John Byrde

received his first breath within the City of Coventrie, descended, if I mistake not, from the ancient Family of his name in Cheshire, educated in Theologicals in the House or Coll. of the Carmes (he being one of that order) in the University of Oxon. where making considerable proficiency in his studies, was admitted to oppose in Divinity in the publick School of that faculty, in the beginning of May 1510, and in June following was admitted to the reading of the Sentences. In 1513, he proceeded in the said faculty, and three Years after was made Provincial of his Order throughout England. But he enjoying that office only three Years, was succeeded therein by one Rob. Lesbury, who keeping it till 1522, Byrde came in again and continued Provincial till the dissolution of Monasteries. When the Pope was like to lose his Power in England, be became a zealous Preacher for the King’s Supremacy; for which, being rewarded with a Bishoprick in Ireland, as Baleus saith, (who calls it (h)(h) Baleus ut sup cent. xi. nu. 41. p. 61. Episcopatus Penricensis, tho Waraeus remembers no such place) was translated thence to Bangor an. 1539, The temporalities of which See, he (i)(i) Pat. 31. Hen. 8. p. 3. received by the title of the King’s Chaplain only, without that of Episc. Penricensis, on the 9. Sept. the same Year. In 1541, he was translated to Chester, made the first Bishop thereof, and paid his obedience to the Archb. of York 13. Apr. 1542, where he continued till the Reign of Qu. Mary. He wrot and published,

Lectures on St. Paul.

De fide justificante. lib. 1.

Learned homelies—With an Epicede on one Edmund in Prose. At length when Queen Mary came to the Crown, he was (notwithstanding he complyed with that time) deprived of his Bishoprick for being married, and living at Chester with his Wife, 1556 till Fifteen hundred fifty and six, then died but in an obscure condition. Whereupon his Body was buried in the Cathedral Church there. In the said See succeeded Dr. George Cootes, as I shall tell you when I come to speak of the Bishops, under the Year 1555.