John Thokey, who built the south aisle of the nave, (see Pt. I. § VII.,) and received the body of Edward II., (Pt. I. § XII.) [A.D. 1329-1337.] John Wygemore, who commenced the great change in the architecture of the church by his reconstruction of the south transept, (Pt. I. § VIII.) [A.D. 1337-1351.] Adam de Staunton; and [A.D. 1351-1377] Thomas de Horton; who carried forward the work in the choir and north transept. (Pt. I. §§ IX., X.) [A.D. 1381-1412.] Walter Froucester, the historian of the Abbey, (see Pt. I. § XVIII.,) who built much of the cloister and who procured the grant of the mitre from Urban VI. [A.D. 1420-1437.] John Morwent, who rebuilt part of west end of the church, (Pt. I. § VII.) [A.D. 1450-1457.] Thomas Seabroke, who built the tower, [A.D. 1457-1472.] Richard Hanley; and [A.D. 1472-1498] William Farley, who built the Lady-chapel. [A.D. 1515-1539.] William Malverne, or Parker, the last abbot, who subscribed to the King’s supremacy in 1534, and died soon after the Dissolution.
Robert of Gloucester, whose rhyming “Chronicle of Englonde,” is important, both historically and as an example of “middle English,” was a monk of this abbey, during the reigns of Henry III. and John. His Chronicle was edited by Hearne.
Until 1541 the whole of Gloucestershire lay within the diocese of Worcester. In that year the see of Gloucester was erected, and the abbey church, which was re-dedicated to the “Holy and Individed Trinity,” became its cathedral. The first bishop was—
[A.D. 1541-1549.] John Wakeman, who had been Abbot of Tewkesbury, and one of Henry the Eighth’s chaplains. He was a person of considerable learning, and had revised the translation of the Book of Revelation, in Cranmer’s Bible.
[A.D. 1551-Feb. 9, 1555.] John Hooper had been educated at Merton College, Oxford, and afterwards became a monk at Cleeves, in Somerset, his native county. He returned to Oxford, however, where he soon embraced the reformed doctrines, and was consequently obliged to leave the University in 1539. After many wanderings in Ireland, in France, and in Switzerland, Hooper returned to England on the accession of Edward VI.; and in 1549 became one of the accusers of Bishop Bonner, who was deprived in that year. Having with much difficulty overcome his own scruples as to the lawfulness of wearing episcopal robes[26], Hooper, who had been appointed to the see of Gloucester by the influence of the Earl of Warwick, was consecrated at Lambeth by Archbishop Cranmer. In the following year (1552) Bishop Hooper surrendered his see to the Crown. Bishop Heath of Worcester was deprived at the same time. Gloucestershire was at first converted into an archdeaconry, dependent on Worcester; but the two sees were afterwards (Dec. 1552) united, and bestowed on Hooper. The bishops were to be entitled of “Gloucester and Worcester,” and were to reside one year in each city, alternately. This arrangement only continued until the death of Edward VI.
After the accession of Mary, Hooper was summoned to London, (August 1553,) and was for some time confined in the Fleet prison; his see was declared void, and after an examination before Bishop Gardiner and others, he was condemned to be burnt as a heretic. The sentence was accordingly carried out at Gloucester, Feb. 9, 1555. A monument has lately been erected on the scene of his death.
[A.D. 1554-1558.] James Brookes, “a zealous papist,” succeeded, but to the see of Gloucester only. On his death the see remained vacant for three years.
[A.D. 1562-1579.] Richard Cheyney held the see of Bristol in commendam. On his death the see remained vacant until
[A.D. 1581-1598,] John Bullingham was appointed to it. Until 1589 he held Bristol in commendam.
[A.D. 1598-1604.] Godfrey Goldsbrough held the see of Worcester in commendam.