Lives of the English Cardinals; Including Historical Notices of the Papal Court, from Nicholas Breakspear (Pope Adrian IV.) to Thomas Wolsey, Cardinal Legate (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated.1868 Excerpt: ... CHAPTER V. JOHN KEMP, CARDINAL BISHOP. Studies Ecclesiastical Law--engaged as Counsel against Lord Cobham--sent as Ambassador to the King of Arragon--becomes successively Bishop of Rochester, Chichester, and London, and Lord Chancellor--then Archbishop of York--His Installation--His Mission to the Council at Basle--goes to Arras--Chivalrous Festivities--Fruitless Negotiations--is created a Cardinal--Pope Eugenius on the Dignity of Cardinals--Cardinal Kemp endeavours to reform abuses in the Church--His Warlike Proceedings in the North--founds a College at Wye--Its Statutes--His Divinity Schools at Oxford--is again Chancellor--Popular Discontent--is appointed Archbishop of Canterbury and Legate a Latere--Degradation of the Anglican Church--His Donations at Canterbury--An Appeal for the Pope--retires to Lambeth--His Property at his decease. THERE is a pleasant place called Olanteigh, nearly a mile from the Wye, and on the banks of the river Stour, in the county of Kent. Here it was John Kemp was born, in the year 1380, and having secured the necessary amount of schooling, proceeded to Merton College, Oxford, where he obtained a fellowship, and took the degree of LL.D., intending apparently to seek the law, as practised in the ecclesiastical courts, as a profession. He held modest preferments, --a rectory in the city of London, and a living in Southwick, Sussex. He was engaged as LOHD HIGH CHANCELLOR. Ill counsel against Lord Cobham, and appears to have pressed the reformer rather hard. His services on this occasion recommended him to Archbishop Chichele, who, after appointing him dean of the Court of Arches and his vicar-general, introduced him to the king. In the same year, 1415, he was sent abroad to arrange a treaty of peace with the king of Arragon. With va..