ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY 



as well as with the view that while sanctuary rights had a religious origin, 

 they were in their later phases based upon temporal jurisdiction.' "^ 



Henry VII owed much to the statesmanship of Richard Fox, whom he 

 translated from Bath and Wells to Durham in 1494. Fox was bishop of 

 Durham for seven years (1494-1501), having first made acquaintance with 

 the district when he passed to^and fro on the king's business in 1487/^* In the 

 first year of his episcopate a new Scottish invasion was feared, and the bishop 

 was directed to array the forces of the bishopric.'**' It was perhaps at this 

 moment the bishop took the precaution to fortify Norham with all possible 

 care. During part of 1496 Fox was absent from England negotiating the 

 Magnus Litercurstis, and returned to find Warbeck's second attempt just about 

 to take place. In the assault of Norham which followed, the Scots were 

 unable to take the fortress. The bishopric men had all been called out in 

 August, 1497, ^^^ ^ truce was concluded by Fox in December. Next year 

 his skilful mediation prevented the outbreak of war between England and 

 Scotland. ''" How little the bishop trusted the continuance of peaceful rela- 

 tions with the Scots seems to be indicated by his work at Durham Castle. 

 At all events it is tempting to connect the building, which was in progress 

 there about 1498, with the need of the increased accommodation for a garri- 

 son. His intention to rebuild the keep may point to the same conclusion. ^'^ 

 The bishop's greatest diplomatic triumph signalizes the year 1499, when he 

 was successful in arranging the marriage alliance between King James and the 

 Princess Margaret. He was, however, translated to Winchester before the 

 wedding took place. 



Short as the episcopate of Bishop Fox was, it left more than a material 

 mark on the north of England. Notwithstanding his diplomatic work he 

 was more in evidence in the diocese than his immediate predecessors. He 

 strove to curb the wild and unruly borderers of Tynedale and Redesdale by 

 spiritual process. They constantly made inroads into the bishopric for the 

 sake of plunder, and among them were certain hedge-priests as lawless as any. 

 The presence of these men is a curious side-light on the character of some of 

 the Northumberland clergy at the time, and it is probable that the bishopric 

 clergy proper were of a hig. er type than their rougher brethren farther 

 north. "^ 



The register of Fox is brief and uninteresting, with the exception of 

 two or three documents. One of these is a long monition to the raiders 

 just mentioned. Elsewhere there is an interesting list of books given by 

 Fox in 1499 for the use of the library in the collegiate church at Bishop 

 Auckland. ^'^ The volumes are biblical commentaries, works of the schoolmen, 

 provincial constitutions, classical writers, books of ecclesiastical law, &c. It is 

 preceded by a list of implements given to the dean of Auckland at the same 



"' From Mr. Forster's paper, 134, 139. The reader will still refer to Rites of Durham (Surtees Soc. 

 ed. Canon Fowler), 41, 42, 226. 



"* For this cf". Hutchinson, op. cit. i, 45 1., '"' Cal. Doc. Scotland, iv, 1608. 



'*• Cf. Diet. Nat. Biog. ' Richard Foxe.' 



'" Chambre, however, speaks of arrangements in the hall which suggest festival rather than barrack use. 

 Trej Scrifi/ores, 50. The date existing on the buttery hatch is 1499, and it is possible that the changes con- 

 template the marriage of Margaret, which was arranged in that year, though it did not take place until 1503. 



"^ The process is printed in Surtees Soc. Puil. xxi, 37-42. The reference to the register is fol. 19 and 

 300'. On fol. 35 d. is an appeal to the secular arm to put down wizards in Redesdale. 



™ Printed in Rev. J. F. Hodgson's account of Auckland in Arci. Ael. xx, Fox, Register, fol. 26 d. and 27. 



27 



