III The Letter-Book of Thomas Bentham, Bishop of Coventry and Lichfield

Rosemary O'Day; Joel Berlatsky

doi:10.1017/S0068690500003172

^{page 117 note 1} The Letter-Book of John Parkhurst, ed. R. A. Houlbrooke, Norfolk Rec. Soc., vol. xliii (1974–1975).Google Scholar

^{page 118 note 2} O'Day, R., ‘Thomas Bentham: a case study in the problems of the early Elizabethan episcopate’, Journal of Ecclesiastical History (xxiii, 1972), 135–59.Google Scholar

^{page 123 note 1} Edmund Grindal, bishop of London 1559–70.

^{page 123 note 2} Possibly John Spencer, M.A., archdeacon of Chichester 1560–71.

^{page 123 note 3} Either Thomas Cole, archdeacon of Essex 1559–71, or Robert Cole, clerk, rector of St Mary-le-Bow, London, 1559–76. If the latter, see item 154. Both were exiles.

^{page 123 note 4} Cyprianus Valera. Born in Seville c.1532; he was renowned for scholarship, and translated the Bible into Spanish. See Venn, , Alumni Cantabrigienses.Google Scholar

^{page 123 note 5} Unidentified.

^{page 123 note 6} Francis Knollys, 1514–96. An exile in both Frankfurt and Strasbourg, he is said to have been a member of Magdalen College, Oxford; he was appointed to the Privy Council in December 1558 and became vicechamberlain of the royal household. See D.N.B.

^{page 123 note 7} Michael Reniger, 1530–1609. Born in Hampshire,he was a student at Cambridge, then demy and fellow of Magdalen College, Oxford; he vacated his fellowship before 29 July 1553, and went into exile at Strasbourg (1554), and Zürich (1554; 1556); he was appointed chaplain to the Queen, 1561. See Garrett, Marian Exiles.

^{page 124 note 8} Lawrence Nowell: brother of Alexander Nowell, dean of St Paul's; he had a long-standing connection with the diocese of Coventry and Lichfield; deprived of his benefice, c. 1553, for failure to take priest's orders within twelve months of institution, he went into exile in Germany; he was made dean of Lichfield in March 1560; he may also have held the archdeaconry of Derby 1558–77; but see items 23 and 199. See also Calendar of State Papers, Domestic, 1547–1580, p. 393Google Scholar, and Venn, , Alumni Cantabrigienses.Google Scholar

^{page 124 note 9} William Paulet, first Marquis of Winchester, ? 1485–1572. He was Treasurer to Queen Mary, an appointment confirmed by Elizabeth; he voted against changes in church services but was essentially a trimmer, and on good terms with Cecil.

^{page 124 note 10} See item 9.

^{page 125 note 11} Nicholas Bacon, 1509–79. He was created Lord Keeper of the Great Seal on 22 Dec. 1558. See D.N.B.

^{page 125 note 12} Ralph Baynes, bishop of Coventry and Lichfield; nominated 25 Oct. 1554; consecrated 18 Nov. 1554; deprived 26 June 1559; died Nov. 1559.

^{page 125 note 13} Eccleshall, Staffs. Valor Ecclesiasticus gives castle and manor of Eccleshall as being worth £86 7s. 1¼d.

^{page 125 note 14} Nominated 27 Dec. 1559; consecrated 24 Mar. 1560.

^{page 125 note 15} Humphrey Swinnerton. A general pardon cites him as late of Swynnerton, Staffs, alias of Hilton, Staffs (C.P.R., 1558–1560, p. 163Google Scholar). Will proved in P.C.C., 1562.

^{page 125 note 16} George Blount. A general pardon cites him as late of Kinlet, Shropshire, alias late of Knightley, Staffs (C.P.R., 1558–1560, p. 235Google Scholar). Will proved in P.C.C., 1581.

^{page 125 note 17} Francis Evered. L.G.L., Dean & Chapter Act Book IV, fo. 154v: confirmation of Francis Everard as bailiff of the manor of Eccleshall, Feb. 1549; fo. 156r: confirmation of a lease to Francis Everard, gent., of the manor of Eccleshall for 99 years at an annual rent of £44, 15 Mar. 1550.

^{page 126 note 18} Richard Sampson, bishop of Coventry and Lichfield 1543–54; he died 25 Sept. 1554.

^{page 126 note 19} A bill confirming grants and leases made by bishops deprived was read on 11, 18 and 21 of Feb. 1559 (Journals of the House of Commons, i, 1547–1628, p. 54).Google Scholar

^{page 128 note 20} Hanbury, Staffs. The advowson belonged to the lordship of Tutbury until the reign of Edward VI, when the rectory was appropriated to the bishops of Coventry and Lichfield; Valor Ecclesiasticus gives vicarage worth £43 153. 2d; tenth, £4 7s. 5d; vicarage with annexed chapel of ease at Marchington, Tamworth deanery, in 1563.

^{page 128 note 21} Baynes.

^{page 128 note 22} L.C.L., Dean & Chapter Act Book IV, fo. 155v: confirmation of the lease by bishop Sampson of the farm of Hanbury rectory to William Pope, gent., for 60 years, on 30 July 1549.

^{page 128 note 23} There is no confirmation of the lease of Hanbury to Baynes and Grene in the above act book, although fo.164v gives confirmation of the grant of office of custodian and bailiff of Hanbury by Ralph Baynes to Christopher Grene for life at 40s. p.a. (10 Feb. 1559).

^{page 128 note 24} L.J.R.O., CC.124100 Temporalia Episcopalis, p. 13Google Scholar, states ‘No concurrent lease is good without the confirmation of the deane and chapter And unles it comence in ye habendum from the making thereof. Item leases made before 1^o Elizabeth confirmed by deane & chapter were good: not so by president & chapter.’

^{page 128 note 25} See items 3 and 9.

^{page 129 note 26} Thomas Bolt. Subscribed in 1559 (Lambeth Palace Library, C.M.X111/58); a pluralist rector in the diocese since 1549; he died in 1579. See Foster, Alumni Oxonienses.

^{page 129 note 27} Simon Harcourt, of Ranton and Ellenhall, Staffs, armiger. Glover (Visitation of Staffs, 1583) gives ‘of Stanton Harchourt, Oxon.’; a relative, Sir John Harcourt, had been sheriff of Stafford and chief steward of Ranton priory; on 12 Dec. 1559 Simon Harcourt was granted for life the office of receiver-general of the revenue of lands in Staffs, Hereford and the city of Hereford, late in the survey of the Court of Augmentations and now in that of the Exchequer, as from Easter 1559, at an annuity of £20, plus 20s. portage, on every £100 paid into the Exchequer (C.P.R. 1558–1560, p. 250Google Scholar); he acted as sequestrator of revenues of the episcopal castle and manor of Eccleshall during the vacancy of the see; see items 20, 42, 68. See also item 87. Bentham named him before the Privy Council as an adversary of religion in 1564. He was noted as one of a ‘knot hurtfull to Justice & great Mainteineres’ among J.P.s in Staffs (Bateson, , Original Letters, p. 42).Google Scholar

^{page 129 note 28} AS receiver-general.

^{page 130 note 29} Thomas Bolt.

^{page 130 note 30} Journals of the House of Commons, i, 1547–1628: 22 and 24 Feb. 1558, readings of bill for clerical subsidy; the subsidy was one of 8s. in the pound, payable over 4 years at a rate of 2s. in the pound p.a. on 9/10ths of incomes (Statutes of the Realm, iv, 332–5).Google Scholar

^{page 130 note 31} Under the terms of the act the bishops, and their delegates as collectors of the subsidy, were empowered to enforce payment by sequestration, censure etc.

^{page 130 note 32} According to the terms of the act, the subsidy for 1560 should have been paid to the collector by 25 Mar. 1560, and have been paid into the Exchequer by 10 June 1560 at the latest.

^{page 131 note 33} In fact it was Bishop Lee who thus received Hanbury (Letters & Papers … Henry VIII, XII(I), pp. 357, 363, 439, 526Google Scholar; XII(2), p. 346; XIII (I), p. 63; XIV(I), pp. 403, 404).

^{page 131 note 34} P.R.O., C/3/13/63: Christopher Baynes declared that Bishop Baynes was his ‘naturall uncle’. L.C.L., Dean & Chapter Act Book IV, fo. 164r: Baynes was constable of Eccleshall castle as from 7 Jan. 1559; fo. 164v: Christopher Grene was bailiff of Hanbury.

^{page 131 note 35} P.R.O., C/3/13/63: Case in Chancery against Christopher Baynes. 2 folios, being a letter from Bishop Bentham to Nicholas Bacon, signed by R. Forsett, and Christopher Baynes' answer to the charges made in the presence of R. Rede.

^{page 131 note 36} See item 7.

^{page 132 note a} Word interlined

^{page 132 note b} Word interlined.

^{page 132 note c} Word preceded by 4 because that yt, struck out.

^{page 134 note a} Followed by ordina, struck out.

^{page 134 note b} Word struck out and then inserted again above the line.

^{page 134 note 37} The income from temporalities, pensions and appropriated churches was £795 17s. 6¾d (Valor Ecclesiasticus).

^{page 135 note a} right honorable, that interlined.

^{page 135 note b} Word interlined.

^{page 135 note c} thrust to the walls written in the margin in pencil in a modern hand.

^{page 135 note 38} A Master of the Requests and Master of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury.

^{page 136 note 39} From Sept. 1552–Aug. 1553 (resigned). Haddon had been President of Magadalen College, Oxford. He was a prominent reformer.

^{page 136 note 40} Katherine Asheley was Woman of the Bed-Chamber to the Queen; she was wife of the exile John Asheley gent., of Norfolk, Elizabeth's Master of the Jewel House. See John Asheley in Garrett, Marian Exiles.

^{page 136 note 41} Brother of Lawrence Nowell, dean of Lichfield, he was a prominent exile who became dean of St Paul's in 1560.

^{page 136 note 42} He had married a widow named Blount.

^{page 137 note 43} Thomas Godfrey was Remembrancer of First Fruits. The procedure was that the Remembrancer consulted the Valor, and in event of failure of payment issued a warrant to the sheriff of the appropriate county to extract the debt by any means, including arrest and/or process against the underwriters of the incumbent's composition with the Office.

^{page 138 note 44} Within the week following the feast of Michaelmas (29 Sept.).

^{page 139 note a} Followed by my, struck out.

^{page 139 note 45} Possibly Mrs Lucy of Charlecote, Warwickshire.

^{page 139 note 46} The twenty-ninth Royal Injunction of 1559 recognized clerical marriage, but the consent of the diocesan and two J.P.s, as well as the goodwill of the woman's parents, kin, or master, was required.

^{page 140 note a} Followed by more.

^{page 140 note b} Followed by doth appere.

^{page 140 note 47} Probably what are commonly known as synodals—dues of approximately 2s. p.a. paid by each parish priest to his bishop as a token of homage and fealty, which were customarily paid on attendance at the diocesan synod. According to L.J.R.O., CC. 124100, the total of diocesan synodals in 1623 was estimated at £18 13s. 4d.

^{page 140 note 48} See item 3.

^{page 140 note 49} See items 5 and 6.

^{page 141 note 60} Chapel of ease of Hanbury.

^{page 141 note 51} See item 178.

^{page 141 note 52} Robert Aston, rector of Mucklestone; see item 180.

^{page 142 note 53} Alban Langdale. Appointed prebendary of Lichfield in 1559; he was chancellor of Lichfield Cathedral in 1559–60; he was never, as Landor (Staffordshire Incumbents, p. 367Google Scholar) implies, chancellor of the diocese; see also P.R.O., S.P. Dom. Eliz. Add. xi, no. 45 (according to Gee, Elizabethan Clergy, the report of the Commissioners of recusants, dated August 1562) for description of his obdurate recusancy.

^{page 142 note 54} The consistory place.

^{page 144 note a} Word preceded by figure 4, probably signifying the date.

^{page 144 note b} Word preceded by a figure 5, probably signifying the date.

^{page 144 note 55} Robert Weston. Born in Weeford, Staffs; he was the brother of the diocesan registrar, James Weston. He was chancellor of the diocese between 1560 and 1567, and in 1564 Bentham recommended him as a J.P. (Bateson, , Original Letters, p. 47Google Scholar). He was to be Lord Chancellor of Ireland from 1567 to 1573. Will proved in P.C.C., 18 July 1573. See Foster, , Alumni Oxonienses.Google Scholar

^{page 144 note 56} Birmingham. These two men are unidentified.

^{page 144 note 57} Thomas Lever, 1521–77, was archdeacon of Coventry from 1560 until death; he does not appear to have held another benefice in Coventry, but was preacher there before appointment as archdeacon, perhaps as minister of St John's, Bablake.

^{page 144 note 58} See item 31.

^{page 144 note 59} John Bavand, rector of Solihull, was deprived 1570.

^{page 144 note 60} See item 29.

^{page 145 note a} Word preceded by figure 8, probably signifying the date.

^{page 145 note 61} The exact relationship to Bentham is uncertain; perhaps he was Sir Ralph Egerton of Wrinehill, Betley, Staffs (d. 1596), whom Bentham recommended as J.P. in 1564; he was a J.P. in 1577; appointed commissioner-general of the diocese, 18 April 1561 (L.C.L., Dean & Chapter Act Book IV, fo. 28r).

^{page 145 note 62} James Weston, died 1589; son of John Weston of Lichfield and brother of Robert Weston (see item 28) and Katherine, who married into the Dyott family, he was diocesan registrar to death; will proved in P.C.C., 2 May 1589.

^{page 145 note 63} Non-graduates had to possess letters dimissory from their own diocesan if they wished to be ordained outside their native diocese or place of long dwelling (Royal Injunctions, 1559).

^{page 145 note 64} Concerning Hanbury.

^{page 145 note 65} Lawrence Nowell.

^{page 145 note 66} Seckington, Warwickshire.

^{page 145 note 67} Instituted to Seckington 5 Aug. 1560, on the death of the previous incumbent; he was presented by Thomas Burdett, armiger.

^{page 146 note 68} Thomas Riley, alderman of Coventry. See item 232.

^{page 146 note 69} Henry Comberford or Cumberford; lately precentor of Lichfield Cathedral and rector of Norbury, Derbs.; articles were brought against him by Lichfield bailiffs for ‘lewde preaching and misdemeanour’ in Feb. 1559 (Acts of the Privy Council, 1558–70, p. 64Google Scholar); he was deprived.

^{page 147 note 70} Later described as Bentham's brother-in-law (Item 81).

^{page 147 note 71} Bentham's wife, Maud Fawcon, came from Hadleigh, Suffolk.

^{page 147 note 72} Fenny Bentley, Derbyshire.

^{page 147 note 73} Tithes.

^{page 147 note 74} Clement Throckmorton of Haseley, Warwickshire; M.P. on several occasions, including for Warwick in 1562 and 1572. Fox (Acts and Monuments, vii, 18Google Scholar) describes his acceptance of Protestantism; he died in 1572.

^{page 147 note 75} Simon Harcourt.

^{page 147 note 76} George Blount.

^{page 147 note 77} See item 35.

^{page 148 note 78} There is a strong possibility that this was the man who acted as treasurer to the exiles; in view of the fact that Bentham was in Frankfurt at the same time as Chambers in 1557, and therefore had personal acquaintance with him, and that Chambers is known to have been active early in Elizabeth's reign, the identification is probably correct; he died in 1566.See The Zürich Letters, ed. and trans. Robinson, H. (Parker Soc., L—LI, Cambridge, 1842–1845), I, p. 148.Google Scholar

^{page 148 note 79} Ell = a cloth measure of 1¼ yards.

^{page 148 note 80} In 1560 Cave was both Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Joint Lieutenant of Warwickshire; in 1559 he was appointed Commissioner to visit the dioceses of Oxford, Lincoln, Lichfield and Peterborough with Bentham; he served as M.P. for Warwickshire in the parliaments of 1558, 1559 and 1562; he married a Warwickshire woman, Margaret Holte, and died in 1568. See D.N.B.

^{page 148 note 81} Wirksworth, Derbyshire. Valor Ecclesiasticus valued it at £58 10S. 8d; it had 470 households in 1563 and was one of the largest agglomerations of population in the archdeaconry; patron, dean of Lincoln; no external documentation of this case—record of caveats begins just too late, October 1560 (L.J.R.O., B/V/1/13).

^{page 148 note 82} Cave's suit was unsuccessful. The dean of Lincoln assigned the right of presentation to a relative, Richard Tayler of Lincoln, who presented John Hyron, 24 April 1560 (L.J.R.O., B/A/1/15). Richard Stonynought or Stannynawght had been presented to the small living of Croxall, Derbyshire, before 1559 and here he remained until his death in 1586. His patron was the Earl of Huntingdon; will proved, L.J.R.O., 14 May 1586. Evidence of Cave's patronage can be found in B.L., Lansdowne MS. 443, and in L.J.R.O., B/A/1/15: 30 May 1561.

^{page 149 note 83} This letter is badly damaged. The foot of the page is torn and the ink from the reverse side serves to obliterate much of the remaining text.

^{page 149 note 84} Sir Ralph Bagnold, M.P., son of John Bagnold of Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffs, had his estate at Barlaston, Staffs; he married Elizabeth Whitgreave; a former exile, he was named by Bentham in 1564 as a favourer of religion and fit to continue as a J.P. (Bateson, , Original Letters, p. 42Google Scholar). See L.J.R.O., B/C/5 (office case v. Henry Trickett 1598/9) for Bagnold's activities in the 1570s.

^{page 149 note 85} A form of citation was issued to the apparitor by the registrar: the apparitor was left to fill in the names of those to be cited. This method was open to abuse for the apparitor received fees for each citation. Canon CXX of 1604 rendered them illegal and required the registrar to enter all names on a citation before its delivery.

^{page 149 note 86} Probably John Fleetwood, esquire, of Colwich, Staffs.

^{page 149 note 87} Injunctions drawn up by Lever for his archidiaconal visitation.

^{page 150 note 88} John Mullins.

^{page 150 note 89} Unidentified, but see item 73.

^{page 150 note 90} William Latymer.

^{page 150 note 9l} Long Buckby, Northants.

^{page 150 note 92} Chedulton was official of the archdeaconry of Stafford in June 1558 (L.J.R.O., B/V/1/2, fo. 2); he was prebendary of Denstone in the Collegiate Church of St Mary, Stafford, c.1548; vicar of Worfield, 1545–62, when he was deprived; in Mary's reign, while acting as canon of Lichfield and Commissary, he was responsible for the deprivation of nine Derbyshire clergy for marriage (Strype, J., Ecclesiastical Memorials, iii, pt 1 (Oxford, 1822), pp. 168–9Google Scholar); he was made vicar of St Mary's, Stafford, in 1548. See Landor, , Staffordshire Incumbents, pp. 237, 240–1, 243, 375.Google Scholar

^{page 150 note 93} Richard Whittell was noted as receiving a pension of 20s. as vicar-choral there in 1548 (Landor, , Staffordshire Incumbents, p. 242).Google Scholar

^{page 150 note 94} Mansfeild was instituted to Boyleston on 28 Aug. 1560 on the death of the previous incumbent; he was presented by the bishop (L.J.R.O., B/A/1/15, fo. 31r).

^{page 150 note 95} Boyleston, Castellary deanery, Derby archdeaconry; a church with no chapels of ease and 31 households in 1563.

^{page 151 note 96} William Latymer.

^{page 151 note 97} The ordinary would appoint one or more sequestrators to seize the profits (tithes etc.) of the parish.

^{page 151 note 98} Long Buckby, Northants.

^{page 151 note 99} Sir Thomas Fitzherbert of Norbury, Lord Stafford, died in the Tower of London in 1591.

^{page 151 note 100} Apparently Bentham's first ordination. For an example of such a letter, see Guildhall, London, MS. 9535/1 (1550).

^{page 152 note 101} Resigned 1561/2 (L.J.R.O., B/A/1/15).

^{page 152 note 102} Uttoxeter vicarage, Leek deanery, archdeaconry of Stafford; with no chapel and 240 households in 1563.

^{page 152 note 103} This is possibly a reference to Bentham's court of audience. See the entry for 30 Sept. 1561 for the only known formal mention of the audience court in surviving Lichfield records (L.J.R.O., B/C/2/5).

^{page 152 note 104} See item 78.

^{page 152 note 105} It was the archdeacon's duty to examine candidates before ordination. See Oy'Day, M. R.: ‘Clerical Patronage and Recruitment in Elizabethan and Early Stuart England’ (unpublished Univ. of London Ph.D. thesis, 1972), pp. 24–6Google Scholar & passim.

^{page 152 note 106} 1561/2: John Fenton, vicar of Coleshill: died 1566 (L.J.R.O., B/V/1/5).

^{page 153 note a} Followed by the.

^{page 153 note 107} William Paget.

^{page 153 note 108} Richard Walker.

^{page 153 note 109} Presumably concerning the grant made to Paget, as one of Henry VIII's secretaries of State, in 1546 of Beaudesert & Haywood and various Staffordshire manors in exchange for several appropriations. See V.C.H. Staffs, iii, p. 52Google Scholar, n. 76.

^{page 153 note 110} Sir George Blount, of Knightley, ‘accounted of good men adversaries to religion & no favoureres thereof, nether in died nor woorde’ (Bateson, , Original Letters, p. 42).Google Scholar

^{page 154 note 111} Although noted as an adversary of religion, Bentham regarded him as one of the Staffordshire J.P.s who were ‘no favoureres of Religion but better learned than the rest’ (Bateson, , Original Letters, pp. 42–3).Google Scholar

^{page 155 note 112} ‘Georg Bramley of Worfeild, esquier’ is noted as ‘miet to continew in office’, and Bentham reports ‘I know the learning of none much reported, but of Justice Corbet, and George Bramley’ as Shropshire J.P.s (See Bateson, , Original Letters, P. 44).Google Scholar

^{page 155 note 113} Presumably the great court of the episcopal manor of Eccleshall.

^{page 156 note a} Text incomplete.

^{page 156 note 114} Probably a relative of the recipient of item 85. See also item 116.

^{page 156 note 115} See item 65.

^{page 157 note a} Followed by perfect, struck out.

^{page 157 note 116} See item 44.

^{page 157 note 117} Probably Ralph Lompe, instituted at Bradley rectory, 31 Oct. 1560, on the presentation of the dean of Lincoln.

^{page 157 note 118} See item 32.

^{page 157 note 119} Thomas Fisher, previously agent to the Duke of Somerset, or his son, Edward Fisher.

^{page 158 note 120} Bishop Sampson had surrendered Itchington, Warwickshire, with other land in fee farm to Thomas Fisher in 1546; a nominal rent charge of £50 was soon quashed. Bishop Baynes succeeded in negotiating an £82 10s. p.a. rent charge; Bentham's struggle to collect the same is an intermediate stage in the process which ended when Bishop Overton succeeded in obtaining parliamentary sanction for a rental of £83 p.a. from Edward Fisher. It appears, however, that the Queen exchanged two of the manors, Tachbrook and Itchington, with the bishop, proffering in return appropriate rectories. See Heal, F. M., ‘The Bishops and the Act of Exchange of 1559’, Historical Journal (xvii, 1974), 240Google Scholar. The exchange is referred to specifically in item 20 of this letter-book.

^{page 158 note 121} Chancellor or official of the archdeaconry of Leicester. See item 50.

^{page 158 note 122} Belgrave rectory, Leicestershire. The rectory had been leased for 30 years on 20 Nov. 1558 (L.J.R.O., CC. 124100, fo. 8r).

^{page 159 note a} Followed by most lovyngly and thankfully, struck out.

^{page 159 note 123} Brian Fowler of Sowe, esquire, one of the ‘no favoureres of Religion but better learned than the rest’ (Bateson, , Original Letters, pp. 42–3Google Scholar). His house was at Pendeford.

^{page 159 note 124} Bentham's steward at Hanbury.

^{page 160 note a} Word repeated.

^{page 160 note b} Followed by money, struck out.

^{page 160 note c} Followed by meats, struck out.

^{page 160 note 125} Rental for this property in the 1580s amounted to £57 3s. 1d (L.J.R.O., CC. 124100, fo. 5r).

^{page 161 note 126} Possibly the collegiate church of St Mary, Stafford, which was originally a royal peculiar. In 1550 the assets of this deanery passed to Henry, Lord Stafford, who passed them on to a London merchant. The jurisdiction lapsed to the bishop and was safeguarded in 1614 in the Borough Charter but, even at this late date, there were suggested attempts to revive the exempt jurisdiction (V.C.H. Staffs, viii, p. 308).Google Scholar

^{page 161 note 127} Bedulfe. See item 57a.

^{page 161 note 128} Anne Egerton was possibly the sister of Bentham's own wife, Maud or Matilda Fawcon of Hadleigh, Suffolk (C. Martin, , Les Protestants anglais réfugiés à Genève au temps de Calvin, 1555–60 (Geneva, 1915), p. 337).Google Scholar

^{page 162 note 129} This met with no success; Fox had to wait for preferment until 1564 when he was instituted to Baxterley rectory, Warwickshire, on presentation by a.relative of the deceased incumbent (L.J.R.O., B/A/1/15).

^{page 162 note 130} Curdworth (Valor Ecclesiasticus, £5) had 56 households in 1563.

^{page 162 note 131} Fifteenth Sunday after Trinity.

^{page 162 note 132} Unidentified; see items 39, 111 and 119.

^{page 163 note 133} Edmund Grindal.

^{page 163 note 134} Anne Warcup befriended John Jewel, in flight from Oxford, in 1554 (Strype, J., Ecclesiastical Memorials, iii, pt 1 (Oxford, 1822), p. 227Google Scholar) and Lawrence Humphrey when he was sequestered for nonconformity in 1565 (Strype, J., The Life and Acts of Matthew Parker, I (1711), p. 368Google Scholar); her son, Cuthbert, was a strong supporter of Richard Chambers in Frankfurt (Garrett, , Marian Exiles, p. 321Google Scholar); will proved, under Cuthbert Warcuppe, in P.C.C., 1559, 44 Chayney.

^{page 164 note 135} Very probably Richard Goodrich who died in 1562; he was apparently in the Lord Keeper's household and a near relative of the late bishop of Ely (Diary of Henry Machyn, ed. G. J. Nichols (Camden Soc., 1848), pp. 283, 390Google Scholar; B.L., Lansdowne MS. 443, fo. 92r).

^{page 165 note a} Word interlined.

^{page 165 note 136} Robert Nowell.

^{page 165 note 137} sir Thomas Gresley of Castle Gresley, Colton and Drakelowe, Derbyshire.

^{page 165 note 138} Techoo had been deprived, for marrying, under Mary (B.L., Harl. MS. 421, fo. 59r): he was apparently reinstated at Elizabeth's accession. See also items 101 and 102.

^{page 166 note 139} 9 Dec. 1561: George Torperley against Roger and Anna Sprisco for his church pew (L.J.R.O., B/C/2/5).

^{page 166 note 140} He appears as surrogate and commissary of the court in a metropolitical visitation, 1560 (L.J.R.O., B/V/1/4); for his career summary, see Foster, , Alumni OxoniensesGoogle Scholar and P.R.O., S.P. Dom. Eliz. xxxvi, 41 & 42.

^{page 167 note a} Followed by vicarag, struck out.

^{page 167 note 141} Swarkestone rectory, Derbyshire.

^{page 167 note 142} North Wingfield, Derbyshire.The patron was Mr Langford (L.J.R.O., B/V/1/2). It had 68 households in 1563.

^{page 167 note 143} Unidentified except as incumbent of North Wingfield, which he seems to have vacated in 1564/5 for Longford (P.R.O., E.331 C. & L. (Q) 4).

^{page 167 note 144} Livings left vacant for six months were said to be in lapse, the right of the presentation pro hac vice passing to the diocesan, unless it were a crown living.

^{page 167 note 145} Born in Lichfield c. 1501, he was archdeacon of Stafford 1547–67; will proved in P.C.C., 11 Nov. 1567.See items 3 and 23, and Venn, Alumni Cantabrigienses.

^{page 168 note 146} Exiled in Emden since 1554 (Garrett, Marian Exiles).

^{page 168 note 147} Cuthbert Hughes, of Yorkshire, arrived in exile in Zürich with Thomas Lever on 10 Mar. 1554; Bentham arrived in April; Hughes attended Basel university late in 1554 and 1555; Bentham was a student there in 1555.

^{page 168 note 148} Royal Injunctions, 1559.

^{page 169 note 149} See item 89. There is a possible reference in Bateson (Original Letters, p. 45Google Scholar): ‘George Leigh, now bailif’ of ‘the toun of Salop’ who is one of the ‘aldermen & counselleres of the toun miet to bear office & miet to be called to office’.

^{page 169 note 150} Kirk Ireton, Derbyshire.

^{page 169 note 151} 1518–96. Fellow of Magdalen College, Oxford; he went into exile in France; chancellor of Lichfield cathedral in 1560; archdeacon of Stafford in 1567; bishop of Chichester, 1585/6–96.

^{page 169 note 152} Vicar of Worfield 1545–62, when he was deprived; prebendary of Denstone; prebendary of Pipa Parva, 1552–60, deprived; vicar of St Mary's Stafford, 1548–?60, deprived; L.J.R.O., B/V/1/2 gives him as official of the Stafford archdeaconry in 1558.

^{page 170 note 153} Ling, a fish of the cod family.

^{page 170 note 154} A dean and chapter peculiar jurisdiction.

^{page 170 note 155} R. Forsett signed letter to Nicholas Bacon on Hanbury, on Bentham's behalf (P.R.O., 0/3/13/63).

^{page 171 note 156} Thomas Cragge, alias Underwood, was made bailiff of Eccleshall for his natural life on 19 Jan. 1559 (L.C.L., Dean & Chapter Act Book IV, fo. 161v).

^{page 171 note 157} The bishop's collector, Thomas Bolt.

^{page 172 note 158} Mucklestone, Staffs.

^{page 172 note 159} Richard Brasey; see item 66.

^{page 173 note 160} Towcester rectory, Northants.

^{page 173 note 161} Thomas Sampson, an exile. See Garrett, Marian Exiles.

^{page 174 note a} Word repeated.

^{page 174 note 162} John Mullins, fellow of Magdalen College, Oxford, was deprived with Bentham and escaped to exile in Zürich with him; he was appointed archdeacon of London in December 1559.

^{page 175 note 163} Andrew Corbet, of Moreton Corbet, is knowno have been a puritan.

^{page 175 note 164} See item 106.

^{page 176 note 165} Instituted to Northwingfield rectory, Derbyshire, on 28 Dec. 1560. (P.R.O., Bishops' Certificates, E. 331 C. & L. (2) 4).

^{page 177 note 166} Alrewas, Staffs; a prebend.

^{page 177 note 167} Presumably item 112.

^{page 178 note a} Followed by eke, struck out.

^{page 178 note 168} Let in 37 Henry VIII (1546) for 99 years (L.J.R.O., CC. 124100).

^{page 178 note 169} Whitchurch, Shropshire.

^{page 179 note 170} A case brought against the bishop in the court of Common Pleas for rejecting the patron's presentee to a living.

^{page 179 note 171} Longford rectory, Derbyshire; possibly the occasion of the quare impedit mentioned in item 136.

^{page 181 note 172} Metropolitical visitation.

^{page 181 note 173} Sawley, Derbyshire, an episcopal manor.

^{page 182 note 174} Vicar 1556–86.

^{page 182 note 175} A chapel in 1563, otherwise unrecorded.

^{page 182 note 176} Upton Magna vicarage, Shropshire.

^{page 182 note 177} Robert Morris.

^{page 184 note 178} Robert Cole, rector of St Mary-le-Bow, 1559–76, and All Hallows, Bread St, 1569–76; M.A. Cantab. 1550; an exile and purveyor of heretical books who acted as go-between between fugitive London congregation and the exiles; model of conformity in Elizabeth's reign; will proved in P.C.C., 1576, 7 Daughtry. See Garrett, , Marian Exiles.Google Scholar

^{page 186 note 179} This is a draft of the previous item; there is no indication of which version was sent.

^{page 187 note 180} ‘Rafe Adderley of the Holt’. In 1564 Bentham considered him an adversary of religion but among the more learned J.P.s in Staffs (Bateson, , Original Letters, pp. 42–3).Google Scholar

^{page 187 note 181} See item 47.

^{page 187 note 182} In the sense of ‘let’.

^{page 188 note 183} John Gifford of Chillington, Staffs.

^{page 190 note a} Word interlined.

^{page 190 note b} Two words interlined.

^{page 190 note c} The second figure of the date is lost in the binding.

^{page 190 note 184} See item 133.

^{page 191 note 185} Presentation is the process whereby a patron offers a cleric to the bishop or ordinary for institution to a living; collation is the act by which the bishop admits and institutes a clerk to a living in the bishop's own gift, or to one where he has the right of patronage pro hac vice, in which case there is no presentation.

^{page 191 note 186} The presentee was normally required to enter into a bond guaranteeing resignation should the right of patronage be proved to lie elsewhere than in his patron; the bond also provided the bishop with indemnity should the title be disproved.

^{page 192 note 187} See item 122.

^{page 192 note 188} William Walkeden, rector of Clifton Campville, Staffs, 1558–?1607. He was also prebendary of Whittington. Noted in 1593 as ‘scholaris ruralis et praedictor publicus’.

^{page 193 note 189} Sir Edward Aston of Tixall. In 1564 advisers regarded him as one of a ‘knot hurtfull to Justice & great Mainteineres’ (Bateson, , Original Letters, p. 42Google Scholar). He died in 1568.

^{page 194 note 190} Sir. William Gresley of Colton, who, in 1564, was seen as one of a ‘knot hurtfull to Justice & great Mainteineres’ (Bateson, , Original Letters, p. 42).Google Scholar

^{page 195 note a} The pagination goes directly from fo.75 to fo.77, as fo. 76 is blank.

^{page 195 note 191} See items 133 and 167.

^{page 195 note 192} See item 33.

^{page 198 note 193} Rector of Mucklestone, Staffs, 1546–53, deprived; vicar of Sandon, Staffs, 1530–53, deprived; restored to both c. 1560: until death in 1577. Made prebendary of Freeford, 1561–76; no record of university career; origins unknown. Not to be confused with vicar of Alstonefield and rector of Stanton who died 1604.

^{page 201 note 194} William Manley, rector of Hamstall Ridware.

^{page 202 note 195} Principal of Magdalen Hall, 1558–70. See Foster, Alumni Oxonienses.

^{page 202 note 196} Sherburn, Yorkshire.

^{page 205 note a} Followed by iiid., struck out.

^{page 205 note b} Word interlined.

^{page 205 note 197} Rec' has been transcribed as receiver. For Fisher, see item 189.

^{page 207 note 198} Hulton.

^{page 207 note 199} The heading in the letter-book reads ‘To Mr Williamson or the fermor of the parsonage of Densford.…’

^{page 207 note 200} En route from London to Eccleshall.

^{page 208 note a} Followed by a word struck out.

^{page 208 note b} Word repeated.

^{page 208 note 201} Wybunbury, Cheshire.

^{page 208 note 202} Curate of Stone, 1548–53 and again 1559 until death in 1578; 1553–59 vicar of Sandon.

^{page 209 note 203} The document is torn at this point.

^{page 210 note 204} Thomas Ashton or Aston. First headmaster of Shrewsbury; others considered him its virtual founder (Camden, , Britannia, trans. Gough, R. (3 vols, London, 1789), ii, 399Google Scholar). See also B.L., Add. MS. 29,546, fo. 52r, and Fisher, G. W., Annals of Shrewsbury School (London, 1899)Google Scholar. The Thomas Ashton deprived under Mary for failure to take orders does not appear to be the same (Frere, W. H., The Marian Reaction (London, 1896), p. 108Google Scholar). See D.N.B., and Venn, , Alumni Cantabrigienses.Google Scholar

^{page 210 note 205} A charter was granted by Edward VI, on 10 Feb. 1552, in response to petition from bailiffs, burgesses and inhabitants (Corporation Minutes; Taylor MSS., Shrewsbury School Library). The first master was one Mr Morrys in 1551. The school flourished greatly under Ashton's control. This letter provides the only known reference to the school between October 1556 and 21 June 1561.

^{page 211 note 206} Bentham comments on items 3 and 4 of the Interpretations of the Bishops which were ratified in April 1561; these items elaborated on nos. 16 and 19 of the Royal Injunctions of 1559 (Kennedy, W. M., The Interpretations of the BishopsGoogle Scholar, Alcuin Club Tracts, viii, 1908, pp. 29–30).

^{page 211 note 207} Le Neve contends that Lawrence Nowell was archdeacon of Derby, 1558–76, but there is considerable evidence that Walker held both Stafford and Derby in plurality until his death in 1567 (B.L., Harl. MS. 594, fo. 173; Letter-Book,item 23). However, Nowell was probably reappointed on Walker's death. Luke Gilpin was collated to the archdeaconry of Derby on the death of Nowell in 1577 (L.J.R.O., B/A/1/15).

^{page 212 note 208} See item 64.

^{page 212 note 209} Nominated 11 Nov. 1560; consecrated 16 Feb. 1561; translated to Norwich 15 Jan. 1585.

^{page 213 note 210} Mr Playfere.

^{page 214 note 211} Robert Weston, chancellor, from Canterbury.

^{page 214 note 212} William Manley, rector of Hamstall Ridware, Staffs, from 18 Dec. 1558 until 1561, when he was deprived. He hadbeen presented by the recusant Fitzherbert family.

^{page 215 note 213} Towcester vicarage, diocese of Peterborough. Bentham continued to augment his impropriate rectories outside the diocese; on 20 Feb. 1571 a grant was made to the vicars of Pytchley, Long Buckby and Towcester of £10, £10 and £13 respectively (Northants Record Office, Peterborough Ordination Book).

^{page 215 note 214} See items 205 and 206.

^{page 216 note 215} C.P.R., 1547–1548, PP. 179–80.Google Scholar

^{page 217 note 216} Notes ‘of remembraunce’ intended for Playfere.

^{page 217 note 217} Pytchley, Northants, did not fall vacant until 1563 when it was let for twenty-one years.

^{page 218 note 218} ? William Whittingham, 1524–79. Exiled in Frankfurt 1554; elder of church in Geneva 1555; chaplain to the Earl of Warwick 1561; dean of Durham 1563–79.

^{page 218 note 219} Baswich and Longdon.

^{page 218 note 220} Beaudesert, Staffs.

^{page 219 note 221} B.A. of Bentham's old college, Magdalen, Oxford; ordained deacon at London, aged 34, 25 Jan. 1560; priest 25 April 1560; appointed Bentham's personal chaplain; instituted to Norbury rectory, Staffs, in 1561 on the deprivation of Henry Cumberford, and to Longford rectory, Derbyshire, on the removal of John Ramridge, late archdeacon of Derby, in July 1560, on collation by the bishop.

^{page 220 note 222} See item 190. Cumberford had lately been precentor of Lichfield Cathedral as well as rector of Norbury, and had been reported to the Privy Council by the bailiffs and burgesses of Lichfield for ‘lewde preaching and misdemeanour’ in Feb. 1559 (Acts of the Privy Council, 1558–70, pp. 60, 64, 71, 87).Google Scholar

^{page 220 note 223} Such a citation need not be delivered in person but could be publicly displayed—normally on the door of the parish church.

^{page 221 note a} to be payd repeated.

^{page 221 note 224} He was pressing a suit against Bentham in Star Chamber.

^{page 222 note a} Followed by yer, struck out.

^{page 222 note b} Word interlined, with caret.

^{page 222 note 225} Trentham, Staffs.

^{page 224 note 226} For the confirmation of the lease of Hanbury rectory to William Pope, see L.C.L., Dean & Chapter Act Book IV, fo. 155v.

^{page 225 note 227} Hugo Symons: originally instituted to St Michael's vicarage, Coventry, 17 March 1551 (on vacation by John Ramridge, archdeacon of Derby); he was deprived in 1553 (L.J.R.O., B/A/1/14ii). Symons died in 1577.

^{page 226 note 228} See item 58.

^{page 226 note 229} Thomas Stoneinge of Nuneaton.

^{page 227 note a} by reason repeated.

^{page 227 note 230} A somewhat strange statement in view of Lever's position as archdeacon of Coventry and minister of St John's, Bablake.

^{page 227 note 231} Coventry had a population of perhaps 2,200 in 1563 (Harl. MS. 594); the parish of St Michael was larger than that of Holy Trinity—503: 49 households.

^{page 227 note 232} Holy Trinity was vacant.

^{page 227 note 233} The living was not valued in the same form in the Valor Ecclesiasticus, St Michael's being the church of the Priory of Coventry and also the cathedral church. So far, no post-reformation particulars of the assessed income of the living, now a crown impropriation, have been forthcoming, but P.R.O., E.331, Institutions Books, MS. Index Ser. A. vol. 4 (entry regarding institution of William Panting to St Michael's on 22 May 1633) indicates that the assessment was reviewed in the vicar's favour: ‘refor’ in 2 et 3 Eliz. per Annum 26^li 15s. 4d', presumably as a result of this appeal by Bentham.

^{page 228 note a} Followed by in consideration whereoff, and for that also there ys, struck out.

^{page 228 note b} Followed by day.

^{page 228 note 234} See item 224.

^{page 230 note 235} Bentham apparently used Hanbury as his summer residence.

^{page 231 note a} Followed byorders, struck out.

^{page 231 note 236} See item 238.

^{page 231 note 237} Bristol.

^{page 231 note 238} James Weston, registrar.

^{page 231 note 239} Thomas Stoneinge. On 5 May 1561 Stoneinge was instituted to Nuneaton vicarage, Warwickshire, presented by the Queen (L.J.R.O., B/A/1/15).

^{page 231 note 240} In future presentees to benefices were to be examined by either the bishop or the dean in person. For a similar case of simony, see the deposition of Katherine Dyott, Weston's sister, in a case against Henry Trickett, vicar of Doveridge, Derbyshire, in 1598/9 (L.J.R.O., B/C/5).

^{page 232 note 241} Robert Aston, rector of Mucklestone, Staffs.

^{page 232 note 242} Knowle, Warwickshire.

^{page 233 note 243} Bushbury, Staffs.

^{page 234 note 244} Brailsford, Derbyshire.

^{page 235 note a} Followed by un, struck out.

^{page 235 note 245} Robert Aston.

^{page 236 note a} Followed by of, struck out.

^{page 236 note 246} John Scory, Bishop of Hereford, 1559–85.

Article contents

III The Letter-Book of Thomas Bentham, Bishop of Coventry and Lichfield

Extract

Access options

References

This article has been cited by the following publications. This list is generated based on data provided by Crossref.

Article contents

III The Letter-Book of Thomas Bentham, Bishop of Coventry and Lichfield

Extract

Access options

References

Save article to Kindle

Save article to Dropbox

Save article to Google Drive

Reply to: Submit a response

Your details

You have entered the maximum number of contributors

Conflicting interests