of the bishopric: though, as it should seem, without consecration. He had, says Godwin, at that time other spiritual preferment equivalent to the revenue of the Archbishop of Canterbury, (non constat) in order to keep which, and yet receive the income of Winton, he determined not to be consecrated at all, but to hold it by his election only, which it appears he did nine years.

M. Paris records, that the Bishop conducted himself with much severity towards the Monks. Once he shut them up for three whole days in the Church without food, which caused them to exclaim, It is with justice we suffer this, because fearing the wrath of man more than of God, we raised this unworthy youth to the powerwhich he so much abuses! But in all probability the Bishop found himself obliged to resort to severe measures to keep in order such untractable beings.

The Prior, William of Taunton, repaired to Rome to accuse the Bishop, particularly for turning him out of his office, and substituting Andrew of London. Annales. Wint, and M. Paris. The Prior prevailed; and in an assembly of the nobility, held at Winchester, Ethelmar and three of his brothers, who had all conducted themselves with perhaps too high a hand, and being foreigners, had excited the jealousy of an English faction, were sent into banishment. Ann. Wint. A. D. 1258, and Pat. 42 Henry III. m. 15. Certain nobles were appointed for the safe conduct of Audomar, Bishop elect of Winton, viz: Guido of Lusignan, Geoffry of Lusignan, and William of Valencia, brothers of the King, to Dover, and thence to parts beyond the sea,' in 1258. Letters were also dispatched to the Pope praying him to remove the Bishop from the administration of the diocese, because he had troubled it many years, and protesting that the writers would not receive him if he designed returning to England.-Rymer's Fœdera, vol. I. p. 660.

In consequence of Ethelmar's non-consecration, the Monks were permitted to proceed to a new election. The King overawed probably by the party formed against his brothers, did not oppose the course adopted. The Bishop went abroad in 1258, and Henry Wengham the Chancellor was elected, but he alleging as an excuse his want of learning, very honorably refused to accept of the bishopric under such circumstances, and was soon after made Bishop of London, Meanwhile in 1260, Ethelmar

succeeded in procuring his consecration at Rome: which fact, M. Westminster thus distinctly states: (though Godwin raises a doubt respecting it.)-Ethelmarus, Winton electus, cum per tres ferme annos in Curia Romana stetisset, tandem Papali obtentâ benedictione, ab eodem, ut dicitur, in Episcopum consecratus." The author of the Chronicle of Osney states the same fact. "Anno 1260, ad festum ascensionis domini, Adomarus electus Wintoniensis frater Regis Henrici consecratus est in Episcopum a domino Papa Alexandro quarto, cassatis in curia Romana omnibus sibi objectis a Baronibus Angliæ et Monachis Winton, cum magno apparatu Angliam adire disponebat, præmisso D. Vincentio Turonensi Archiepiscopo et sedis Apostolico Legato eum plenâ potestate totam Angliam interdicto subjicere, nisi eum pacifice terram intrare et Episcopatum Wintoniensem plenius sinerent obtinere." The King's and the Bishop's triumph therefore was complete. The Bishop was on the point of returning to resume his bishopric, when his death took place at Paris. He was buried (M. Wesmt. p. 377) in the Church of St. Genevieve; his heart being, according to his own desire, conveyed to Winton Cathedral, where a monument in the south wall of the choir is to be seen with this inscription:

Obiit A. D. 1261,

Corpus Ethelmari (cujus cor nunc tenet istud
Saxum) Parisiis morte datur tumulo.

The Annal. Wint. say, 'Obiit in vigilia St. Nicholai sc. pridie nonas Decembris 1260.'

Rudborne gives a different account from Westminster of the burial of Ethelmar. But the former is often very erroneous. "Audomarus frater Henrici III. qui sedem occupavit annis 12 (only 11) cujus corpus ad aquilonarem plagam altaris reconditum est."-Hist. Maj. Wint. Ang. Sac.

The Bishop was an executor of the will of King Henry III. Test. Vetust. vol. I. p. 7.

IX. JOHN GERVASE,

(Called also JOHN of OXFORD, of EXON, and of GUERNSEY.)

SUCCEEDED A. D. 1262.-DIED A. D. 1267-8.

Not

Godwin erroneously places this Prelate's succession at 1265, (edit. 1615, p. 230) which would have left the See vacant four years. He was appointed by papal provision in 1262, (M. Westm.) and consecrated at Rome, a little before the festival of St. Michael the same year; (Wharton ex fide Chron. Dovorensis) though Godwin says, on his own authority, that he was consecrated in 1265, a mistake which his editor Richardson has rectified at p. 221. He had been Chancellor of York. (M. Westm.) One of his first concerns in taking possession of his Bishopric, was to inflict punishment on Andrew of London, the Prior whom his predecessor Ethelmar had appointed in the room of William of Taunton. content with deposing him, he caused him to be confined at Hyde Abbey, from whence he effected his escape. (M. Westm.) Bishop Godwin relates a circumstance of this prelate, only however on an on dit, respecting which Bishop Milner has observed a profound silence, viz. his payment of 6000 marks to the Pope for his consecration, and a like sum to Jordan, the Pope's Chancellor. Bishop Gervase taking part with the barons then in arms against the king, was on this account deservedly suspended by Ottobone, the Pope's legate. This occasioned him to take a journey to Rome, where he died at the papal court, Jan. 20, 1267 or 8, (Annal. Waverl. Wint. and Wigorn.) and was buried at Viterbo. (Annal. Wint.) Westminster says 1265. Godwin (edit 1615) says 1261, which is four years before the time at which he has fixed his succession. If the events and dates were transposed, he would be nearer the truth. He sat six years, says the Chron. Dovor. and Rudborne. His death is also fixed as above by Leland, Collect. II. 341, who calls him "De Exonia.'

X. NICHOLAS OF ELY.

SUCCEEDED A. D. 1268.-DIED A. D. 1280.

Bishop Nicholas was appointed to Winton from Worcester, by papal provision, Feb. 24, 1267-8.

He had been Archdeacon of Ely, whence his name, and was appointed Lord Chancellor in 1260, and again in 1263. Godwin says he had been Lord High Treasurer 'about 1260.' He occurs Treasurer from 1263, while Archdeacon of Ely, to 1266, having been so constituted, as it would appear, a second time Dec. 18, 1263. Pat. 47 H. III. m. 1. See Catalogue of Chancellors appended to Dugdale, p. 12. Chron. Series.

On the 19th. Sept. 1266, he was first elevated to the purple as Bishop of Worcester, where he sat scarcely a year. Godwin says, p. 222, fol. edit. int. Epōs Wint. "anno vix integro," & inter Wigornienses, p. 461, he erroneously fixes his consecration to Worcester at 1268, thus contradicting himself, but it should have been 1266.

He was translated from Worcester hither by papal provision, Feb. 24, 1267, scilicet, anno exeunte, and was confirmed by the papal legate April 23, 1268, sc. anno ineunte, being inthroned at Winton May 27, 1268.

He was one of the twelve appointed by the King and Nobles at Kenilworth to settle the peace of the kingdom.

The Cistercian Abbey of Waverly near Farnham, which we have already noticed, found in Bishop Nicholas a friend and benefactor, and the church being in his prelacy rebuilt, he performed the dedication of it in 1278 with great solemnity, and entertained entirely at his own cost, the numerous company that resorted to it during the octave of that festivity. On the day of dedication the number of guests, among whom were many persons of distinction, consisted of between 7 and 8000. (Annal Wigom.)

The Bishop sat here twelve years and died "circa natale Domini 1279," MS. Wood. "Ob. 12 February," Annal: Waverl: and Wigorn. He was living July 26, 1269. See Pat. 7. E. 1. m. 11. and his bishopric was vacant February 15, 1270. Pat. 8. E. 1. m. 28. Therefore his death is easily fixed within those seven months.

According to his own desire his body was buried in the

Church at Waverly and his heart deposited in his Cathedral in the south side of the presbytery, with this inscription: "Intus est cor Nicholai Episcopi cujus corpus est apud Waverly."

This Bishop is commemorated says Richardson, among the benefactors of Cambridge. He gave by will 60 marks for the re-building the tower of Worcester Cathedral. Green's Worcest. I. 187. Rudborne calls him, "hujus Ecclesia (Wint.) specialis Patronus."-Hist. Maj. Wint.

XI. JOHN SAWBRIDGE,* alias PONTISERRA, or PONTYS.

SUCCEEDED A. D. 1282.-DIED A. D. 1304.

After the death of Bishop Nicholas in 1280, licence for election was granted Feb. 18, (Pat. 8. Edward I. m. 23:) whereupon the Monks of the Cathedral gave their votes in favor of Robert Burnel, Bishop of Bath, but Archbishop Peckham successfully opposed his appointment at Rome, on the ground of his being a pluralist.(Wharton's Ang. Sac. vol. 1. p. 315.) The Monks then chose, Nov. 6, 1280, (Annal. Wigorn.) Richard de la More S.T.P. Archdeacon of Winton and Sub-dean of Lincoln, (H.Wharton. Ang. Sac. I.) who was accordingly admitted by the King to the possession of his temporalties; but when the election was notified to Archbishop Peckham, he positively refused to confirm it on the same ground as before, alleging the Canon lately enacted in the council of Lyons ("virtute canonis a concilio Lugdunensi anno 1271, lati." id.) against pluralists, in which situation the elect stood. (Ăng. Sac. ut sup.) Richard went in person to Rome the following year to prosecute his appeal, and to obtain a dispensation from the aforesaid impediment. On the other hand, the Archbishop sent letters to the same place, in which, among other things,

This Prelate's real name, Anglice, was doubtless as I have put it. Sawbridge has been latinized by Pons, a bridge and Serra, a saw. Perhaps the most absurd of these latinized English names is that of Andrew Borde, which as Granger somewhere says, was transformed into Andreas Perforatus.