Richard Thornden

, sometimes written Thornton, a Monk of the Order of S. Benedict of Ch. Church in Canterbury, received his Academical education in Canterbury coll. in this University, of which he became Warden or Guardian about 1528. Afterwards he proceeded in divinity, run with the unsatiable humour of K. Hen. 8. and in the Reign of K. Edw. 6. was a great Gospeller and seemed to all to be an hearty Protestant. But when Q. Mary came to the Crown, he wheeled about, was made Suffragan Bishop of Dover under Card. Pole Archb. of Canterbury for the County of Kent, where he shew’d himself an eager disputant against the poor Protestants, as you may see by his arguings and reasonings with several of them about matters of religion in the book of Acts and Mon. of the Church, (‖)(‖) Under the years 1552. and 56. See also under the year 1558. written by John Fox, who adds of him farther, that for his persecuting of Gods Saints he was suddenly taken with a Palsey on a Sunday at Bourn (Bishops Bourn) in Kent, having the day before return’d from the Chapter house at Canterbury. Whereupon being conducted to his bed he died soon after, viz. in fifteen hundred fifty and seven. 1557 After him succeeded another Bishop of Dover, appointed by Card. Pole, who shewing himself also vexatious to the Protestants, broke his neck suddenly, as the said author reports. In the year 1569. one Rich. Rogers bach. (afterwards Doctor) of Divinity was consecrated Suffragan Bishop of Dover, by Matthew Archb. of Canterbury, and in 1584. he became Dean of Canterb. upon the promotion of Dr. Th. Godwin to the See of B. and Wells. He was Father to Franc. Rogers D. D. and Justice of the Peace in Kent, who dying 23. of Jul. 1638. was buried in the Church of S. Margaret in the City of Canterbury. After Bishop Rogers decease succeeded in the Deanery of Canterbury one Tho. Nevill D. D. who dying in the beginning of the year 1615. was buried within that Chappel joyning to the body of the Cathedral Ch. at Canterbury, which was before repaired by him, and wherein he had erected a monument for himself, and his brother Alexander Nevill some years before that deceased.