I say, if any should follow this humor of Jovius, yet shall he not thereby put me into the humor of Aretine, that answeared him. For I reverence all their places, and manie of their persons. I know how high their calling is, that may say, pro Christo legatione fungimur: I know that next to kings, bishops are most sacred persons, and as it were Gods on earth; howbeit, also, some of them have the imperfections of men, and those not prejudicial to the acts of their office. For my part, I would I could speak much good of all, and no ill of any; and say (for mine excuse) I do not know them.

Accordinglie of the bishoprick and bishop of Exeter, I can say but little, namely, that it is since bishop Harmans+ tyme (as my author noted, pag. 337,) reduced to a good mediocritie, from one of the best bishopricks of England; so as now it is rather worthie of pittie then envy, having but two mannors left of 22. And I will add thus much to your Highnes,

Bp. Harman, alias Veysey, died in 1555. His immediate successors in the see of Exeter, were Miles Coverdale, James Turvervile, William Atley, William Bradbridge, John Woolton, and Gervase Babington.

that as in publique respect I wish and hope you will favour all bishops, so, in a private respect, your Highnesse should specially favor this bishop, in whose diocess your duchie of Cornwall, and your stanneries are; so the duke may uphold the bishop, and the reverent bishop may bless the duke.

OF [THE

BISHOP OF NORWICH.

DOCTOR GEGON.S

CONCERNING Norwich, whether it be the praise of the bishops, or the people, or both, I know not; or whether I have here a partiall relation; but by that I have heard, I should judge this city to be another Utopia. The people live all so orderly, the streets kept so cleanly, the trades-men, younge and old, so industrious; the better sort so provident, and withall so charitable; that it is as rare to meete a begger there, as it is common to see them in Westminster. For the 4 bishops that were in Queene Elsabeth's tyme, I know nothing in perticular, but that they livd as bishops should do, sine

5 Or Jegon, preferred from the deanery to the bishoprick of Norwich, in 1602. Ob. 1617.

"Bishops Parkhurst, Freke, Scambler, and Redman.

querela, and were not warriors, like bishop Spencer," their predecessor, in Henry the fourth his tyme; nor had such store of gold and silver as he had, that could levie an armie. But for the present bishop, I knew him but four yeeres since vicechancelor of Cambridge; and I am sure he had as good Latin as any of his predecessors had, and [was] accounted there a verie perfect divine; in both which respects, he is to be thought verie fitt for that place, being a maritine town, and much frequented with straungers; very devoutly given in religion, and perhaps understand Latine as well as Englishe.

Henry Spencer, surnamed the warlike, attained the mitre of Norwich in 1370.

[OF THE

BISHOPS OF] WORCESTER.

DOCTOR GERVASE BABINGTON.'

WORCESTER hath been fortunate in this last age to manie excellent bishops; of which but two in 100 yeares have died bishops thereof, the rest having bene removed. Also, in less then 14 yeare, it had one bishop became pope, another that was a protestant, namely, Clement the Seventh, and Hugh Latimer. Of the seaven therefore that were in Queene Elizabeth's tyme, I shall in this place speake but of one, and that is he now lyving, who by birth is a gentleman of a verie good house; for learning inferior to few of his ranke. He was somtime chaplen to the late Earle of Pembroke, whose noble Coun

"Translated from Landaff to Exeter in 1594, and to Worcester in 1597. Ob. 1610. Æt. 60. His works were printed in 1615 and 1637.