sm well be fi tte d the cathedral body of “ the loy T he dom us fund was frequently drawn upon the purpose . It was resorted to in 1 7 93 to provide flannel waistcoats for the troops in 1 Flanders , and in 7 9 7 for the widows and orphans of the sailors who had fallen in the battle of Cam perdown . Perhaps the zeal of the dean ~ and chapter was quickened by the fact that S ir m m of Richard Onslow, second in co and the English wa s o f A fleet on that day, a near relative rthur f m T o . Onslow, dean Worcester at the ti e here were subscriptions for the widows and orphans of the soldiers who fell in the expedition to Holland in 1 of 7 99, and the sailors killed at Copenhagen and T T he f rafalgar . chapter orders speak o warlike pre

a ra ti n 1 8 0 p o even within the cathedral precincts . In 3 there was a subscription of £ 1 0 0 to the county fund “ for c clothing and ac outreing the loyal volunteers ,

0 for 5 to the city subscription the same purpose, an order for paym ent o f a drum m er for the volum

of fi ve teers the college precincts , and guineas to ” “ S ergeant Wheeler for training and exercising the ” m e n within the college precincts .

Like all other cathedral bodies , the dean and

3 4 4 WORCESTER .

m m te per, a county agistrate , had taken a dislike

in u m n ’ h c be t t e . At to the , Rev George Parker. his m f m instigation so e ar ers j oined in a conspiracy, m o f w and hired a carpenter, He ing, Droit ich , to shoot Parker as he was bringing up the cows from

m Af m m d is the glebe eadow . ter the urder He ing 8 n l . 1 0 o d appeared But in 3 , taki g down an barn , a f n f skeleton was ound , which was ide tified as that o f o f n Heming. By the con ession o e o f the con

fe d e ra t j t es appeared , that Evans and others had H e rr u rde r hired h m Parker, and had murdered m Own He ing with their hands , lest he should betray f them . Evans , the chie criminal, was dead when the r m m a c discove y was ade , and his acco plices were quitted on the plea that no accessories could be tried on a capital charge unless the principal ha d been

convicted . e Worcester dioc se , like others , has passed through the period when grand old churches were pulled down by parsim onious churchward ens to save expense f to a better season o ungrudging restoration . Kidder m minster, Pershore, Bro sgrove, Malvern , Upton , are notable instances of recent church - restoration in the

diocese . Wh at m a y be in store for the diocese o f Wo r c st e r m e it would be presu ptuous to predict , espe cia ll d y when changes are so rapid , so unexpecte , o f so subversive . But the study the past inspires h m f hope for t he future . T e pro ise o the S aviour is T he O f fulfilled . little band believers in the days

f T a tfrith ] O ft for m o , Bose , and , is now a great ulti of tude , for the history the diocese shows the T H E N N EIGHTEE TH CE TURY. 3 45 continuity of the Church through many and startling

. T h e O f vicissitudes Church our day is , after all, of A m the Church Hurd, Latimer, lcock, Cobha ,

O a . Wulfstan , sw ld, n ine It is the same Church born again , as it were, at successive epochs , in each phase of its development , in the seventh , the eleventh , f ’ the fi teenth , the nineteenth centuries . God s hand H is 1n has guided the destinies of Church every age, notwithstanding the perversity and self- will which too ff f i Often mar the best e orts o H s servants . May

- - n His all wise , all loving provide ce watch over this diocese to the end " A AP P E N DI .

BISHOPS O F WORCESTER .

\ S E L s H e r de S BO . n y oilli O ftfor John o f Couta nce s n in M a ug e r Wilfr id Wa lte r Gra y Milre d S ilve ste r of Eve sh a m We r e mu nd Willia m of Blois T ilh e re Wa lte r C a n tilu pe H e a thore d N icol a s O f Ely De n e b e rht Godfre y Gifi a rd E a d rht Wm a r h be . G insbo oug Ae lhu n Wa lte r R e ynolds We re frith Wa lte r Ma idstone E th e lhu n T hom a s Cobh a m Ad a m O r le ton Kin e wold S im on Monta cute T h om a s H e m e nh a l e O swa ld Wu l st a n B ra nsford Aldu lf John T hore sby

Wulfsta n R e gin a ld B rya n . Le ofsin John Ba rn e t Willia m Whitt le se y Living Willia m d e Lynn E a ldre d H e n ry Wa ke fi e ld Wulfsta n T id e m a n d e Winchcom b ' S a m son R ich a r d C liflord T he u l f T hom a s Pe ve re ll S im on Philip Morg a n Joh n of Page ha m T hom a s Polton Alfre d T hom a s Bouchie r R og e r Joh n Ca rpe nte r Ba ldwin Joh n Alcock Willi a m N orth a ll R obe rt Mo rton R obe rt Fitz R a lph Joh n de Giglis

8 D 3 4 APPE N IX .

John d e Eve sha m Willia m VVe nl oke Wa lt e r Le igh T hom a s Milde nh a m John Gre e n John W e dd e sbu ry John of M a lve rn Willia m Mo re John Fordha m H e nry H olbe ch T hom a s Le dbu ry John H e rtilbu ry ’ T hom a s Musa r d [From G re e n s S ur ve y o f the ” R e Mu l t on O f e e r ob rt City Worc st ,

IDE AN F VV R E T E R S O O C S .

N D . A. D . H e H olbe ch a lia s a m e S tillin fle e t 1 26 nry , J s g 7 R an ds [l a st Prior] 154 1 Edmund M a rtin [M a rte n] Joh n Ba rlow I S44 [1746] I 747 h H a wford a lia s h a 1 1 P ilip , Jo n W ugh 75 B a lla rd [la st Abbot O f S ir R icha r d Wrotte sl e y 1765 ha m l a e 1 m D . 1 6 Ev s ] 553 Wi li igby . 7 9 r l i H n r hn1 8 S e fl ona nd 1 o . t And e w St 557 S . Jo 7 3 John Fe dor [Pe dd e r 1559 Arth ur O nslow 17 95 T h m a 1 a 8 1 e . . 18 1 o s Wilson 57 John B nks J nkinson . Fra ncis Willis 1586 Ja m e s H ook 182 R icha r d B e de s 1596 G e org e Murra y 182 J a m e s Mou nt a g u e 1604 John Pe e l 1845 A r 1 H on a a m Mu n ton rthu L a ke 608 . Gr nth H 1 r 18 Jose ph a ll 6 16 Yo ke ” 74 Willia m Juxon 162 7 Lord Alwyn e Compton1879 R og e r M a nwa ring [M a in wa r ing] 1633 C hristoph e r Potte r 163 5 S urve y of th e City of Wor ” R h a r H r 1 6 6 e e r a e e e e . ic d oldswo th 4 c st , by V l ntin Gr n a a e e e e a r [V c nt l v n y s . ] “ h O e r 1660 a e ae An h ca nae Jo n liv [ F sti Eccl si g , T h m a s Wa r m e str 166 1 m e h Le N e ve o y co pil d by Jo n , Willi a m T hom a s 1665 corre cte d a nd continue d from e e H ick e s 168 1 1 t o th e r e e m e G org 3 7 5 p s nt ti , by '

a m 16 1 . Du fi u s H a r . . Willi 9 J dy , vol iii Fra ncis H a re 17 15 WORCESTER . 49

AP P E N DI " B.

W r T H E rccr .

T H E etymology o f the name is as obscure as the origin of the tribe . I t has been derived from roots synonymous with salt wells in with swine abounding in the forests which fringed the S evern with the Roman word for a street vicus with a S candinavian word for an inlet or fi ord in viking ”) with words signifying war and the T he O f winding bank of a river. last these deriva tions tallies with the migration O f the tribe westward s of A from the winding banks the von , and with the “ fact of the Cotswold Hills being called Mons “ Wicci a Wi e ra sc . Possibly the first syllable of g ” 1 “ ” ce a stre O ld m a m , an form of Worcester , y be fro T the same root . races of the name linger apparently ” “ ” “ ” “ in Wychwood, Wichenford, Wyke , Wyche , ”

&c . Powick , ’ T h e of a u x r e u l a r title the Chieftain (in Latin , , g , su br e u l u s O f g ) the tribe varied in various periods , as A well as the authority which he exercised . t o ne time, according to Palgrave, his authority in Worcester was as great as the authority o f the King O f Essex in

Al Wi e orna t . as r g ce e . 3 5 0 APPEN DIX .

T he Wicc11 London . showed their prowess when , ' th ir B ritish with e allies, they contended successfully n f against C e a wlin o the downs o the White Horse . T hey took no part 1n the great struggle o f English and Normans at Hastings .

AP P E N DI " C .

T H E arm s o f the see O f Worcester are

A 1 0 2 1 . rgent, torteaux, 4 , 3 , , It is uncertain when these ar ms were first intro d u ce d or used, but it is most probable that they were derived from the coat O f Bishop Godfrey Giffard “ 1 8 T m O f W r ( 2 6 though ho as , in his History o ” “ r . ce st e Cathedral (p says , Not that any man can say that this noble prelate (Godfrey Giffard) gave f m o t. T his ar s to the bishopric Worcester, as S homas f f m o Here ord , surna ed Cantelupe , did the arms of a n til o e of the Barons C p to the bishopric Hereford , for that the arms of the bishopric and priory of si ni Worcester are merely spiritual , the torteaux g ” fying the Eucharist . “ Green , in his History of Worcester, also mentions that the torteaux signify the Eucharist, and adds T he ff of P Gi ards Weston [Wootton] , in Gloucester

’ Gifi a rd shire, to testify their descent from Bishop , of of give the arms the bishopric Worcester, being argent charged with 1 0 t orte a u xe s [sic] signifying the ” Eucharist .

3 5 2 APPE N DIX .

’ 1 6 0 m Dean Eade s (d . 4) monu ent in the cathedral , and in Green ’s “ Worcester ” T h e correct form appears to be that figured by T T of homas and anner, the canton taking the place f one o the fou r torteaux in the chief line . E " I N D .

[Th e na m e s of the Bishops of the Dioce se a re p rinte d in S MALL CAP ITAL L E TTE R S ]

ADE L Z e e 60 A h e 1 I A, Qu n , nc orit s, 3g Ae e lwi a a of E e ha m A h e e the D e e g g , bb t v s , rc it ctur in ioc s , 7 , 48 58 Ar T h m a r 2 Ae lf a r E a e e b . 0 g , rl , 4 5 d n , o s , p , 3 2 Ar e of 12 AE LH U N E , 5 l s, Council , AL h 116 his A r r e 120 r a of COCK , Jo n , rthu P inc , bu i l , e e r 116 h is 12 his h a e 1 1 spl ndid nt y, ; 9 ; c p l , 33 , 39, e a e 1 18 16 a h I piscop t , , 9 rc i 34 e e a n d a h 120 Ar e th e 20 t t ut or, ; por ticl s , six , 7 ra of 12 1 A e r e e 1 8 t it , stl y P iory suppr ss d , 3 A e e 18 a e r 11 a r h of 2 1 lc st r, ; Mon st y, 3 p is , 5 ALDULF of e e a n d A e 12 Worc st r ugustin , r 2 Ave chu rch R e a Yo k . 7 . 33 , ob rt, s crist , A r ri r of a l e r ldwin, fi st p o M v n, 1 A i 88 5 v g non,

A e a e r I I . e l x nd Pop , 47 Al e a e r de H a e fa m x nd l s, ous h m a 66 B G e a 2 sc ool n , BA IN TON , G rv s, 3 7 Alfre e m e r of 8 a T h m a r a a nd d , Princ , urd , 3 B dly, o s , t i l ALF R E D 6 e e of 102 , 3 x cution , e e a a T h m a s f e a king , r stor s tr nquillity, B ll, o , ound d 26 h a 1 1 c ntry, 4 Alfrie k e a r e e 26 LDW 66 , n Worc st r, BA IN , A e r r e LL G H M N h a 2 11 li n P io i s, 95 BA IN A , ic ol s ,

A e D r. mm a r of a r ma a re o f m f ll n , , co iss y B ngo , ss c onks o , a a e 1 8 I C rdin l Wols y, 5 3 Al he re D e 2 a rth me h of E e e p , uk , 3 B olo w, bis op x t r, A e h m a h e a t 6 6 lv c urch, nor ous , 3. 5 R E h 88 e a 7 5 BA N T , Jo n, ; tr sure r Am e e a r h o f 8 of a 8 bl cot , p is , Eng l nd , 9 A a a th e 260 286 a r h r h T e of n b ptists , , , B ton C u c , ow r , 79 a t m e 1 a e 10 Bro sgrov , 3 4 B sl Council , 5 2 A 3 54 WORCESTER .

a h a e of 1 2 10 B e rkha m ste a d 6 B t , bb y , 5, 3 , 4 , 4 B a tte nha ll 1 e ha m h h a dd1t10n , 44 visit d by Bis pton C urc , s a e h 2 12 I Eliz b t , to, 39 a e r e a m 28 1 h B rI tish 12 B xt , B nj in , Bis ops, , ’ R ha r 220 his be h e e e 16 ic d , ; Bis op s Cl v , 7 e f ia h a f 2 2 h is e h r a r r li witc cr t, 3 ; Bisl yc u chy d e concile d

ha r e a a Mr . D a e a f e h e 112 c g s g inst nc , t r bloods d , 2 fe re e h \Va r a e a h t he 33 con nc s wit Bl ck d t , , 93 m e r 2 2 a t Kidde rm in a f r h his a r st y, 4 ; Bl nd o d , Bis op , di y , e r 2 2 his e o f h is 168 1 ra a e x st , 5 ; rul , 94 t nsl t d to O fl 2 his re a f 2 ock , 54 p ching ord , 93 i t t a nd fe 2 h s e e e Dr . of sik e 1 li , 57 ; p i ion Bl w tt, Fy , 54 ’ for t h e m r 2 8 o e h m a -h inist y, 5 ; p Blockl y, bis op s nor ouse e th e a e r 260 a t pos d by Qu k s , , 67 his e w e a L S a m of 8 2 vi s on piscop cy, B OI , Willi , 7 4, 7 5 , 2 a t S a fe re e h m 0 1 7 5 ; voy con nc , Bo un , Ed und , 3 2 8 his e e e f e 280 e n A e 1 0 7 ; lic nc r us d , , Bol y , nn , 8 1 B O I lfa C C a of 3 4 V I I I . , usurp tions , a e T m a of é B y ux , ho s , 4 7 7 e a a m e a of a w e h 1 1 his a B uch p , rl W r ick, Bonn r, Bis op , 4 p 8 a m de 8 e a e 1 8 7 ; Willi , 5 ; Guy, r nt g , 9 S ir h 12 h is h r h e 22 96 Jo n , 4 Books in c u c s , 8 r a 1 R h a r 1 S E L h 1 bu i l , 3 5 ; ic d , 3 5 BO , Bis op , 7 a h a m he r a e d e Bo u rchie r T h m a d e 10 B e uc ps, t i c stl , o s , 5 66 hi m olish e d s a of S t . f , visit tion Wul ’ a h a m o f 8 a H a 106 B e uc ps Powick , 7 st n s ospit l , e e m e r of 6 r e of B a tte nh a ll B ck t, urd , 4 Bou n , , k ford r r 1 8 1 S ir h 20 hi B e e P io y , 3 97 ; Jo n , 4 ; s E LL h 1 1 h is a ~ m a a a th e h B , Jo n , 4 ppoint co pl int g inst bis op , m e 186 nt, e r u e e f e 2 2 R S F R D Wu lsta n e e e B e n e dictin l n orc d , ; B AN O , , l ct d D a 2 8 a t e r h the m 88 0 by unst n , ; Fl u y , bis op by onks, , 9 a t e e r 2 8 red 11 30 ; Glouc st , 3 , 7 B icot, e e r h a ri h o f 22 re m a e r f e B ng wo t , p s , 7 B don , on st y ound d r e a a r of e f e 2 a e t he h 2 B e k ly , h bour r ug , 3 l ps s to bis op , 4 2 2 a e Da e 2 6 h r 3 . 3 s ck d by n s, ; c u ch, S ir H e r 2 1 S ir 1 1 m a r of 16 B e rke ly , n y , 4 ; 4 ; no , 7 a d 26 R R e a 88 0 R owl n , 9 B IAN , gin ld , , 9 ; r e o f e a e r e a h of B e ve y, Isl B v s, 39 d t , 93 e e 1 0 r e e 268 B wdl y, 3 B idg s , Colon l , T h m a - B R I H T E AG Be ynon, o s, non juror, , 35, 44 ’ 2 m r e 0 r 8 S t . Au e 30 ; i p ison d , 3 3 B istol , 7 , 4 gustin s b r B ribe ria 6 188 a e a t 6 2 e e e Bi e y ( ), 5 , Mon st ry , p stil nc , e th e m a r r 1 h a r T Biln y , ty , 7 7 93 c nt y in rinity l h r h 11 Bi son , Bishop , 9 C u c , 4 T m a 2 1 m e N h a 12 1 ho s, 7 Bro , ic ol s,

6 3 5 WORCE S TER .

h e e a r h of 2 1 e T e e ur 11 Cot ridg , p is , 5 unit d to wk sb y, 3 , C e a Ar h 1 1 8 ourt n y, c bishop , 9 3 a of 6 D E N E B E R H T 20 visit tion , 9 , C O U T AN C E h o f his mb D e rh a m a e o f 1 , Jo n , to , o , b ttl , 3 80 De s e nce r H e le 1 6 p , nry , 3 C e r r 268 26 R e l e 8 ov nt y, Lo d , , 9 ob rt , 5 C ra dford H h h m a e r Didb rook e h r h f e , ug , sc ool st , C u c , ugitiv s 12 h e e 1 12 9 butc r d in, a m e Ar h h his D e h a m a r h of 2 1 Cr n r, c bis op , visi odd n , p is , 5 t a tion of e e r D e rh h a a t 8 Worc st r P iory, odd ill , ospit l , 7 D 1 8 odde swe ll Dr e h . 262 5 , . , pr , e se e of D f r u e Cr diton , , 57 od ord Prio y, nit d to

C re nkhe hor ne Dr . his H a e e 11 , , vision , l sow n , 3 18 D m a 8 3 o inic ns , 7 D r D e C f . H e e r 262 e a m oc ro t, rb t, owd sw ll , Willi , pr tor S ir R h a r 1 0 for th e h a e 28 ic d , 3 c pt r, 5 C m e e 2 0 Dr h 11 ro w ll , O liv r, 5 oitwic , T h ma 1 1 his com D e h e a of Wa r o s , 5 ; udl y, Jo n , rl m e 1 16 1 e w 188 ission rs , 57 , p ti ick , t ione d h a me r r r a t 6 u e by Bis op L ti , p io y , 5 ; disp t 16 a 6 3 bout, 7 C r h r e a a e of D U S 22 28 h opt o n , p rson g , 79 ; N TAN , 9 , , ; bis op h r 1 of r e e 2 C u ch, 39 Wo c st r, 9, 55 C e h h e e 11 D ha m 1 rowl , c urc ndow d , 4, ur , 5 I D m e of Worce s 44 u bl ton , prior

C h e Dr . e h 28 a t e r rowt r, Jos p , 5 , 79 - 02 his h r D u e r h 11 non juror, 3 ; isto y, rsl y Chu c , 4 305 u a e th e 66 th e l a st 86 E ADB E R H T 2 Cr s d s, , ; , , 5 n e b u rh a e of Glouce s E a e 1 C y , bb ss dwin , 4 t e r 1 E ALD R E D his e a i e cha , 5 , v rs t l ra ct e r 0 r e Grifi ths , 4 ; sists , D D L a m of 26 1 h is e m a t Ge r AN O O, b ptis 4 4 b ssy o D a e a of e m e m a 1 his e to nc , vic r Kidd r inst r, ny, 4 journ yings 2 2 e a e m a n d R m e 2 33, 77 J rus l o , 4 ; Da e a i of 2 2 26 his e a h n s , inv s on , , 5, ; d t , 44 , 45 a e e a R LE h 2 1 distinct p opl in Eng l nd , EA , Jo n , 9 2 m a a re of e a a a e r 6 7 ; ss c , 33 Eccl si stic l l ndown s , 5 Da e ] a e r r a 12 a r fa m a m ni l , M st , o g nist , 9 Edg , vours on sticis , ’ Da hn e r e of 2 8 his a e S t . a vis, Jo , p s cution , ch rt r to M ry s, I 20 97 : 5 3 1 D e a e r e e h a e o f 2 n i s , 9 Edg ill , b ttl , 93 D e a of h a e r fi r a a of Glouce s c y C risti n pi ty, Ed ic , st bb t 2 t e r 49 , 35 D e e h 1 a e r a I . 8 a t ces e r urst, 4 ; Mon st y Edw rd , 1; Wor t r, f e 2 26 of 8 ound d, 3, ; ruins , 59; 5 N D I EX . 3 5 7

E wa I I . 8 e ha m h of r of d rd , 9 Ev s , Jo n , p ior f m at r e e r 8 a r I V . re e e 8 Edw d , p ll d ro Wo c st , h h a t T e e r 1 E mm a 2 2 c urc wk sbu y, 37 xco unic tions , 4 con

a r VI . re a r a m e r e e e o f 11 Edw d , w ds L ti , s qu nc s , 3 174 ; a tte mpts th e re union o f e e r a nd r e e E E M f e o f 8 1 Glouc st Wo c st r, F CK NHA , 4 ; or st , 1 Fe ckna n h the ha m 92 , Jo n , c pion a th e fe r h of R m e 1 0 1 1 Edw rd Con sso , olds o , 4 , 4 a r a m e a t e e r T h m a f e r of B a P li nt Glouc st , o s, ound p 2 tist s 1 4 , 3 5 a r e 1 e t h e 6 Edw rd , P inc , 4 F ldon , ,

GW 1 f m a e Dr . 2 E IN, 9 , 7 ounds on s F ll , , 49 t e r a t e h a m 18 FR E AKE m 2 1 hi y Ev s , , Ed und , 4 ; s a e h e e Wor a r e 2 1 hi Eliz b t , Qu n , visits visit tion inqui i s, 4 ; s ce ste r 2 11 e e e a e a 2 16 , ; s iz s piscop l d th, m a 16 Fitzha m on R e r 8 nors , 7 , ob t , 3 E m e a e ha r a t 6 h e e Da m e A e l l y C stl , c nt y , 9 F i t z r b r t, lic , e ha r a t 6 a e of e r h 16 Lov tt, c nt y , 9 bb ss Pol swo t , 5 E l h h O e r 6 y. 33 Fitz ug , sb t, 5 E LY N h a of a r M a e r 2 , ic ol s , 7 9 Fl dbu y on st y, 4 m e LE E W D a me a t Endow nts , 9 F T OO , J s, Edg e E the 1 h 2 ric, Good , 5 ill , 93 E the lba ld e e LE E R R a r 2 16 , r buk d by Boni F TCH , ich d , fa e 1 e r e re o f t he c , 9 Fl u y, c nt Be ne di c E the lmu n d th e e a m a 2 e 0 , ldor n , 3 tin s, 3 , 33 he e 1 1 1 e r a re e of r e e r Et lr d , 4 , 5 , 9 ; lib lity Flo nc Wo c st , 5 of 2 e a m T h m a 2 8 , 3 Fol y, Willi o s , 5 h e re -in -l a w of A fre fa m 282 Et l d , son l d , ily, D r re r e e r 26 rr e . e e r builds Wo c st , , 33 Fo st , , d ni s oya l h e a a of A f e re m a 18 Et lst n, gr ndson l r d , sup cy, 4 2 e r e his hr f 7 Fox , G o g , t e e old E the lwa ld 2 0 e a e of A h r 2 , Bishop , 9, 3 st t ntic ist, 59 e h a m A e o f 18 a a 8 Ev s , bb y , 4 , ; Fr ncisc ns , 7 h of re instru c ra t re s a a sc ool ligious F s cc ti , 7 9 26 e re 2 F ria rs a r of tion , r sto d , 7 , growing popul ity , h a e O a 2 zg c ng s by sw ld , 3 5 e a e 6 66 6 r h h o f its gr tn ss , 35, 5 , , 9 ; F it , bis op London , 7 5 a a of t h e m bb t , 7 3 ; onks a e r e r e e e e S B R U G a m o f ss t th i ind p nd nc , GAIN O O H , Willi , 6 a e e a e 8 a m a a r a e 7 ; bb y d popul t d , 93, 7 ; b ss do to Fr nc , 1 1 its e e e e 8 e re r a t O f r 0 3 ; tow r pr s rv d , 9 ; l ctu x o d , 9 ; 1 0 e m 1 1 his a r a a s 1 7 ; its d olition , 7 r iv l bishop, 9 e e a t 2 a r e e r S e he A h W sl y , 43 G d n , t p n , rc a e o f e a 1 b ttl , 77 d con , 39 H h of a h e a n a nd U D E h his a m ug , rc d co GA N , Jo n , 9 ; bi a a 8 2 0 c rdin l , 3 tion , 9 8 3 5 WORCESTER .

e ma n fr e of O a re e h of G r n s , i nd sw ld , G n , Jo n , prior Wor 2 te r 8 3 ce s , 9

e r e I I I . his a e e the h r a G o g , visit to Wor V l ntin , isto i n , ce ste r 0 I , 34 34 e r ra Ab a R FF h n on - r r G ld , b t, 59 G I ITH , Jo n , ju o , G H I N U C C I e r m e 12 02 his a e e m a r , J o , 3 3 ; cl nd stin FF R D fre h is ria e 0 GI A , God y, 79 g , 3 3 m a e e 80 his th e We h C h e f a 1 g nific nc , ; liti ls i t in , 4 a tions 8 1 a rre w r m e 1 a n of g , qu l ith G i l y , 44 ; dvowso , m o f r e e r 82 188 onks Wo c st , ; w h a a of We m e r a h of it bb t st inst r, G ind l , bis op London , 82 e a h 8 20 ; d t , 5 9 GL S h 12 his e e r 6 he GI I , Jo n , 3 ; plu Guilds in Worc st , 9 ; t ir r a litie s 12 r e r a e 1 , 3 p op ty confisc t d, 7 5 GL S S e e r d e 12 128 r e GI I , ilv st , 3 , ; Gunhild , P inc ss , 35 e r he T e e r 1 n ic s wk sbu y, 35 Gilbe r t a a o f e e r H of N r wa 2 , bb t Glouc st , AKO , king o y, 7 é 1 H a e we m a e 66 l so n on st ry, , e a 2 11 1 1 r h 1 Gilpin, B rn rd , 3 chu c , 34 e e r O we H a e h Dr a - e e Gl ndow , n , incursion l swort , . , vic r g n o f r . 94 a l , 128 Gl u ce st e r e r d e a re H a w a of 188 , Gilb t Cl , llo , dvowson , _ g1 e e e a e h visit d by Qu n Eliz b t , R e r e a r o f 8 6 1 2 12 ob t, l , 5 , e a of h 6 1 1 H a m m 2 0 e a h 2 1 s t bis op , , ; ond , 7 ; d t , 7 ’

1 S t . e e f e H a m e h a r a t 3 ; P t r s, ound d , pton Lov tt , c nt y , 1 m a e r 2 a e 6 5 ; on st y, 3 ; s ck d 9 Da e 2 e a 60 by n s , 5 ; r t ins its Lucy , - e a r h a ra e 2 m on H a m t on ~ u on A 188 s cul c ct r, 3 p p von , a ste r r e f r m e f H a r r of 188 y o d by Wul nbu y , lo dship , ’

a 2 S t . e e r 2 H a r a e 8 st n , 3 ; P t s , 4 ; dic nut , 3 r e e a e 0 the a e H a re e a o f e e 1 cons cr t d , 5 n v , , d n Worc st r, 34 8 a m a e fi re H a r S ir h 2 5 ; d g d by , 59 ; ington , Jo n , 37 fa o f e r 6 r e - H a r 0 his e a e t o I re ll tow , 3 ; con old , 4 ; sc p se cra t e d 6 h a e a 1 e a h 6 , 9 ; sout isl l nd , 4 , 45 ; d t , 4 a e 2 t he e r 1 H a r e r f r e 80 dd d , 9 ; tow , 34 tl bu y o tifi d , 7 7 , ; a e e a e 1 h h a r a t 6 e n v nl rg d , 39 bis op c nt y , 9 ; visit d by r ic e a ra e 168 e e a e h 2 11 s p t , Qu n Eliz b t , ; li r a a of h m e b r a r God ic , bb t Winc co b , y . 339 a t fi e ld o f 1 49 , Council , 5 E a r 8 0 I H a wford a a o f e a m Godwin, l , 3 , 4 , 4 , bb t Ev sh , ' Goldclifi e r O f I 1 0 , prio y , 3S ; 7 e e 1 8 H a e 66 e a a t 8 suppr ss d , 3 yl s , Cist rci ns , 7 me r a a e o f H E N h a 16 o Go , Is c, conv rsion , ATH , ic ol s , 9 p 26 e S me r e 1 6 4 pos s o s t, 7 ; dis

R Y a e 0 a e a r VI . 186 G A , W lt r, 7 pl c d by Edw d ,

3 6 0 WORCESTER .

E MS E Y 11 h a e 2 Le chm e re fa m a of K , c p l , 5 ; ily, p trons m a e a t 80 8 e 1 8 h e e r B a x nor hous , 77 , , 5 ; Bonn r, 9 s lt ’ h h 11 e he r 200 282 c urc , 4 t r s brot , , e e 2 0 2 1 e e r 2 2 a K nn tt, Bishop, 7 , 9 L ctur s , 34 , 35 roy l Ke nu lf 1 2 a 2 , 9, 3 injunctions bout, 37 e T h ma — 02 e r a m of of K yt , o s, non juror, 3 L dbu y, Willi , prior e m e r 2 e r B a x e a a e r 82 8 Kidd r inst , 3 und Gr t M lv n , , 3 t e r 2 2 h r h e e Le of a r h of H e e f r , 5 c u c r stor d , 344 g , bis op r o d , m e e a m of R e d Ki b rl y, Willi , m a r e 282 e fr a r 8 l y, L o ic , E l , 3 N E WO LD 2 LE O FS I N K I , 7 , 35 h e f e e m e a e o f King , Jo n, inquisition b or , L o inst r, bb ss , 39 Lichfi e ld m a e a n a h h , d rc bis op h for ric 20 touc ing , in , a he ra 2 6 e m e a a of C t d l , 9 Cl nt, l st bbot e h a m 1 0 162 Ev s , 4 , ; re tire s e ra m a t 1 a e nsion 1 0 Kinv r, g , 39 on , p , 7 ni htwick m a of 8 P G or V G d e g , nor , 4 ; LI IN , LI IN , 37 ; e 12e 16 a h r a a nd re a of s d by crown, 7 ; p ris p iv l stor tion , o 2 1 8 h is e a e e fi 5 3 r sist nc to S w yn , 39 fa e 12 Lindis rn , E Y a e a a e m hu r h a LAC , JOHN , ch rg g inst, Littl Co pton C c , p 10 a e r d e 8 r r a of 1 1 3 W lt , 4 p op i tion , 4 a m e r h e a m a Ll a n ton r 6 2 r of L b t, Jo n , x in tion y p iory, ; p ior , f o , 183 99

a m h Dr . T h m a 2 L YD a m 1 his L plug , o s , 93 L O , Willi , 9 , 3 9 a f a a h h of C a n a a r a h 20 L n r nc , rc bis op politic l p tis ns ip , 3 ’ t e rbu r 6 a t 8 e e a m e r 2 h i y , 4 Bristol , 4 , Qu n s l on , 3 3 ; s ' e fi orts for m re h e 59 co p nsion , a a h 2 2 his h 2 hi L ngl nd , Jo n , 9 3 4 sc ool , 3 5 s a A h h e a h 28 L ngton , rc bis op , 7 3 d t , 3 M E R H h e for a r a e r h a e LATI , ug , p titions Loll ds , in M lv n C s , a e 16 his 6 10 M lv rn Priory, 3 9 . 9 , a 1 a I tchm ton spoli tion , 73 disput tions Long g , 44 a t r 1 m a e ha a e a B istol , 7 7 ; d bishop Lot ringi n pr l te s, 39 of e e 180 his w 12 Worc st r, ; visi Ludlo , 9 ta tion 18 1 his e a e 2 1 , piscop l Lulsl y , 5 a 18 his e r e 18 Y a m 88 cts, 3 ; st nn ss , 5 L NN , Willi , his e e m e 186 of r tir nt, Lyons , Council , 7 9 a Ar h h his e e T m a 1 10 L ud , c bis op , ord rs Lyttl ton, ho s , the a h e dra 2 0 to c t l , 3 a e u 1 10 L w r , John , La v e m e a me e e n a r DD " S , J s , pr b d y , MA O , I AAC, 335 1g DS E a e 8 88 7 MAI TON , W lt r, 4 , ’ La a mon s r 1 his e 1 y B ut , 7 pov rty , 9 I N DEX . 3 6 1

a a De a ha e E a 6 1 M inw ring , n , c rg s Milo , rl , a a 2 1 MI LR E D 1 2 g inst , 3 , 9 , 4 a m e r a m of 8 Mo s a m 1 10 M l sbu y , Willi , 3 gy , Willi , a e r e a r f a e r e m e r of M lv n , Gr t, Prio y, ound Mon st i s , nu b , 3 ; ’ d 1 th e a e of the e e m fr m th e h , 5 ; n v not x pt o bis op s h r h e r 2 1 a t r mis c u c , 59 disput on cont ol , ; fi st e e of the r 6 sion a r 2 e e in the l ction prio , 5 y, 3 v st d e e fa of th e h e e e e s ttl d in vour bis op , 34 ; ind p nd nc h 6 h h re of e o f bis op, 74 , 7 ; c urc , 55 ; sourc s supply e a e 6 f e e f m th e 12 a cons cr t d , 7 r d ro to king s, 5 ; p trons ’ the 8 of e a 1 0 a bishop s jurisdiction , 4 ; l rning , 4 ; ro d h h re e 1 e m a e 1 1 1 1 e xa c urc stor d , 34 ; p ti k rs , 4 , 5 g for m a e a e 16 e ra tions a 16 1 tion int n nc , 3 ; g bout , the a a e a e 1 2 th e a m e a in l nd li n t d , 7 ; Mon sticis , r ction h r h e e fa of 28 e i e c u c r stor d , 344 vour , ; r v v d in h of a t of the N r h 1 Jo n , Council o t , 5 ’ a e 6 r 1 8 Const nc , 9 Monk s Kirby P iory, 3 e a e a t 11 m h e ffr 1 Littl , bb y , 9 Mon out , G o y, 7 the a me the h a e f r S m d e n , 3 ; c s , Mont o t, i on , 7 7 8 1 R G h 10 a t MO AN , P ilip , 3 ; G E R 6 e xcomm u ni of a e 10 MAN , 7 Council Const nc , 4 a e h 68 e ra e a t a e 10 c t s Jo n , ; cons c t d B sl , 5 t he e 68 his R LE Y e r e 2 by Pop , dis MO , G o g , 33 ; con e h the m of t rove rs h a e r 2 0 put wit onks y wit B xt , 5 , e ha m 6 2 1 his e e 2 2 his Ev s , 9 7 r c ption , 7 ; a r e e e d e a e of r 2 his M r i d cl rgy, pr ju ic rticl s inqui y , 74 ; a a 20 re a t a e 2 280 g inst, 4 l ion to B xt r, 7 5 , a h - r r 02 r h a h h of M rs , John , non ju o , 3 Mo ton , Jo n, rc bis op a r D r a r 1 a e r r 122 M tin , . Edw d , 34 C nt bu y , a r e a r h of 2 1 R R e r 122 M tl y, p is , 5 MO TON , ob t , Ma th e we h 2 r e h o f 2 8 , Jo n , 7 5 Moo , bis op Ely, 4 a e m e a t Worce s r r his a r 1 M ud , E pr ss , P io , di y, 42 ; t e r 6 1 fa m 1 fe a n , 33 , ily, 44 ; li d occupa a r e T h m a n on - r 1 1 e a r a e M u ic , o s , ju or, tion , 44 , 47 ; lit r yt st s , 02 his e a h 0 1 8 h a 1 1 3 ; d t , 3 7 4 ; ospit lity; 49, 5 1 Me de sh a m st e a d r e of m e 1 p sou c s inco , 52 ; m a e of e a 1 e e e on st ry , 44 lib r lity , 53 r c iv s in e a e e 1 f m ra m e 1 M dic l sci nc , 54 junctions ro C n r, 59 ; E D a de 12 r e e e 1 M ICI , Juli n , 3 ; tir s to Crowl , 6 1 re a of 1 ha a e r e re m e 1 2 sign tion , 55 r ss d in ti nt , 7 e a 1 11 1 R h a r 2 M rci , , 3 , 4 , , 3 ; ic d , 43 e e hr a S m 2 60 conv rt d to C isti nity , i on , 1 e e of 1 a r T h m a his e ma 4 ; dioc s , 5 ; its Mus d , o s , sti te S re ma fa a e of r r e 1 160 up cy un vour bl to P io Moor , 55, th e h h 20 M no rs R e r m e o f C urc , y , ob t , inist r e ha 126 128 Dormiston 2 Mild n ll, Prior, , , 7 5 3 6 2 WOR CESTER .

“ N F S ir h 1 6 1 ce ste r 262 re e of AN AN, Jo n , 3 , 39 , ; p sid nt N e ckha m R e r - r o f a a e e e O f r , ob t, sub prio M g d l n Coll g , x o d , r e e 1 2 6 r r in a Wo c st r, 54 3 ; P octo Convoc R e r e e a r 168 28 og , pr b nd y , tion , 5 N e w n t r re e O e h r h of 10 , P iory, supp ss d , lv rton, c u c , 4 g O mbu sl e I 3 y , 4 R e r A m e r of O nna nfor d a h a r r of re f e ob t, l on , bou ug , T e wk e s u r 108 2 b y , 3 N e a of 188 O D e a 2 2 wington , dvowson , nslow, n , 4 S ir Ar h r 2 2 N h a I I . e ic ol s , Pop , 43 t u , 4 V 8 86 R LE A a m a e of N h la I . e O ic o s Pop , 5, TON , d , ccus d N h e r e his a n e ra 0 ic olls , G o g , sw r conspi cy , 9 q t o a e r 2 6 O sb e rn a m 8 B xt , 5 , Willi Fitz , 5 N f r r h of 28 O she re 1 f m a oncon o mity , g owt , 7 , 5 ounds on s a e s R e a a of E ve t e rie s 2 y , og r, bb t , 3 h a m 6 O r 1 f e e s , 9 s ic , 7 , 4 ; ounds Glouc st r N on - r r the e e 02 A e 2 ju o s in dioc s , 3 bb y, 3 N rm a W a m a e O S W LD 1 1 f o n , illi , ppoint d A , 9 , 4 , 5 ounds r of e e e r h e a e r 2 his prio Worc st r, 74 P s or Mon st y, 3 N orr ice R a h - r r 02 C ha ra e r 2 h e a e the , lp , non ju o , 3 ct , 9 ; t k s w 0 N R H on . w w 6 m a vo h is m on O TH, Bro nlo , 33 on stic , 3 ; NO R T H AL a m 68 a stic e f m 2 r m e , Willi , r or s, 3 p o ot d “ N or thfi e ld h r h r e r 2 his a a n d C u c , con to Yo k , 3 ctivity e a f e r h e 1 12 m u nifi ce n ce his re cil d t bloods d , , 33 ; lics , N orthfolk re e a 20 2 6 1 his h r e a rr e , P b nd ry, 3 33 , 5 , ; s in c i d N r h m r a r e e r of r e 126 o t u b i , conv sion , in p oc ssion , 12 1 16 O swa ldsl o w h re of 1 , 4 , , und d , 3 , N r 1 1 h a e r 1 1 8 1 o ton , ; c p l y, 4 N ha e 2 O e r a e S ir \Villia m 1 0 ott, C rl s, 45 v d l , , 3 , 13 2

O E S T 1 PAGE H AM h of 6 AT , itus, plot, 3 3 , Jo n , 3 O e e rr e m e a t Pa kin t on a D r 2 8 ddingl y , t ibl urd r , g , L dy o othy , 4 ir oh n 2 2 8 his fa m 344 S J , 73 , 7 ; ily , ’ O d e n se e e e e a t 1 282 S ir h e e , B n dictin s , 5 ; Jo n s l ction O do of a e 2 O e 20 28 , bishop B y ux, 9, ppos d , 3 , 3 8 a H e r - r r 02 5 P nting , n y, non ju o , 3 O ffa his r m a e t o R m e a r e r Ar h h e e r t o , pilg i g o , P k , c bis op , l tt s 1 his e ha t o the a 208 7 ; b viour dio S ndys ,

e e 1 2 a r e r R e v. G . c s , 9, 3 P k , , 344 O FT FO R 1 a r H e r 2 , 7 P r y , n y, 3 7 O ldcom a h e e e of a - e 228 , F t r, x cution , P ssing b ll , 2 E S R a r e r a 39 PAT , ich d, d p iv tion r 1 1 6 e e O e M. a r a a re a e r o f 6 , ; l y, B n b s, t sur 7 9 d pos d by o f th e a he ra 2 66 2 e e a e 20 1 c t d l, , 93 Qu n Eliz b th, O r a r h 1 e D . e a of liv r, , d n Wor P t ick , Bis op , 3 5

6 3 4 WORCESTER .

r R u d e Mr f S h a e a h o f 2 1 . a e e g , , ounds l ctur r wl y , p ris , 5 a t e h a m 2 S h re r a e o f 1 Ev s , 34 wsbu y, b ttl , 3 R s e l S ir h 2 1 S E R R e 2 2 u s l , Jo n , 4 KINN , ob rt, 9 R u a a a e a e 6 S a m 1 st ud , p p l l g t , 7 kull , Willi , 45 S a e r a ffi a t r 8 l v t c B istol , 4 S AC H E VE R E L 2 S a a r o f 0 , 3 7 luys , n v l victo y , 9 S a m a h e e o f 6 S m e th w k e Don h 12 lt rs , P t r , 7 y , Jo n , 5 S a l wa e h r h e a r e 1 S m h or P e n t e r l a m rp C u c , nl g d , 34 it ( y ) , Wil i , S M PS his a O f O mb r e sl e 1 6 A ON , 57 ppoint y , 9 m e m m a e e r o f nt, 59 E nu l , r cto S a n croft A h h 0 1 H a r e r 2 , rc bis op, 3 tl bu y , 7 4 S a n S a m e - r 02 S m e r e D e o f 1 6 d , u l , non juro , 3 o s t, uk , 7 S a f r R e r e e 168 S ilsb u r o f m r e 282 nd o d , og , pr b nd , p y Bro sg ov , ’

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a n d r 2 10 his S t . O a H a 8 London Yo k , sw ld s ospit l , 7 ’ Wu lfst e e t o h 2 S t . a n s H a l tt r Bis op Gilpin, 4 ospit l sup

S a H on . a r 6 re e e 1 8 ndys, Edw d , 33 p ss d by Wols y, 5 S a r m U se t he 1 S t a n e we ll h a a of Pe r u , , 7 , Jo n , bb t S a e r H e r 20 h e 166 r e e Pe r und s, n y , 3 s or , su r nd rs S a a e S ir h 1 8 h re 1 2 v g , Jo n , 9 s o , 7 S a xnlf h o f Lichfi e ld 16 S e he 6 1 his a e re , bis op , t p n , l wl ss ign , S R h a r 5 011 o f 8 6 crob, ic d , , 5 4 S u a m e h m m S a a r h h o f a n c d or , Jo n , co is tig nd , c bis op C S l e r 1 t e r bu r on , 7 3 y , 45 S ch e rston h r h 1 6 S LL GFLE E T a r C u c , 3 TI IN , Edw d , 9 S e a b rok e T h ma a a of 2 8 his e a e 1 , o s , bb t 9 ; lib r l vi ws , 3 5 , e e 1 a s a re a h e r 16 e Glouc st r, 34 p c , 3 conv r S e d e bu rr w h o 1 1 a a m I I I . g , s tion wit Willi , S e r e a R ha r of S e 1 j nt, ic d , ton , 3 7 2 8 1 r D . a m e e a 1 J s , d n , 34 S e of e e r 0 a a S tiwa rd e a r 8 rlo, Glouc st , 5 ; bb t, , l , 3 S e h o f 59 tok Episcopi , lords ips , S e m r the r a m a 188 y ou , lo d d ir l , e e u of 18 S r x c tion , 4 tou port, 343 S h a w R e r r e e a 20 S ra f -on -A h r of , ob t, p b nd ry , 3 t t ord von , c u ch , S h e l a m a nd ra 19 m a r o f 188 don , Willi F ncis, 94, 4 ; no , 1 2 R a h 1 2 S t re a n e sha lh h m a 7 ; lp , 7 (W itby), on s S h e lm e rd on R e 20 t e r a t 16 , ob rt, 3 y , S r 0 h a a t 8 S e -in -U sm e re m a e r a t idbu y, 7 ; ospit l , 5 tur , on st y , S M 60 e a e a 2 I ON , ; cons cr t s S t n 3 t r 62 S a - h t he in ony Prio y, und y sc ools, first S h e e e 1 8 r e e r 1 ipsid , G org , 9 Wo c st , 3 5 N D I EX .

S H e for the T mk N a ha e e e d utton , nry, proctor o ins , t ni l, pr b n , e 28 cl rg y, 5 260 S we a n or S e n e a r T os i g , w y , l , 39 t g , 42 S e e o f E e ha m 1 T w he of m e o ve ylv st r v s , 7 o ns nd El l y L tt , ’ S m D a r 2 1 a O f 2 1 hi y ond s i y, 9 di ry , 9 ; s esti ma te of h ra f 22 262 witc c t, 3 , T ra e ia m ec e d of c y, Will , susp t T LB a m ea 01 h e e 200 A OT, Willi , d n , 3 , r sy, 28 h of S a T e hu r h 3 ; bis op lisbury, r dington C c , 99 1 T w n e bo h 11 34 y , Jo n , 4 T a tfrith h e e 16 T a E a 200 , Bis op l ct, ynd ll, dw rd, T a 0 vistock , 4 ti ” T a xa o, the , 86 U R B V T a r R a h - u 02 . , e 1 ylo , lp , non j ror, 3 AN Pop , 9 U a VI . T e m a e of 8 b , e , 9 pl rs , suppr ssion , 5 r n Pop 5 e T e m e a a h r h of U , re e a r pl B ls ll , c u c , 85 rs buk d Edw d, 44 , T e nison A h h 18 2 48 ; his fo a a t Ma l , rc bis op , 3 , 3 4 und tions VC I’ D 1 8 T e e T he ocsbu r 11 , 5 : , ° wk sbury ( y) , 5 7 U 1 m a e a t 1 a e , 1, 44 on stic c ll , 4 bb y, pton 3 2 it s a e 8 n cra 3 ; n v , 5 co se of 60 re - e a e “ ” tion , cons cr t d , L E LE S S T US VA OR CC IA IC , 6 112 11 e he 1 7 , , 3 ; nric d , 35 86 ” T h e T r e O i a 1 ipl bl g tion , 9 a La re e a e n of V ux, w nc , w rd T he Wh e D of Ma n ol uty , a he e 20 M nc st r, 4 248 T he a A h h ob ld , rc bis op , 7 9 T he re Ar h h 1 E F E LD a e of 116 odo , c bis op , 9, 5 ; WAK I , b ttl , fl e e of 2 1 E F E LD H e r 88 r ea in u nc , WAK I , n y, t T M S i a m his ca e for e r of a 8 1 HO A , W lli , r sur Eng l nd , 9, 9 ; th e a h e ra e r e 2 his m a a e a a n t he c t d l s vic s, 94 ; nd t g i st his h a 2 his a a r 6 ospit lity, 94 ; loy l Loll ds, 9 m 2 6 his e a h 2 a e ma h h of ind, 9 ; d t , 97 W k n , Jo n , bis op T h r r h e e e e e 168 o nbo oug , Gil s, pr b n Glouc st r, a 260 a e R e r f u s a d ry , W ld n , ob t, o nd T R B R U G H h 6 ha HO N O O , Jo n , 23 c ntry , 99 his e f m the a h e ra a e h o f H e ef r or s in c t d l , W lt r, bis op r ord , 2 8 his e a h 2 0 6 a h o f r 8 3 ; pit p , 4 4 ; rc bishop Yo k , 5 T R E S BY h 88 ha a e R h a r o f a a of HO , Jo n , ; c n W r , ic d , bb t ce llor of a 8 e m e r 82 Engl nd , 9 W st inst ,

T hr m T h ma 10 Wa rm e st r Dr. fe re e ock orton , o s, 9 y , , con nc T H E U LF 60 w h a e 2 2 2 e a , it B xt r, 4 , 59 ; d n T I LH E R E 1 of e e 26 his m is , 9 Worc st r, 3 ; T h 1 siona r e a 2 6 a e of illotson , Bis op , 3 5 y z l , 4 ; st t T h e a r r a of h is a he a 26 i s , pp op i ion , 57 c t dr l , 5 t t M T m e h e a e of th e a rre r . 2 6 o b s , Jo n , l d r W n , 4 a 1 a h De a 6 1 B ptists , 3 4 W ug , n , 33 , 34 3 66 WORCESTER . .

a r H e r e of e w 20 his ba d m a a e W wick, n y, duk , vi , 7 n g m e o f r e 2 1 13S nt p op rty , 5 I sa b e lla e o f 1 i T h m a - u , count ss , 35 W lson , o s , non j ror, We a rm ou th m a s e r 2 02 on t y, 3 3 m h e re T h m a We bbe l H . y , u p r y, p Wilson , o s, jun , non e a r 168 r 02 b nd y, ju or, 3 We dd e sb u r r of Wor h m e a e r 2 0 y , p ior Winc co b Mon st y, , ce st e r 12 2 r e f m e O a , 7 3 ; or d by sw ld , e e e r 1 6 2 8 r e - e ra e 6 W ld , P t , 3 3 , 4 ; cons c t d , 7 VVe Ish f ra h t h e 1 m e R a h o f 0 , o ys wit , Winchco b , lp , 5 WE R E F R I T H fl e t o ra e M B E T id e m a n d e i s F nc , W INCHCO , , 2 6 t ra nsl a te s th e di a log ue s 98 ; his loya lty t o King o f re t h e re a 2 6 R ha G g ory G t , ic rd , 99 We re m u n d 1 Win ch e lse a r h h 80 , 9 y , c bis op, e e h a t e h a m r e r e a t Glou W sl y, Jo n , Ev s , o d s inquiri s ce ste r 343 , 94 e t r a e r 2 2 h e e r 1 W s bu y Mon st y, 3, 3 , Winc st , 4 a t a h e e e r f e h o f Lichfi e ld 33 ; t c d to Worc st , Wini r d , bis op , r e re 0 6 2 I 35 ; sto d , 5 , S e m e r A fou n da a e of e . 1 W st inst bb y , Winwood , b ttl , 4 t o f 6 6 r a fa r t he h e 222 ion , 4 , 5 oy l vou Wi c s punis d , t o 8 Wod ve rl e a a e o f , 5 y , p rson g , 7 9 ’ h a m e S t . a r 6 e r S t e e r W stwood , M y s, 5 Wolv pton , . P t s , e r 2 8 nunn y , 95 , 3 57 VV e R h a r f Mr hitbo m 1 1 . of U , ic d , 7 Wood ord , , pton , h fe re e a t 12 2 6 W itby , con nc s , 4 m a e r 2 h m a e r a t 1 on st y , 3 Wit ington, on st y , 5 , h e h r h a a of H a e 2 W it c u c , bb t l s , 3 1 2 e a r a 1 1 1 7 Wols y , C din l , 39, 5 G F h 2 1 Worce ste r olit ica l m r a e WHIT I T, Jo n , 3 , p i po t nc Whitst a n e e e i e a t 8 of 2 m o f th e e e , B n d ctin s , 7 , li its dioc s , LE S E Y a m a 6 8 h ff a a o f WHITT , Willi , , ; bis ops su r g n a o a 1 1 R m a c nonist , g Isc , o n outpost Wiccii th e 1 e e r 1 1 a e Da e 2 , , , 5 n v pill g d by n s, 6 Da h 2 m e a e a e nis , 7 n c d by M ud , 33 m a a t 80 r e h m om e 8 Wick , nsion , sists s ip y , 3 Wiclifle a t Lu th e r wor th 6 a e 6 1 e a , , 9 s ck d , 39 , dioc s n Wi forth e 2 2 a t 2 se e a a g , duk , synod , 5 , 73 v c nt LF R D e e in 18 e r a n e 6 1 WI I succ ds n , 59 und int rdict, fre h of r 18 e re 6 8 r a me Wil d , bis op Yo k , plund d , ; tou n nt

a m I . his a a t a e a Willi , gr nt to Wor , 7 4 ; s ck d by B rons , ce ste r O e e e , 47 7 7 ; by w n Gl ndow r, Willm ot T h m a a of e a e h , o s , vic r 94 ; visit d by Eliz b t , ’ r m r e 1 2 11 n h a t 00 B o sg ov , 3 4 Ki g s sc ool , 3 T h m a e a of r e e r a he ra 1 Wilson, o s , d n Wo c st C t d l , 5 , 3 e e his e e m e e r 8 Worc st r, xtr r built, 39 ; its c ypt, 5

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