ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY 



in Durham, and gave occasion to a proclamation by the king ' against breaking 

 St. Cuthbert's franchise, or taking any man or goods within the bishopric of 

 Durham otherwise than according to law.' " How completely the bishop 

 had regained the king's confidence is proved by the confirmation of Barnard 

 Castle to Booth after its forfeiture by John Balliol in I47O. 171 



There are just one or two of the scanty entries of Booth's time which 

 throw some falling ray of light on the moral and religious condition of the 

 Palatinate. In 1460 a special commission of important personages was 

 issued ' to inquire concerning insurrections, felonies, Lollardies, conspiracies, 

 and other offences.' ln The special inclusion of * Lollardies,' although pos- 

 sibly only the common form of the commissions of that date, should perhaps 

 be noticed. An undated letter under the privy seal to the bishop of Durham 

 calls attention to the ' grete extorcions, roberes, murders, and other great 

 exorbytances and myschieves ' which had ensued from the late troubled state 

 of the realm. 1 " The bishop was directed to proclaim the king's will and 

 commandment herein. 17 * 



We pass over the episcopates of Dudley (1476-83) and of Sherwood 

 (1484-94) with very brief mention, as they are almost entirely devoid of 

 ecclesiastical record and reference. A survey of castles and manors in Dudley's 

 first year, 176 taken in connexion with a rather later letter of Richard III in 

 Sherwood's time, describing the ruinous condition of castles and towns 

 belonging to the Church of Durham, 17 ' seems to be indication of evil days, and 

 to prepare us for the restoring work carried out by Fox and Tunstall. The 

 Scottish restlessness in Dudley's pontificate did not affect the Palatinate save 

 in so far as bishopric men were arrayed to join the duke of Gloucester in his 

 Scottish wars. 177 The duke was popular in the north, and had a considerable 

 connexion with the bishopric. 178 It is not surprising, therefore, that Bishop 

 Sherwood was ready to attach himself to the duke when he became king. 

 Richard showed his appreciation by asking the pope for a cardinal's hat for 

 the bishop, but this was never given. 179 Sherwood was certainly the most 

 learned bishop since de Bury, and in his love of books illustrates the rising 

 influence of the Renaissance in England. Whatever may have been his 

 personal dealings with Henry VII at the beginning of his reign, 180 events go 

 to prove that Sherwood had some sympathy with Simnel in the rising of 1487, 

 for the bishop was significantly omitted from a commission issued by the king to 

 inquire into insurrections within the bishopric. 181 Sherwood died in Rome, 181 * 

 whither he went as a special envoy to the pope from Henry VII. It has 

 been assumed that he had retired to Rome in consequence of disgrace, 



170 Cursitor R. Booth, 2 P. m. 3 ; Dtp. Keeper's Rep. 102. "' Ibid. 2 D. m. 4 ; Report, 97. 

 71 Ibid, i D. m. 8 ; Report, 80. 



"* Ibid. 3 K. m. 15 ; Report, 120. 



171 A alight side-light on ways and means in clerical life belongs to this period. The bees at Dinsdale 

 rectory form a source of revenue ; Surtees, Hist, 239 and note. 



7i Cursitor Roll Dudley, I K. m. I. Report, 140. '* Hutchinson, op. cit. i, 450, with references. 



" Ibid. 45 1. ln Surtees, Hist. PubL ii, Ix, Ixi, and notes. 



n Ibid. Ix, note. 



* In 1486 he was sufficiently trusted to receive appointment as a king's proctor at Rome on the matter 

 of cathedral preferments ; Materials Illustrative of the Reign of Henry Vll (Rolls Scr.), i, 323. In the text above 

 the view of Hutchinson concerning Sherwood is given, but it is quite possible (so scanty are our records) that 

 Sherwood, who on his tomb at Rome i* called the king's Orator, lived there in the English College without 

 returning. 



'' Hutchinson, op. cit. i, 451. '"' Cal. Venetian S.P. 21 May, 1492, 12 Jan. 1494. 



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