A HISTORY OF HAMPSHIRE 



planned an expedition into Scotland in July, 1385,^6 archbishop en- 

 joined the use, on Wednesdays and Fridays, of special masses, sermons 

 and litanies, which were duly ordered for the churches of Hampshire 

 and Surrey. 



The king's uncle, Thomas Duke of Gloucester, prepared an ill-fated 

 expedition in the autumn of 1391, and Wykeham issued a mandate, 

 dated 20 November, for prayers on his behalf, ad partes externas et 

 remotas contra inimicos Cbristi pugnaturus ob devocionem pergrandem. 



In August, 1391, the bishop enjoined prayers on behalf of the 

 king's coming expedition into Ireland, and in the following October a 

 writ was issued by Edmund, Duke of York, as custos Angltee, for the 

 king's success, which was circulated in Hampshire and Surrey on 

 1 1 November. 



In 1399 came the revolution that resulted in the deposition of 

 Richard II. The course of prayers enjoined this year throughout 

 Hampshire must have somewhat bewildered the simpler country folk. 

 Richard was in Ireland, and on 4 July Henry of Lancaster landed at 

 Ravenspur, Yorkshire, and was at once joined by the Earls of Northum- 

 berland and Westmorland. When the news of this serious outbreak 

 reached William of Wykeham, then at Farnham Castle, he issued man- 

 dates to his archdeacons and to the prior of Winchester, dated 19 July, 

 for prayers (with forty days of indulgence) for the preservation of the 

 king and his kingdom in safety, prosperity and tranquillity. Thousands, 

 doubtless, of the good folk of Hampshire followed the guidance of the 

 now aged prelate who had lived amongst them, universally respected, 

 for so many years. Richard returned from Ireland, only to be im- 

 prisoned in the Tower, and formally deposed by parliament on 30 Sep- 

 tember. 1 Archbishop Arundel's mandate for prayers for Henry IV. was 

 issued from Lambeth in October, couched in most extravagant language, 

 and was duly entered in Wykeham's registers. It is, however, possible 

 that the bishop issued no mandate for its promulgation. On 30 Septem- 

 ber Bishop Merks of Carlisle is said to have been the only one of sufficient 

 faith and spirit to defend Richard and to deny the right of parliament 

 either to depose him or to pass by the next prince of the blood, with the 

 result of his deprivation and temporary imprisonment. The appoint- 

 ment shortly afterwards of Bishop Merks as suffragan of Winchester is 

 significant. 



The story of the founding and building of Winchester College by 

 Wykeham will be told elsewhere, as well as the rebuilding of the 

 Norman nave of St. Swithun's. 



It only here remains to note that his extraordinary liberality 

 brightened the worship of the churches throughout Hampshire. Irre- 

 spective of the numerous bequests of that character in his will, he gave 

 during his lifetime one hundred and thirteen chalices and a hundred sets 

 of vestments to the parish churches of his diocese and repaired a large 



1 Moberly (Wykeham, p. 257) is mistaken in saying that Wykeham attended the parliament that 

 deposed Richard ; he was conspicuous by his absence. 



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