er adapted to the new
spirit which soon after his death caused the downfall of the religious
houses. The effigy of this bishop, in his chantry in the retro-choir,
has been restored.

#Peter Courtenay# (1486-1492) was translated from Exeter to Winchester,
but at neither see has he left any mark on the history, the
architectural work of his period being due chiefly to his priors.

#Thomas Langton# (1493-1500), translated hither from Salisbury, where he
was active against the adherents of Wiclif, was chosen in 1500 to occupy
the see of Canterbury, but he died of the plague before his translation,
and was buried in his chantry to the south of the Lady Chapel. He seems
to have been enthusiastic in the cause of education, since he is said to
have himself superintended the teaching of boys in his town.

#Richard Fox# (1500-1528) was bishop successively of Exeter, Bath and
Wells, and Durham before he was appointed to Winchester. Great
confidence was reposed in him by Henry VII., who chose him as godfather
of the future Henry VIII. To Fox is attributed the introduction of
Wolsey to the king. Yet this appears to have failed to win him the
cardinal's gratitude, for, according to Fuller: "All thought Bishop Fox
to die too soon, only one excepted who conceived him to live too long,
Thomas Wolsey, who gaped for his bishopric." With Hugh Oldham, bishop of
Exeter, Fox was joint-founder of Corpus Christi College, Oxford, the
pelican in her piety, which appears on the college arms, being borne by
the bishop. His fine chantry and the reconstruction of the choir aisles
bear witness to his interest in the fabric of his cathedral, and he is
otherwise noted for the assistance he gave to various foundations.

[Illustration: CARVING ON CHOIR STALL IN LADY CHAPEL--BISHOP FOX'S WORK.
(From a Drawing by H.P. Clifford.)]

#Thomas Wolsey# (1529-1530) at length gained the coveted see, which he
held _in commendam_ with the archbishopric of York, but only for one
year.

#Stephen Gardiner# (1531-1555), another of the more famous prelates who
have held this see, is said to have been the illegitimate son of Bishop
Lionel Woodville of Salisbury, brother-in-law of Edward IV. Fuller, in
one of his favourite conceits, says that Gardiner retained in his wit
and quick apprehension the sharpness of the air at his birthplace of
Bury St Edmunds. In 1529 he became archdeacon of Norwich, and, owing to
his services to Cardinal Wolsey and Henry VIII., was appoin