124 A TOPOGRAPHICAL 



Date. 



Choristers, and gave 50 oaks from his lands towards repairing the 

 Church : he governed 32 years with great reputation. Many 

 eminent men lived in his time. He died in London, in 1534, and 

 was the 59th Bishop. 



1534. ROWLAND LEE obtained this See : he was a person of great emi- 

 nence. Being highly in favour with Henry VIII. he was made Go- 

 vernor of the Marches of Wales. He cleared the Marches of rob- 

 bers, who much infested them, and united Wales with England as 

 one body. In this Bishop's time the tenths, &c. of all church livings 

 were translated from the Pope 10 Henry VIII. who, about this 

 time, erected the bishopric of Chester, lessening that of Lichfield, 

 and seized the images and rich shrines of saints, with their jewels 

 and ornaments ; but at the humble request of this Bishop, the 

 King gave up the shrine of St. Chadd. Bishop Lee died Jan. 24, 

 1542, at Shrewsbury, and was the 60th Bishop. 



1543. RICHARD SAMPSON was translated from Chichester to this See. 

 He was a learned man, and wrote many books. He died at 

 Eccleshall, in 1554, and was the 61st Bishop. 



1554. RALPH BANE succeeded him. He was Doctor in Divinity, a good 

 Hebrew scholar, and lived in difficult times. Dr. Bane was the62d 

 Bishop. 



1559. THOMAS BENTHAM succeeded Dr. Bane. In Queen Mary's reign 

 he was ejected from his Fellowship for his zeal against Popery in 

 the reign of Edward VI. ; and on Queen Elizabeth ascending the 

 throne, he was nominated to this See on the deprivation of Dr. 

 Bane. He died February 21, 1578-9, and was the 63d Bishop. 



1579. WILLIAM OVERTON succeeded him. He was born in London, and 

 brought up by the charity at Glastonbury. He took holy orders 

 in Edward VI.'s reign, but upon the accession of Mary he left 

 College. In 1565 he took his degrees, and in 1579 was made 

 Bishop of Lichfield and Coventry ; where he was much com- 

 mended for his hospitality, and the good repair in which he kept 

 his palace. He died at an advanced age, in 1609, and was buried 

 at Eccleshall, being the 64th Bishop. 



1609. GEORGE ABBOT, Doctor in Divinity, and Dean of Winchester, was 

 promoted to this See. He had been a celebrated preacher in the 

 University, and was consecrated December 3, but removed in Febru- 

 ary to the See of London. He was the 65th Bishop. 



1610. RICHARD NEALE was his successor in this See. He was of low 

 parentage, but of admirable parts from his childhood : he made 

 great proficiency in academical learning, and being in holy 

 orders, was at once Schoolmaster, Curate, and soon Vicar of 

 Cheshunt, Herts, Prebend and Treasurer of Chichester, Master of 

 the Savoy, Dean of Westminster, &c. He became Bilhop of 



