far off, he determined to make unto himself friends of the unrighteous mammon, bestowing well his goods while he lived. And first, he purposed to have built a Monastery, until, that conferring with Hugh Oldham, Bishop of Oxon, a very wise man, he was advised by him rather to bestow his money upon the foundation of some College in one of the Universities, which should be more profitable unto the commonwealth, and more available to the preservation of his memory. As for Monasteries, quoth he, they have more already than they are like long to keep. So by the counsel of this wise Prelate, whose purse also was a great help to the finishing thereof, the College of Corpus Christi in Oxford, was built A.D. 1516, and endowed by the said founder with possessions to the yearly value of £401. 8s. 11d. Afterward, in the year 1522, he bestowed the cost of building a fair free-school by the castle in Taunton, (where the Bishop of Winton has a goodly lordship), and convenient housing near it for the school-master to dwell in; the like he performed at Grantham also in which place it is probable he might have been born; lastly it is to be remembered that he covered the choir of Winton, the presbytery and aisles adjoining with a goodly vault, and new glazed all the windows of that part of the church. It is said also that he built the partition between the presbytery and the said aisle, causing the bones of such Princes and Prelates as had been buried here and there, dispersed about the church, to be removed and placed in seemly monuments upon the top of the new partition. Many other notable things no doubt he did, which have not come unto my knowledge. He was brought up in Pembroke Hall, Cambridge, (unto which house he gave certain hangings); and died a very old man A.D. 1528, [Sept. 14, Richardson] when he had worthily governed the Church of Winton 27 years. He lieth intombed upon the south side of the high altar, in a monument rather sumptuous than stately, of the same building with the partition."

Richardson in his notes to the Latin edition of 1743, [int. Epos. Wint.] p. 235, adds that the Bishop was Master of Pembroke Hall a little before 8th of the ides of Aug. 1507, while Bishop of Winton. He resigned the headship in May 1519. He was Chancellor of Cambridge for 2 years, viz. in 1500 and 1501. He had the

Winton temporalties restored Oct. 17, 1500. Pat. 16 Henry VII. p. 2, m. 13. The Bishop, adds Richardson, was remarkable for 3 things. I. He recommended to King Henry his marrying his brother's widow. II. He contended with other Bishops concerning the prerogative of Canterbury, against Archbishop Warham, and to the prejudice of the See. III. When about to take his farewell of the court, he recommended Wolsey, his chaplain, afterwards Bishop, Archbishop, and Cardinal; and Wm. Paulet, steward of the estates belonging to the See of Winton, afterwards lord high treasurer, and first Marquess of Winchester, &c. [The present Marquess is 8th in descent from this William, the first peer brought into notice by Bishop Fox.-EDIT.]

Wharton (Ang. Sac. 1. 319,) observes, "De Ricardo Foxo a sede Dunelmensi ad Wintoniensem post Langtoni obitum translato rebusque ab illo Wintonia gestis nil habeo quod adjiciam Godvinì dictis, nisi quod anno 1528, 14th Sept, obierit.

That

He is thus noticed by Fuller, Worthies, vol. II. p. 11. edit. 1811" Richard Fox was born at Grantham, [Ropesley near] Lincolnshire, as the fellows of his foundation in Oxford have informed me. Such who make it their only argument to prove his birth at Grantham, because he therein erected a fair free school, may, on the same reason conclude him born at Taunton, in Somerset, where he also founded a goodly grammar-school. But what shall I say? Ubique nascitur qui orbi nascitur'; he may be said to be born every where, who, with Fox, was born for the public and general good. He was very instrumental in bringing King Henry VII. to the crown, who afterwards well rewarded him for the same. politic prince, (though he could go alone as well as any King in Europe yet) for the more state, in matters of moment, leaned principally on the shoulders of two prime Prelates, having Archbishop Morton for his right, and this Fox for his left supporter, whom at last he made Bishop of Winton. He was bred first in Cambridge [incorrect] where he was president of Pembroke-Hall, (and gave hangings thereunto with a For woven therein) and afterwards in Oxford. [Fuller is wrong in this; it was exactly vice versa. He was first of Oxford, afterwards of Cambridge,] where [at Oxford] he founded the fair college of C. C. (allowing per annum to it

£401. 8s. 11d.) which hath since been the nursery of so many eminent scholars. He expended much money in beautifying his Cathedral in Winton, and methodically disposed the bodies of the Saxon Kings and Bishops (dispersedly buried in this church) in decent tombs erected by him on the walls on each side the choir; which some soldiers (to shew their spleen at once against crowns and mitres) valiantly fighting against the dust of the dead, have since barbarously demolished. Twentyseven years he sat Bishop of this See, 'till he was stark blind with age. All thought him to die too soon: one only excepted, who conceived him to live too long, viz. Thomas Wolsey, who gaped for his Bishopric, and endeavoured to render him [obnoxious] to the displeasure of King Henry VIII., whose malice this Bishop, though blind, discovered, and in some measure defeated. He died A.D. 1528; and lies buried in his own Cathedral."

Tanner in his Notitia records, under Oxfordshire XXIII.9: "Corpus Christi College. Richard Fox, Bishop of Winton, in the year 1513 began a College, which he at first designed for student black monks, as a seminary to the Cathedral Priory of Winton, but was dissuaded from settling it so by Hugh Oldham, Bishop of Exon, who became a great benefactor to the buildings of this house, which was finished in the year 1516, and dedicated to the honour of the most holy body of Christ, of St. Peter, and St. Paul, St. Andrew, St. Cuthbert, and St. Swithun, the patron saints of his four Bishoprics, Exeter, Wells, Durham, and Winchester."

:

Here we may subjoin from Leland's Winchester Ecc. Cath Richardus Foxe, Epus Wint. fecit testitudines chori, templi et presbyterii, invitreavit omnes fenestras ejusdem partis templi, fecit particionem inter presbyterium et insulas abjacentes, in cacumine cujus posuit ossa principum & præsulum ibi sepultorum in novis sarcophagis."-Coll. 1. 116.

Sir Robert Atkyns in his Hist. Gloucestershire, under Guiting Temple, observes, that the manor was purchased by Dr. Richard Fox, Bishop of Winton, and by him given to Corpus Christi College, Oxon: the president and fellows of which are the present lords of the manor, and keep a court-leet, p. 449. The author takes the opportunity of extolling the character of the Bishop, and gives an outline of his career.

The following observations by Bishop Milner, as they refer to some circumstances not noticed by the foregoing authorities, must not be omitted:-" At length, either mortified at finding himself supplanted by Wolsey, whom he had introduced to the King's service, or else being desirous of consecrating the latter end of his life to the concerns of religion, certain it is, that he retired to his Cathedral city, [Harpsfield] and applied himself exclusively to this object. He was unbounded in his charities to the poor, whom he assisted with food, clothes, and money: at the same time exercising hospitality and promoting the trade of the city, by a large establishment which he kept up at Wolvesey of 220 servants, being all men. He was also indefatigable in preaching the word of God to his people, and in exciting his clergy to the performance of the same duty. The public works which he is known to have left behind him, suffice to prove the greatness both of his genius and his beneficence, The most celebrated of these is C. C. C. Oxford, which he built and founded, endowing it, not with ecclesiastical property, as had frequently been done in similar instances, but with estates which he purchased for this express purpose. Having finished this seminary, he industriously drew to it some of the most celebrated scholars of the age: such as Ludovicus Vivez, the divine; Nicholas Crucher, the mathematician; Clement Edwards and Nicholas Utten, professors of Greek; likewise, Thomas Lupset, Richard Pace, and Reginald Pole, who was afterwards Cardinal: [Harpsfield] men of the greatest distinction for learning and talents. He extended his charity and munificence to many other foundations, particularly within his own Diocese; amongst others, the enchanting ruins of Netley Abbey, still attest that he was a benefactor to that monastery. But the monuments which tend chiefly to embalm his memory in the city of Winton, are those great and beautiful works, both within its Cathedral and on the outside of it, which have hardly been equalled in their kind, and never surpassed.*

"During the last 10 years of his life it pleased the

Harpsfield and Godwin mention only Fox's decorations within the Church; yet, that he was the author of the outside work here ascribed to him, is evidently proved by his image and devices in various parts of it.

Almighty to deprive him of sight. Far however, from sinking under this trial or relaxing in his zealous efforts, the only use he made of this deprivation was to apply himself more assiduously to prayer and meditation, which at length became almost uninterrupted, both day and night. [Harpsfield.] In 1528 he finished his pious course; and was buried in that exquisite chantry which he had prepared amongst his other works for that purpose, immediately behind the high altar, on the south side."*

Portraits.-The portraits of the Bishop are thus noticed by Grainger: "Richardus Fox, episcopus Winton. Henrico septimo et octavo a secretioribus, et privati sigilli custos, Coll. Corp. Christi Oxon. Fundator, Ao. Dni. 1516. Johannes Corvus Flandrus faciebat; Vertue sc. 1723. In Fiddes's Life of Cardinal Wolsey."

He is represented blind, which calamity befel him at the latter end of his life. The original picture is at C. C. C. Oxon.

RICHARDUS Fox; Et. 70; G. Glover, sc. RICHARDUS Fox; Et. 70; Sturt. sc. RICHARDUS Fox; a small oval.-Another for Dr. Knight's "Life of Erasmus.” RICHARDUS Fox, &c. J. Faber f. large 4to. mezz. one of the set of founders.

This Prelate who was successively Bishop of Exeter, Bath and Wells, Durham and Winchester, was employed by Henry VII. in his most important negociations at home and abroad; and was in his last illness appointed one of his executors. He was also at the head of affairs in the beginning of this reign, Henry VIII.; but about the year 1515 retired from court, disgusted at the insolence of Wolsey, whom he had helped to raise. Ob. 14, Sept. 1528."-Biog. Hist. Eng. vol. i, p. 95.

Synopsis of Preferments:

Prebendary of Bishopston, Sarum Cathedral after 1473; resigned 1485.

Prebendary of South Grantham, in Sarum Cathed.

Vicar of Stepney.

Secretary to King Henry VII.

Prebendary of Brounswode.

Privy Councellor to Henry VII.

-1485.

The last quoted author who enlarges with so much unction on the merits of Bishop Fox, testifies that he was present at his funeral, being then a student in Winton College.