[A.D. 1317-1327.] Thomas Cobham, canon and subdean of Salisbury. In 1313 he had been duly elected Archbishop of Canterbury by the monks of Christ Church; but the King, Edward II., strongly supported Walter Reynolds, Cobham’s predecessor in the see of Worcester, and the elect of the monks was compelled to resign his claim. Bishop Cobham was a man of considerable learning, and of so great excellence of life that he was generally known as “the good clerk[118].”
[A.D. 1327, translated to Winchester 1333.] Adam Orlton; translated from Hereford. (See Hereford, Pt. II.) He was the third English bishop (Stigand, and Richard Poer of Salisbury, were the two former) who, up to this time, had ruled three sees successively. An ancient verse concerning him ran,—
“Trinus erat Adam; talem suspendere vadam.
Thomam despexit; Wlstanum non bene rexit.
Swithunum maluit. Cur? quia plus valuit.”
[A.D. 1334, translated to Ely 1337.] Simon Montacute. (See Ely, Pt. II.)
[A.D. 1337-1338.] Thomas Hemenhale, a monk of Norwich.
[A.D. 1339-1349.] Wulstan Bransford, Prior of Worcester. He was the builder of the ancient Prior’s Lodgings, and of the Guesten Hall, recently pulled down.
[A.D. 1350, translated to York 1352.] John Thoresby, translated to Worcester from St. David’s. (See York.)
[A.D. 1352-1361.] Reginald Brian, translated to Worcester from St. David’s.
[A.D. 1362, translated to Bath and Wells 1363.] John Barnet. From Bath he was advanced to Ely. (See that Cathedral, Pt. II.)
[A.D. 1364, translated to Canterbury 1368.] William Whittlesey, translated to Worcester from Rochester. (See Canterbury, Pt. II.).