Peter Peto

, whom some call Will. Peto, was born of, and descended from, the antient Family of the Peto’s living at Chesterton in Warwickshire, educated for a time, for the sake of learning, among the Grey Friers of Oxon, (of which Order he was a zealous brother,) but whether he took a degree among us, it doth not appear, unless he did it under another name, as some have done. Afterwards he became Chaplain, if I mistake not, to Q. Katherine, in whose defence he shewed himself a stout Champion when K. Hen. 8. was about to divorce her, as also against the Kings marriage with Anna Bulleyne. In 1557. Jun. 13. he was made (tho known to be unfit) a Cardinal by P. Paul 3. and at the same time Legat a Latere in England, and soon after Bishop of Salisbury on the death of Dr. Joh. Salcot alias Capon, on purpose to thwart Cardinal Pole, whom that Pope took to be his Enemy, or rather out of stomach to work that Cardinals displeasure, whom he before had recalled to Rome, to be accused and charged as suspected corrupt in Religion. But Q. Mary, albeit she was most affectionately devoted to the Ch. of Rome, interposed, or rather opposed her self so, that Peto was forbidden (*)(*) Camden in Britan. in com. Warwic. to enter into England, and the power Legantine left entire and whole to her Cousin Pole. Whereupon Peto continued in France, where he died in Apr. 1558 in fifteen hundred fifty and eight, leaving then behind him the character of a very godly and devout person, yet simple, and unknowing of matters of State, or of the world, which ought in some measure to accompany a person of his high degree. See more of him in Historia minor provinciae Angliae Fratrum minorum, in the first tome of the Scholastical and Historical works of Franc. à Sancta Clara, sect. 25. p. 53.