HUGH OF WELLS

hugh of wells, one of king john's officials and councillors, became bishop of lincoln in 1209. he soon fell into disfavour with john, and the earlier years of his bishopric were mainly spent abroad, while the king seized the revenues of his see. however, he was one of john's supporters when magna carta was signed, and after the accession of henry iii. he was able to turn his attention to his episcopal duties. his chief work was the establishment of vicarages in his diocese, thus rendering the parish priest more independent of the monastic houses; this policy, and consequently hugh himself, was heartily disliked by matthew paris and other monastic writers. the bishop, who did some building at lincoln and also at wells, died on the 7th of february 1235.