FULHAM PALACE 



of Mary Tudor. But, on the other hand, the historical interest 

 of Lambeth is incomparably greater, and this notwithstanding 

 that Fulham had earlier beginnings. Fulham, although seldom 

 entirely out of touch with passing events, was generally only a 

 passive spectator of them. The spot was in those days far removed 

 from London, which, then as now, was the arena of action and 

 conflict. Hence those public happenings, which, as we have seen, 

 cast a lurid light on the archiepiscopal residence on the south 

 bank of the river, and so often disturbed its peace, as a rule left 

 the repose of the bishop's house on the opposite shore unbroken, 

 and the tragical episodes in the lives of highly-placed men and 

 women, which have given a romantic though painful interest to 

 every stone of Lambeth, very rarely occurred at Fulham. When- 

 ever the Bishops of London were concerned in them, the scene 

 of the events was " London House " near old St. Paul's their 

 winter home. 



To this rule there were, of course, exceptions. For Foxe, the 

 14 martyrologist," tells us that when Bonner was Bishop of Lon- 

 don, some of the acts of persecution of which he was guilty, were 

 perpetrated at his own summer residence at Fulham, his ghost 

 in consequence being long popularly supposed to haunt the gardens 

 and part of the Manor House. 



The dignity of a metropolitan bishop, though great, is inferior 

 to that of an archbishop ; and unless when exceptional circum- 

 stances, accident, or conspicuous talent and force of character, 

 brought them into unwonted prominence, the Bishops of London 

 were not called upon to take a leading part in secular affairs. As 

 a rule we find that the most distinguished of their number were 

 translated to Canterbury ; and, as in the archiepiscopal See there 

 was greater scope for their abilities and their influence, it was 

 generally during their residence at Lambeth, that the more notable 

 events in their public careers occurred. Laud and Juxon each 

 in turn Bishop of London, and Archbishop of Canterbury are 

 eminent examples of this. 



Mellitus sent to Britain by Gregory I. to convert the Anglo- 

 Saxons to Christianity, was the first Bishop of London, and in 

 A.D. 619 he became the first Archbishop of Canterbury. 



Erlkenwald, afterwards canonized, was bishop from A.D. 675 to 

 693. It was in his time that the Manor of Fulham was presented 



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