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April 8

Handwritten list of Anglican bishops of England?

This question may be more about handwriting than language, so let me know if you don't think this is the right place for the question. I came across this handwritten document inserted into a 17th-century book. The handwriting is pretty hard to make out, but it appears to be a list of Anglican bishops of England around the 1660s. For example, around the middle of the sheet in the first column I made out "D^r Humphrey Henchman Low [church] Bishop of London translated Bishop of Salisbury 1660 and translated to London 166[3]", which matches the information at "Bishop of London".

I was wondering if anyone can make out what the first two paragraphs of the first column say, as this might provide a clue as to why the list was compiled. The second paragraph seems to read "All the Bishops of England now ... [illegible to me] ... are [illegible] in this following catalogue:". — SMUconlaw (talk) 12:33, 8 April 2014 (UTC)[reply]

I think the word after "now" may be liv(e)ing, and your second illegibility may be ranked; the first paragraph is opaque to me, though I can pick out a word here and there. Deor (talk) 13:13, 8 April 2014 (UTC)[reply]

I had another look at the first paragraph, and it seems to be an enumeration of some kind:

[Illegible] ... are 2 church [?] bishops : 24 Bishops

... suffragan Bishops ...

... & Collegiate Churches : 60 church

..., 544 prebendary, 7 ...

..., and about 9700 ...

... 7 who for now ...

...

... churches ... :: ...

England 332

Very intriguing. — SMUconlaw (talk) 14:27, 8 April 2014 (UTC)[reply]

In the first paragraph, the words "vicars" and "rectors" recur. It does seem to be an enumeration. Marco polo (talk) 15:08, 8 April 2014 (UTC)[reply]

That bit in the first line is "are 2 Archbishops". And the third line and beginning of the fourth is "Cathedrals and Collegiate churches : 60 Archdeacons". Deor (talk) 18:29, 8 April 2014 (UTC)[reply]

Thanks! — SMUconlaw (talk) 18:07, 9 April 2014 (UTC)[reply]

The first line is: "In England there are 2 Archbishops : 24 Bishops". The first paragraph is referenced "State of England, [page] 332". It is printed in Edward Chamberlayne's The Present State Of England, 1684, page 244: "In England are 2 Archbishops, 24 Bishops, no Suffragan Bishops at present, 26 Deans of Cathedrals, and Collegiate Churches, 60 Arch-Deacons, 544 Prebendaries, many Rural Deans and about 9700 Rectors and Vicars, besides Curates, who, for certain Stipends, assist such Rectors and Vicars that have the care of more Churches than one". The second paragraph "All the Bishops of England now liveing take place as they are ranked in this following catalogue" finds its counterpart on page 258. The enumeration starts: "D^r Gilbert Sheldon Lord ArchBishop of Canterbury consecrated Bishop of London 1660 and translated to Canterbury 1663". "D^r Richard Sterne Lord ArchBishop of York consecrated Bishop of Carlisle 1660 and translated to York 1664". "D^r Humphrey Henchman Lord Bishop of London consecrated Bishop of Salisbury 1660 and translated to London 1663". The next thing to do is to compare the earlier editions of Chamberlayne's book, especially the 1669 editions. --Pp.paul.4 (talk) 00:23, 10 April 2014 (UTC)[reply]

That is excellent detective work. Thanks! I guess we'll never know why the writer decided to copy out information from that book. — SMUconlaw (talk) 08:54, 10 April 2014 (UTC)[reply]

He probably didn't know how to work the photocopier! Alansplodge (talk) 19:24, 10 April 2014 (UTC)[reply]

I updated the file description page of the file, and also uploaded a 1676 edition of Angliæ Notitia to the Commons. — SMUconlaw (talk) 12:44, 10 April 2014 (UTC)[reply]

It has been an honor, a privilege and a pleasure to know you. Your work is very much appreciated. --Pp.paul.4 (talk) 13:13, 10 April 2014 (UTC)[reply]

Wowee. Thanks! — SMUconlaw (talk) 13:21, 10 April 2014 (UTC)[reply]

How did people view nature before the Enlightenment?

moved to Humanities μηδείς (talk) 21:05, 8 April 2014 (UTC)[reply]