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The Cardinal upon obtaining this See, * quitted that of Durham, which was conferred on Dr. Tunstal,

formerly the Venta Belgarum of the Romans, is pleasantly feated in a Valley on the Banks of a River. The late learned Bifhop Tanner tells us, That the Monaftery there was founded by King Lucius, which is now the • Cathedral.'

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Formerly the Bishops of Winchefter had the Title of Earls of Southampton, and were fo ftiled in the new Statutes, of the Order of St. George, made by King Henry the VIIIth But that Honour was taken away by the fame Prince, for he created William Fitz-Williams Earl of Southampton, on the 18th of October, 1537.

The Cathedral befides the Bifhoprick has been highly esteemed, and the Bishoprick was of fo great Account for its large Privileges and Poffeffions, that King Stephen's Brother, when Bishop thereof, obtained a Faculty from the Pope to make it an Archbishoprick, and feven of the Suffragans of Canterbury were allotted thereunto; but this came to nothing. It is remarkable, that William de Edington, Bishop Anno 1343, and first Prelate of the Order of the Garter, being

elected into the See of Canterbury, refused it, faying, Though Canterbury had the higheft Rack, yet Winchefter had the deepest Manger. But the Monaftery fell with the reft, and was endowed at the general Suppreffion with 1507 1. 175. 2d. yearly. After which the Site and great Part of the Revenues were fettled by King

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Henry, Anno Regni 32, on a Dean, twelve Prebendaries, fix Minor Canons, ten Lay-clerks, eight Chorifters, and other Members, when the Cathedral was refounded, and dedicated to the Holy and Undivided Trinity.

The City is a Place of but little more Trade, than what is occafioned by the Inhabitants of the City and neighbouring Villages: Here being neither Manufacture, nor Navigation, tho' it was once practicable and attempted; but, not being likely to answer the Expence, the Undertaking ceased The Clergy are not only numerous, but generally very rich. It gives the Title of Marquis to the Duke of Bolton, and fends two Members to Parliament, who now are William Paulet, and George Rodney Bridges, Efqs; and the pre fent Bishop is the Right Rev. and learned Dr. Benjamin Hoadley, who has highly diftinguifhed himself in the Republick of Letters, by feveral elaborate Pieces, and is a great Encourager of the Literati.

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Bishop of London, and his Eminence, immediately caufed Efber-place, one of the Country Houfes be

deputed our beloved Son, Tho6 mas, Cardinal Prieft of St. Cecile, called of York, &c. perpe⚫tual Adminiftrator of the See of Winchester, during his Life, in Spirituals and Temporals, then deftitute by the Death of Richard, of good Memory, late Bishop thereof, who paid the Debt of Nature out of the • Court of Rome, of paftoral Comfort, fully committing the Care, Charge, and Admini'ftration of the faid See, in the faid Spirituals and Temporals to him, as will more amply appear in our Letters thereon."

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Wherefore we command " you feverally by these Apoftolick Letters, that admitting, with an agreeable Complacency, the faid Thomas, Cardinal ⚫ and Adminiftrator, as the Fa'ther and Paftor of your Souls, ye fhew him due, and humble Obedience and Reverence, and with Meekness, receiving his • Admonitions and Charges, you carefully and effectually fulfil the fame; Otherwise we shall hold and confirm, with the Help of the Lord, the Sentence which the faid Thomas, Cardinal, fhall have juftly pronounced against Rebels, inviolably to be observed, until condign Satisfaction be made. Given at St. Peter's at Rome, in the Year of the Incarnation of our Lord 1528, on the • 6th of the Ides of February, and in the 6th of our Pon⚫tificate.

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VOL. IV.

'B. MOTTE.'

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Another of the fame Purport was fent to the Vaffals of Win chefter.

As foon as these arrived, his Majefty confirmed the Reftitution of the Temporalities of Winchester to the Cardinal, in the following Letters Patent.

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The KING to his Efcheats, in Southamptonshire and Winchefter, greeting.

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HEREAS the Lord Chief Pontiff, with the Advice of his Brethren and Authority Apoftolick, on the See of Winchester's having become vacant, by the Death of Richard, has made, constituted, and deputed the moft Rev. Father in Chrift, Thomas, by the Title of St. Cecile, Cardinal Prieft, &r. to be perpetual Ad'miniftrator during his Life of the See of Winchester, fully committing the Charge, Care and Adminiftration of the Spirituals and Temporals of the faid See to him, as appears by the Pope' Bulls directed to us on that Occafion, We, forafmuch as the faid Cardinal. has openly and exprefly, in our Prefence, protefted against all ' and every the Words contain⚫ed in the faid Bull, which may be prejudicial to us and our Crown, and fubmitted himfelf in that Particular to our Favour, and being willing graciously to act in this Affair, Our

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longing to the See of Winchester, to be repaired, and other Parts rebuilt, propofing to retreat thither, when the King refided at Hampton-court; and fuch Expedition was used in finishing this Seat, that it foon made a confiderable Figure. In fhort, what remains of this Edifice fhews the Cardinal's Judgment in Architecture; and, tho' Efher-place fell afterwards into Lay-hands, the Structure has been preferved with a great Exactnefs; infomuch, that it is at this Time in fuch beautiful Order, through the Means of the prefent noble Poffeffor, the Rt. Hon. Henry Pelham, Efq; Chancellor of the Exchequer, &c. that it is accounted a Building well worth the Sight and Observance of the Curious: Therefore we fhall, when we mention the Cardinal's Retreat thither on his Fall, exhibit a View of the East and West Fronts thereof.

Sir John Ruf

fel returns to England.

Sir John Ruffel, who had been employed Abroad feveral Years, now returned to England, waited upon his Majefty, was moft graciously received, and immediately entertained as one of the Gentlemen of his Bed-chamber, which was very acceptable to the Cardinal, who had a great Value for him.

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to the King's Efcheats in the Counties of Somerfet, Dorfet, Surry, Oxfordshire, and Berkshire; and the Knights, Free-men, and all others, holding of the See of Winchester, were ordered to comply with every thing concerning the faid Cardinal, as their Bifhop and Lord.

Befides the foregoing Authorities, the Cardinal obtained a Bull from the Pope, to hold the Temporalities of the See of Winchefter, dated the 6th of February, 1528; likewife Letters Patent from the King, dated the zoth of October, for the fame purpose.

As Sir John had married an Heirefs, the Cardinal, in Virtue of one of his high Offices, had the Care and Wardship of Sir John's Children; and it appears from the following Letter, (the Original whereof being now in the Exchequer Record-office) that his Eminence had a more than ordinary Value for them, which will beft fpeak for itself.

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HAVE received your Letter, dated the 19th Day of June, concerning the Death of my Son, "Browthen, and of the fure Cuftody of his Sifters, "and also the gracious Mind and Favour that your "Grace beareth unto my faid Son, and alfo for "the Truft and Confidence your Grace bears me "for the Cuftody of them; and at this Day I re"ceived another Letter from your Grace, dated the "Ift Day of July, mentioning that your Grace un"derstandeth, by a Letter that I fent to Mr. Arun"del, and alfo by a Letter to Master Hennes, that great "Suit is made to the King for them, and that the King thought they were his Wards. I fhewed his "Grace, that your Grace had them from Heir to 66 Heir, wherewith his Grace was fatisfied; and where66 as your Grace writeth fomewhat sharply, and in a manner half in a Diftruft of me and my Wife, "how that we would bestow the eldest without the "Confent and Advisement of your Grace; I would "be forry that your Grace fhould have any fuch "Opinion in me, feeing that I have borne my Heart "and Service unto your Grace above all Men living, "faving only the King. True it is, that the one of "them is at her full Age, and your Grace may be "well affured, that I would do nothing in that, till I "know further of your Grace's Pleafure; but your "Grace knoweth well, that I must needs speak in her "Behalf, as I am bound unto; notwithstanding your "Grace may be affured, I would be glad to do your Grace any Service that lieth in my Power:

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"But this Miftruft, that you have in me, cometh not of your Grace only; and if it please your Grace 66 to call to your Remembrance a Year and a half "paft, I moved your Grace for a Marriage for my

younger Daughter, for one Dormerfon, what great "Offer he made; and at that Time your Grace was "contented, that I fhould go through withal: But "I ftaid always for two Caufes; the one was, that "I would have been glad to have matched her with "fome better Blood; and the other, if my Son Brow"then fhould depart to God, as he is now, that "it fhould be a great Hindrance to your Grace. I "wrote to Mafter Arundel, that he fhould move "your Grace in my Behalf, that it would please "your Grace to be fo good a Lord to me, to let "me have the youngeft, paying as much as another: "I do defire her for nothing elfe, but for my Wife's "Pleasure, for fhe would be very loth that another "fhould have her faid Daughter afore her; for it

is all her Joy in this World: And alfo it is

mentioned in your faid Letter, that I and my Wife "fhould have the Keeping of her faid Daughter, fo "that he be kept in clear Air, which we will "do to the beft of our Powers: But, rather than

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your Grace fhould have any Miftrust of me and "my Wife, I had rather they were out of my "Hands than otherwife. There is great Labour "made to the King, by Sir Thomas Cheney and "Sir John Wallop, and alfo to Mrs. Anne, for this "Matter, and the King was very defirous of the << fame. Mafter Kingston defired me to move your "Grace to be a good Lord unto him, that he might "be Steward of the Bishop of Worcester's Lands in

Warwickshire, for he thinketh it is in your Grace's "Gift; and if your Grace did not beftow the fame "otherwife, I humbly defire your Grace to give it "to him, whereby your Grace fhall find him to do your Grace what Service lies in his Power, which

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