A HISTORY OF CUMBERLAND 



during that period, a larger number than in any other century of its 

 history, several of whom were in possession only for a few years. To 

 the episcopates of Bishop Strickland, 1400-19, and of Bishop Bell, 

 147896, may be traced various diocesan undertakings, some of which 

 remain to this day. 1 But it must not be assumed from the frequent 

 vacancies in the bishopric that the work of the church was altogether 

 impeded, or that there was anything in the nature of lethargy or stagna- 

 tion peculiar to the fifteenth century. The ecclesiastical machinery 

 continued to move in its destined course : the bishops changed, but the 

 organizations of the diocese went on. The ministers' accounts of the 

 see 2 which have survived for this century show that the diocese was 

 well equipped in all its departments, and that the diocesan officers of 

 all grades were not slow in the performance of their duties. The dis- 

 ciplinary powers of the court were exercised in the cases of clergy and 

 laity as occasion required, and ample provision was made for bringing 

 religious ministrations within reach of the people. The bishops kept a 

 staff of domestic chaplains about them, who seem to have been passed 

 on from one bishop to another, and were always ready to take charge of 

 a parish when the incumbent died or was laid aside by illness. The 

 parochial clergy worked under many difficulties. Licences for non- 

 residence were often issued and pluralities were allowed. At one time 

 the diocese was thrown into a turmoil as the fortunes of war gave suc- 

 cess to the Yorkist or Lancastrian faction, and at another it was devas- 

 tated by an incursion of the Scots. 



During the time of the relaxation of hostilities between the two 

 kingdoms, inaugurated by the accession of the Tudor dynasty and the 

 close of the wars between the rival Roses, more settled modes of life 

 became possible and a new era may be said to have commenced. The 

 close of the fifteenth century and the early years of the sixteenth 

 witnessed an astonishing revival of ecclesiastical activity in the diocese 

 of Carlisle. Though many of the parish churches in Cumberland bear 

 traces of architectural alteration at this period, the new spirit is more 

 manifest in the monastic houses. Within a few miles of the Border, 

 three of the most important houses in the north-western county were 

 situated, each of which was exposed to incessant attack. The priory of 

 Carlisle, protected by the walls of the city, was more at liberty to follow 

 its internal development without serious inconvenience, but Holmcul- 

 tram and Lanercost were destitute of this advantage. As soon as inter- 



1 According to Leland, Bishop Strickland ' fecit magnum campanile in cathedrali ecclesia a medie- 

 tate ad summum, una cum quatuor magnis campanis in eadem, et stalla perpulchra in choro, et co-oper- 

 torium cancellae ejusdem. Aedificavit turrim magnam in manerio de Rosa, quae adhuc vocatur Strikelands 

 Towre ' (Collectanea, ed. T. Hearne, 1774, i. 346). The same authority states that ' Strikland, bishop 

 of Cairluel did the cost to dig ' the Penrith water supply (Itinerary, ed.T. Hearne, 1711, vii. 50-1). In 

 the compoti of the diocesan receiver-general for 1488-9, there is a full account of the costs of rebuild- 

 ing the castle and chapel of Rose. For the decoration of the chapel three images were purchased at 

 York by Bishop Bell. 



Too little attention has been given to these diocesan accounts : they are full of the most curious 

 information about the administration of the diocese during several episcopates from Bishop Strickland 

 to Bishop Penny. They consist of numerous rolls of parchment and paper in the Registry of Carlisle. 



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