yet as it is not certainly known who they were, or in what order they sat, I shall purposely omit them, and content myself with giving you a list of their succession from the time of Goddard Crowman, the first king I have before taken notice of, and so conclude my history of Man, both civil and ecclesiastical, and with the greatest certainty that I have been able to collect from the best writers on this subject.

THE SUCCESSION

OF

THE BISHOPS OF MAN.

of

How long St. Maughold sat bishop we do not find, only Dr. Heylin says, he was bishop anno 578, of which we have no other certainty, nor of a successor till the year 600.

Whose name was Coranus, tutor to the three sons of Eugénius, the fourth King of Scotland, as Bishop Spotswood informs us. After him the succession appears wholly broken till the eleventh century; yet during this long vacancy many errors arose, and many mistakes were advanced concerning it, which most of our English writers have fallen into without any good ground in history, save that the bishopric of the isles had its beginning about that time, to wit, in the year 840.

In a very ancient manuscript by the Rev. Mr. Henry Jones, nephew to the Right Rev. Dr. Fell, Bishop of Oxford, we meet with an exact succession for above 200 years, which, in the opinion of the learned, was extracted from the roll of the ancient abbey of Rushen in the Isle of Man.

This manuscript, by way of introduction, informs us, that though they had a traditional succession of bishops from the time of St. Maughold, yet they were not certainly known; therefore it was thought proper to omit them, and begin from the time of King Goddard Crowman, as before proposed.

In his reign we meet with one Hamundus, by some written Vermundus, Bishop of Man, and probably was the first bishop styled of Sodor and Man. He was the son of Jole, a Manxman. Matthew Paris says he died in the year 1151. It is not certain by whom he was consecrated, nor his successor, who was one

Gamaliel, an Englishman, who lies buried at Peterborough, in Northamptonshire; and was succeeded by Reginald, a Norwegian. To him the thirds of all the livings in the islands were granted by the clergy, that from thenceforward they might be freed from all episcopal exactions. It is probable that he was the first bishop that was consecrated by the Archbishop of Drontheim, in Norway. His successor was one Christian, a native of the isle, who lies buried in the monastery of Banchor, in Ireland. To him succeeded,

Michael, a Manxman, a person of great merit and exemplary life. He died in a good old age, and was honourably buried apud Fontanus. In the year 1203, to him succeeded,

Nicholas de Melsa, Abbot of Furness. He lies buried in the abbey of Bangor.

After him Reginald, a person of royal extraction, sister's son to good King Olave, was consecrated bishop in the

year 1216; who, though he laboured under great infirmities of body, governed his church with prudence and resolution. At last, with an exemplary resignation, he yielded up his soul into the hands of his Creator, and lies buried in the abbey of Rushen. He was succeeded by

John, the son of Hefare, who by the negligence of his servants was burnt, apud Jerevas in Anglia. After him one Simond, a person of great discretion, and learned in the Holy Scriptures, governed the church with prudence and piety. He held a synod in the year 1239, in which thirteen canons were excepted, most of them relating to the probate of wills, the clergy's dues, and other inferior matters. He died at his palace of Kirk Michael in a good old age, and lies buried in the cathedral dedicated to St. German, in Peel Castle. After him

Lawrence, the archdeacon before-mentioned, was elected bishop, and after great disputes consecrated by the Archbishop of Drontheim, but was unfortunately drowned with Harold, King of Man, his queen, and almost all the nobility of the isle; so that the bishopric continued vacant almost six years, when

Richard, an Englishman, was consecrated at Rome by the Archbishop of Drontheim. This bishop consecrated the abbey church of St. Mary, of Rushen, anno 1257. After he had governed the church twenty-three years, and returning from a general council, anno 1274, he died, apud Langallyner in Copelandia, and lieth buried in the abbey of Furness. In his time the Scotch conquered the island. He was succeeded by

Marus Galvadiensis, commonly written Galloredinus, at the nomination of Alexander, King of Scotland; for which reason it is supposed he was banished by the Manxinen. During his absence, the island lay under an interdict; but at last being recalled, he laid a smoke-penny upon every house, by way of commutation. He held a synod at Kirk Braddan, in which thirty-five canons were enacted. He

lived to a great age, and was for many years blind, and lies buried in St. German's church, in Peel Castle. He was succeeded by

Mauritius, who was sent prisoner to London by King Edward I. therefore supposed never to be consecrated, nor put into the catalogue of bishops. In his room was substituted

Allen, of Galloway, who governed the church with great honour and integrity. He died the 15th of February, anno 1321, and lies at Rothersay, in Scotland. To him succeeded

Gilbert, of Galloway, who sat but two years and a half, and lies buried near his predecessor, in the church of Rothersay aforesaid. And after him

Bernard, a Scotchman, held the bishopric three years, and lies buried in the monastery of Kilwining, in Scotland. He was succeeded by

Thomas, a Scot, who sat bishop fourteen years: he was the first that exacted twenty shillings of his elergy by way of procuration, as likewise the tenths of all aliens. He died the 20th of September, 1348. The same year,

William Russel, Abbot of Rushen, was elected by the whole clergy of Man, in St. Germán's church, in PeelCastle. He was consecrated by Pope Clement VI. at Avignion, and was the first that shook off the yoke of the Archbishop of Drontheim, by whom his predecessors had for many ages been consecrated. He held a synod, anno 1350, in Kirk Michael, in which five articles were added to the former canons. He died the 21st of April, 1374, and was buried in the abbey of Furness. He was Abbot of Rushen eighteen years, and bishop twenty-six years. After him

John Duncan, a Manxman, was elected by the clergy of Man; and going to Avignion was confirmed by Pope Gregory XI. and consecrated per Cardinalem Presiestium, dudum Archipiscopum. In his return home he was

made prisoner at Bolonia, in Picardy, and lay in irons two years; and at last was forced to ransom himself for 500 marks; so that he was not installed till the year 1376, in which Mr. Jones's account determines he was succeeded (as Dr. Heylin in his Help to English History informs us) by

Robert Welby, anno 1396, who, it is believed, sat twentytwo years, and had for his successor

John Sperton, who is the first bishop mentioned in the Manx records. After him we find no bishop named till the year 1503, in which

Evan, or Huan, was elected by Sir Thomas Stanley, then governor, and afterwards lord; from whence may be observed the clergy's election of their bishops ceased, and became fixed in the house of Stanley, where it remained till the island being purchased by the government, the King of England is become perpetual nominator. This Evan was succeeded by

Hugh Hesketh, as appears by the roll of the family of Rufford, viz. Hugh Hesketh, third son to Robert, Esq. a reverend father in God, the Bishop of the Isle of Man; and hic jacet Robertus Hesketh, Armiger, qui obit primo die Jan. A. D. 1490. He was succeeded by

Robert Ferrier, who sat bishop anno 1554, says Sir Richard Baker. He was afterwards removed to St. David's, says Grafton, and was succeeded by

Henry Man, anno 1555, who died 1556, says Dr. Heylin, and was succeeded by

Bishop Salisbury, the year uncertain; whose successor

was

Thomas Stanley, son to Sir Edward Stanley, first Lord' Monteagle. How long he sat is uncertain, but it appears by record, John Merrick was sworn bishop of the isles, anno 1577. It was he who gave Mr. Cambden the history of the Isle of Man, published in his Britannia. He was succeeded by