John Stokeslie

, was educated in S. Mary Magd. coll. of which he was Fellow, and much noted for his excellent faculty in disputing, whether in Philosophy or Divinity. In 1502. he being then M. of A. of some years standing, was admitted Principal of S. Mary Magd. hall, and in the year following was elected the northern Procter of the University, because he had been born in the north parts of England. Afterwards he became Vicar of Willoughby in Warwickshire for a time, and Rector of Slimbridge in Gloucestershire, (both by the gift of the said college,) Prebendary of the Kings Chappel dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary and S. Stephen, within the Pallace of Westminster, Archdeacon of Dorset in the place of Rich. Paice, Doct. of Divinity, and Chaplain to Rich. Fox B. of Winchester, who gave him, as I think, the Archdeaconry of Surrey. At length upon the translation of Tonstall to Durham, he was made Bishop of London in 1530. In which See being installed, 19. Jul. in the same year, (and about that time made the Kings Almoner,) fate there to the time of his death, which hapning on the eighth of Sept. 1539 in fifteen hundred thirty and nine, was buried on the 14. of the said month in the Chappel of S. George within the Precinct of S. Pauls Cathedral. Soon after was a memorial put over his grave running thus, Hujus in obscuri tumuli, &c. Which in English is this, as P. F. tells me.

Th’obscure recesses of this key-cold Tomb,

Do Stokeslies ashes, and remains inhume.

Whose general name, good life, dexterity

Of Pen, Tongue, Brain, were known both far and nigh.

Who studied still to serve. God and the King,

And benefit the publick in each thing.

What good he did in Forreign parts retrieve,

He brought it home, like honey to his hive.

He knew the intreagues of Italy and Spain,

And of the Grecian Wyles did make much gain.

To many Kingdoms of the World being known,

And honour’d more, returning to his own.

Who on our Blessed Ladies day being born,

Did on the self same day to dust return.

In 1529. he was sent to the Emperiour and Pope, and to several Universities, concerning the marriage of King Hen. 8. with his brother’s Wife, &c. and was with Tho. Cranmer at the citation of Katherine the Q. Dowager to appear at Dunstable, six miles distant from Ampthill, when she was divorced, and the marriage declared to be void and of no effect. He also burnt W. Tyndales translation of the Bible, was a disputer with Joh. Lambert alias Nicholls, and boasted, as R. Holinshed tells us, that he had burned fifty Hereticks, meaning Protestants, and as Dr. Humphrey (†)(†) In Vita & morte Jo. Juelli. p. 268. saith, that he had sacrificed to the god of hell above three hundred.