But the See of Chester did not long remain in possession of these rich endowments, for in 1546 the arbitrary and avaricious Henry despoiled the Bishopric of the manors and real estates narrated in the above charter of endowment, and in lieu thereof compelled the Bishop to accept of the rectories and advowsons of Cottingham in Yorkshire, Kirby, Ravensworth, Pabrick, Brompton, Wirklington, Ribchester, Chipping Mottram, and Bradley in Staffordshire, Castleton in Derbyshire, and Wallasey, Weverham, Backford, and Boden in Cheshire, paying as a chief rent £15 19s. 9d.
The endowments made by Henry VIII. to the Deanery of Chester, consisted of manors and lands to the yearly value of £563 3s. 8d., besides spiritualities to the value of £358 10s. 2d. But these splendid gifts were not destined to remain long in possession of the Dean and Chapter. In 1550 Sir Robert Cotton, Comptroller of the Household to Edward VI., having procured the imprisonment of the Dean and two Prebendaries, obtained from them a deed of surrender of the Deanery estates in his own favour. The estates so obtained were disposed of by Cotton in fee farm to certain gentlemen in Cheshire at very low prices. But the Chapter having discovered some years afterwards that the original grant of Henry VIII. was null through the omission of the word “Cestriæ” in the description of the grantees, they petitioned the Queen to re-grant to them the estates illegally obtained by Cotton as before mentioned; and their petition was twice argued in the Court of Exchequer. But the gentlemen to whom Cotton had sold the lands, apprehensive of the issue, bestowed a bribe of six years’ rent upon Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester, the then all-powerful favourite of Queen Elizabeth, who, thus stimulated, prevailed with the Queen to put a stop to the proceedings in the Exchequer, and grant a commission to him and certain other Privy Councillors to hear and determine the matters at issue between the parties. The result was, that in 1580 the charter of Henry VIII. was recalled, and the estates confirmed to the fee farmers, on payment of certain rents, with which, and a few impropriations, the Queen by advice of the Earl and his coadjutors, re-endowed the Chapter.
The following is a list of the Bishops, with the date of their consecration, from the foundation of the see in 1541, to the present time, for which we are mainly indebted to the valuable foot notes appended to Gastrell’s Notitia.
John Bird, D.D. descended from an ancient family in Cheshire, educated as a Carmelite Friar at Oxford, and distinguished there by his learning and zeal. In 1516 he became provincial of the order of Carmelites throughout England, which office Godwin erroneously states he held at the dissolution of the monasteries. Bird did not advocate the king’s supremacy, until he found that the pope’s power was waning, when Henry 8th appointed him one of his chaplains, and thus confirmed his hitherto wavering opinions. He was soon after consecrated Bishop of Ossery, from which he was translated in 1539 to Bangor, and thence to Chester in 1541. On Queen Mary’s accession, he accommodated himself to the changes which were introduced, but could not preserve his see, of which he was deprived in 1553, in consequence of his being married. Wood states that the Bishop, after his deprivation, lived in obscurity at Chester, and, dying there in 1556, was buried in the Cathedral. Bishop Bird was a learned man, and published several short discourses in Latin and English. Posterity, however, would have thought more favourably of him, had he not alienated some of the revenues of his see, and made leases injurious to his successors.
George Coates was B.A. in 1522, when he was elected Probationer Fellow of Balliol College, Oxford. He afterwards became a Fellow of Magdalene College in the same university; M.A. 1526, Proctor 1531, and elected Master of Balliol in 1539. He was also Rector of Cotgrove, near Nottingham, and became Prebendary of Chester in 1544; and on the 1st of April, 1554, was consecrated Bishop of Chester. He did not long survive his last appointment, as he died at Chester in the year 1555, very shortly after he had condemned George Marsh to the fires of martyrdom at Boughton. This intrepid martyr regarded his faith as being too precious to be sacrificed, even to save his life. He held his principles with unflinching steadfastness; they were the ripened convictions of his judgment—the pabulum of his inward life—and he nobly maintained them, even to the death.
The following account is given by Foxe of the life and persecutions of this faithful and holy man:—
George Marsh was born in the parish of Dean, in the county of Lancaster, and, having received a good education, his parents brought him up in the habits of trade and industry. About the 25th year of his age, he married a young woman of the country; with whom he continued living upon a farm, having several children. His wife dying, he having formed a proper establishment for his children, went into the university of Cambridge, where he studied, and much increased in learning, and was a minister of God’s holy word and sacraments, and was for awhile curate to the Rev. Laurence Saunders. In this situation he continued for a time, earnestly setting forth the true religion, to the weakening of false doctrine, by his godly readings and sermons, as well there and in the parish of Dean, as elsewhere in Lancashire. But such a zealous protestant could hardly be safe. At length he was apprehended, and kept close prisoner in Chester, by the bishop of that see, about the space of four months, not being permitted to have the relief and comfort of his friends; but charge being given unto the porter, to mark who they were that asked for him, and to signify their names to the bishop.
He was afterwards sent to Lancaster castle; and being brought with other prisoners to the sessions, he was made to hold up his hand with the malefactors; when the Earl of Derby had the following conversation with him, which is given to us partly in his own expressive and unaffected language.
“I told his lordship, that I had not dwelt in the country these three or four years past, and came home but lately to visit my mother, children, and other friends, and that I meant to have departed out of the country before Easter, and to have gone out of the realm. Wherefore I trusted, seeing nothing could be laid against me, wherein I had offended against the laws, that his lordship would not with captious questions examine me, to bring my body into danger of death, to the great discomfort of my mother. On the earl asking me into what land I would have gone? I answered, I would have gone either into Germany, or else into Denmark. He said to his council, that in Denmark they used such heresy as they have done in England: but as for Germany the emperor had destroyed it.
“I then said that I trusted, as his lordship had been of the honourable council of the late king Edward, consenting and agreeing to acts concerning faith towards God and religion, under great pain, would not so soon after consent to put poor men to shameful deaths for believing what he had then professed. To this he answered that he, with the lord Windsor, lord Dacres, and others, did not consent to those acts, and that their refusal would be seen as long as the parliament-house stood. He then rehearsed the misfortune of the dukes of Northumberland and Suffolk, with others, because they favoured not the true religion; and again the prosperity of the queen’s highness, because she favoured the true religion; thereby gathering the one to be good, and of God, and the other to be wicked, and of the devil; and said that the duke of Northumberland confessed so plainly.”
And thus have you heard the whole trouble which George Marsh sustained both at Latham and also at Lancaster. While at Latham it was falsely reported that he had consented, and agreed in all things with the earl and his council; and while at Lancaster, many came to talk with him, giving him such counsel as Peter gave Christ: but he answered that he could not follow their counsel, but that by God’s grace he would live and die with a pure conscience, and as hitherto he had believed and professed.
Within a few days after, the said Marsh was removed from Lancaster; and coming to Chester, was sent for by Dr. Cotes, then bishop, to appear before him in his hall, nobody being present but they twain. Then he asked him certain questions concerning the sacrament, and Marsh made such answers as seemed to content the bishop, saving that he utterly denied transubstantiation, and allowed not the abuse of the mass, nor that the lay people should receive under one kind only, contrary to Christ’s institution: in which points the bishop went about to persuade him, howbeit, (God be thanked,) all in vain. Much other talk he had with him, to move him to submit himself to the universal church of Rome; and when he could not prevail he sent him to prison again. And after, being there, came to him divers times, one Massie, a fatherly old man, one Wrench the schoolmaster, one Hensham the bishop’s chaplain, and the archdeacon, with many more; who, with much philosophy, worldly wisdom, and deceitful vanity, after the tradition of men, but not after Christ, endeavoured to persuade him to submit himself to the church of Rome, to acknowledge the pope as its head, and to interpret the Scripture no otherwise than that church did.
To these Mr. Marsh answered, that he did acknowledge and believe one only catholic and apostolic church, without which there is no salvation; and that this church is but one, because it ever hath confessed and shall confess and believe one only God, and one only Messiah, and in him only trust for salvation: which church also is ruled and led by one Spirit, one word, and one faith; and that this church is universal and catholic, because it ever hath been since the world’s beginning, is, and shall endure to the world’s end, and comprehending within it all nations, kindreds, and languages, degrees, states, and conditions of men: and that this church is built only upon the foundations of the prophets and apostles, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone, and not upon the Romish laws and decrees, whose head the bishop of Rome was. And where they said the church did stand in ordinary succession of bishops, being ruled by general councils, holy fathers, and the laws of the holy church, and so had continued for the space of fifteen hundred years and more; he replied that the holy church, which is the body of Christ, and therefore most worthy to be called holy, was before any succession of bishops, general councils, or Romish decrees: neither was it bound to any time or place, ordinary succession, or traditions of fathers; nor had it any supremacy over empires and kingdoms; but it was a poor simple flock, dispersed abroad, as sheep without a shepherd in the midst of wolves; or as a family of orphans and fatherless children: and that this church was led and ruled by the word of Christ, he being the supreme head of this church, and assisting, succouring, and defending it from all assaults, errors and persecutions, wherewith it is ever encompassed about.
After the bishop of Chester had taken pleasure in punishing his prisoner, and often reviling him, giving taunts and odious names of heretic, &c., he caused him to be brought forth into a chapel in the cathedral church, called Our Lady Chapel, before him the said bishop, at two o’clock in the afternoon; when were also present the mayor of the city, Dr. Wall and other priests assisting him, George Wensloe, chancellor, and one John Chetham, registrar. Then they caused George Marsh to take an oath to answer truly unto such articles as should be objected against him. Upon which oath taken, the chancellor laid unto his charge, that he had preached and openly published most heretically and blasphemously, within the parishes of Dean, Eccles, Bolton, Bury, and many other parishes within the bishop’s diocese, in the months of January and February last preceding, directly against the pope’s authority, and catholic church of Rome, the blessed mass, the sacrament of the altar, and many other articles. Unto all which in sum he answered, that he neither heretically nor blasphemously preached or spake against any of the said articles; but simply and truly, as occasion served, and as it were thereunto forced in conscience, maintained the truth respecting the same articles, as he said all now present did likewise acknowledge in the time of King Edward VI.
Then they examined him severally of every article, and bade him answer Yes, or No, without equivocation; for they were come to examine, and not to dispute at that present. He accordingly answered them every article very modestly, agreeably to the doctrine by public authority received and taught in this realm at the death of King Edward; which answers were every one written by the registrar, to the uttermost that could make against him. This ended, he was returned to his prison again.
Within three weeks after this, in the said chapel, and in like sort as before, the bishop and others before named, there being assembled, he was again brought before them. Then the chancellor, by way of an oration, declared unto the people present, that the bishop had done what he could in showing his charitable disposition towards Marsh, but that all that he could do would not help; so that he was now determined, if Marsh would not relent and abjure, to pronounce sentence definitive against him. Wherefore he bade George Marsh to be now well advised what he would do, for it stood upon his life; and if he would not at that present forsake his heretical opinions, it would, (after the sentence given) be too late, though he might never so gladly desire it.
Then the chancellor read all his answers that he made at his former examination; and at every one he asked, whether he would stick to the same, or no? To which he answered again, “Yea, yea.” Here also others took occasion to ask him (for that he denied the bishop of Rome’s authority in England) whether Linus, Anacletus, and Clement, that were bishops of Rome, were not good men, and he answered, “Yes, and divers others. But,” said he, “they claimed no more authority in England than the bishop of Canterbury doth at Rome; and I strive not with the place, neither speak I against the person or the bishop, but against his doctrine; which in most points is repugnant to the doctrine of Christ.” “Thou art an arrogant fellow indeed, then,” said the bishop. “In what article is the doctrine of the church of Rome repugnant to the doctrine of Christ?”
To whom George Marsh said, “O my lord, I pray you judge not so of me; I stand now upon the point of life and death: and a man in my case hath no cause to be arrogant, neither am I, God is my record. And as concerning the disagreement of the doctrine, among many other things, the church of Rome erreth in the sacrament. For Christ, in the institution thereof, did as well deliver the cup as the bread, saying, ‘Drink ye all of this,’ and St. Mark reporteth that they did drink of it. In like manner St. Paul delivered it unto the Corinthians. In the same sort also it was used in the primitive church for the space of many hundred years. Now the church of Rome doth take away one part of the sacrament from the laity. Wherefore if I could be persuaded in my conscience by God’s word that it were well done, I could gladly yield in this point.” “Then,” said the bishop, “there is no disputing with a heretic.” Therefore, when all his answers were ready, he asked him whether he would stand to the same, or else forsake them, and come unto the catholic church? to which Mr. Marsh answered, that “he held no heretical opinion, but utterly abhorred all kinds of heresy, although they did so slander him. And he desired all to bear him witness, that in all articles of religion he held no other opinion than was by law established, and publicly taught in England at the death of Edward VI.; and in the same pure religion and doctrine he would, by God’s grace, stand, live, and die.”
The bishop of Chester then took a writing out of his bosom, and began to read the sentence of condemnation; but when he had proceeded half through it, the chancellor called him, and said, “Good my lord, stay, stay! for if you read any further, it will be too late to call it again.” The bishop accordingly stopped, when several priests, and many of the ignorant people, called upon Mr. Marsh, with many earnest words, to recant. They bade him kneel down and pray, and they would pray for him: so they kneeled down, and he desired them to pray for him, and he would pray for them. When this was over, the bishop again asked him, whether he would not have the queen’s mercy in time? he answered, “he gladly desired the same, and loved her grace as faithfully as any of them: but yet he durst not deny his Saviour Christ, lest he lose his mercy everlasting, and so win everlasting death.”
The bishop then proceeded with the sentence for about five or six lines, when again the chancellor, with flattering words and smiling countenance, stopped him, and said, “Yet good my lord, once again stay, for if that word be spoken, all is past, no relenting will then serve.” Then turning to Mr. Marsh, he asked, “How sayest thou? wilt thou recant?” Many of the priests and people again exhorted him to recant, and save his life. To whom he answered, “I would as fain live as you, if in so doing I should not deny my master Christ; but then he would deny me before his Father in heaven.”
The bishop then read his sentence unto the end, and afterwards said unto him, “Now, I will no more pray for thee than I will for a dog.” Mr. Marsh answered, that notwithstanding, he would pray for his lordship. He was then delivered to the sheriffs of the city; when his late keeper, finding he should lose him, said with tears, “Farewell, good George;” which caused the officers to carry him to a prison at the north gate, where he was very strictly kept until he went to his death, during which time he had little comfort or relief of any creature. For being in the dungeon, or dark prison, none that would do him good could speak with him, or at least durst attempt it, for fear of accusation; and some of the citizens who loved him for the gospel’s sake, although they were never acquainted with him, would sometimes in the evening call to him, and ask him how he did. He would answer them most cheerfully, that he did well, and thanked God highly that he would vouchsafe of his mercy to appoint him to be a witness of his truth, and to suffer for the same, wherein he did most rejoice; beseeching that he would give him grace not to faint under the cross, but patiently bear the same to his glory, and to the comfort of his church.
The day of his martyrdom being come, the sheriffs of the city, with their officers, went to the Northgate, and thence brought him forth, with a lock upon his feet. As he came on the way towards the place of execution, some proffered him money, and looked that he should have gone with a little purse in his hand, in order to gather money to give unto a priest to say masses for him after his death; but Mr. Marsh said, he would not be troubled to receive money, but desired some good man to take it if the people were disposed to give any, and give it to the prisoners or the poor. He went all the way reading intently, and many said, “This man goeth not unto his death as a thief, or as one that deserveth to die.” On coming to the place of execution without the city, a deputy chamberlain of Chester showed Mr. Marsh a writing under a great seal, saying, that it was a pardon for him if he would recant. He answered, forasmuch as it tended to pluck him from God, he would not receive it upon that condition.
He now began to address the people, showing the cause of his death, and would have exhorted them to be faithful unto Christ, but one of the sheriffs told him there must be no sermoning now. He then kneeling down, prayed earnestly, and was then chained to the post, having a number of fagots under him, and a barrel with pitch and tar in it over his head. The fire being unskilfully made, and the wind driving it to and fro, he suffered great extremity in his death, which notwithstanding he bore very patiently. When the spectators supposed he had been dead, suddenly he spread abroad his arms, saying, “Father of heaven, have mercy upon me,” and so yielded his spirit into the hands of the Lord. Upon this, many of the people said he was a martyr, and died marvellously patient; which caused the bishop shortly after to make a sermon in the cathedral church, and therein to affirm, that the said Marsh was a heretic, burnt as such, and was then a fire-brand in hell.
He was succeeded by Cuthbert Scott, S.T.P. He was educated at Christ’s College, Cambridge, and was appointed Master of the College in 1553; became Vice-Chancellor of the University in 1555, and had the temporalities of the see of Chester delivered to him in 1556. He was an active and zealous Romanist, and was implicated in the burning of Bucer’s bones at Cambridge. He was concerned in most of the political movements of his day, and being disaffected towards Queen Elizabeth, and opposed to the reformed religion, was imprisoned in the Fleet in London, from which he escaped, and died at Louvain about the year 1560.
William Downham, D.D., was born in Norfolk, elected Fellow of Magdalene College, Oxford, in 1544, and appointed chaplain to the Lady Elizabeth, who, when queen, nominated him to a Canonry in Westminster in 1560; and on the 4th May, 1561, he was consecrated Bishop of Chester. He died in November, 1577, aged 72, and was buried in the Cathedral of Chester, with a monumental inscription, preserved by Webb, but the monument itself has long since perished.
His sons were eminent theologians, and had the merit suitably rewarded. George Downham became Bishop of Derry, and John Downham, B.D., a learned writer, had various preferments.