After that Robert the archbishop of Canturburie, was departed the
[Sidenote: Stigand archbishop of Canturburie.]
realme, as before ye haue heard, Stigand was made archbishop of
Canturburie, or rather thrust himselfe into that dignitie, not being
lawfullie called, in like manner as he had doone at Winchester: for
whereas he was first bishop of Shireborne, he left that church,
and tooke vpon him the bishoprike of Winchester by force, and now
atteining to be archbishop of Canturburie, he kept both Winchester
[Sidenote: _Ranul. Hig._ _Fabian_. Stigand infamed of simonie.]
and Canturburie in his hand at one instant. This Stigand was greatlie
infamed for his couetous practises in sale of possessions apperteining
to the church. He was nothing learned: but that want was a common
fault amongest the bishops of that age, for it was openlie spoken
[Sidenote: What maner of men meet to be bishops in those daies.]
in those daies, that he was meet onelie to be a bishop, which could
vse the pompe of the world, voluptuous pleasures, rich raiment, and
set himselfe foorth with a iollie retinue of gentlemen and seruants on
horsse-backe, for therein stood the countenance of a bishop, as the
world then went; and not in studie how to haue the people fed with the
word of life, to the sauing of their soules.
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