a prelate or person consecrated for the spiritual government and direction of a diocese. The word comes from the Saxon bishop, and that from the Greek επίσκοπος, an overseer or inspector: which was a title the Athenians gave to those whom they sent into the provinces subject to them, to see whether every thing were kept in order; and the Romans gave the same title to those who were inspectors and visitors of the bread and provision. It appears from a letter of Cicero, that he himself had a bishopric; being episcopus Orië & Campaniae.

A bishop differs from an archbishop in the following particulars: That an archbishop with bishops consecrate a bishop as a bishop with priests ordain a priest; that the archbishop visits a province as the bishop a diocese; that the archbishop convokes a provincial synod as the bishop a diocesan one; and that the archbishop has canonical authority over all the bishops of his province as the bishop over the priests in his diocese. It is a long time since bishops have been distinguished from mere priests or presbyters; but whether that distinction be of divine or human right, whether it was settled in the apostolical age or introduced since, is much controverted. But whether the apostles settled any thing of this kind themselves, or whether they left the spiritual economy in the hands of the presbyters, or of those together with the people, it appears that in a little time the functions of the priesthood were divided, and the priests distinguished into degrees; the political part of religion being, according to some, assigned principally to bishops, and the evangelical to the priests, &c. Or, according to others, the functions of teaching and preaching were referred to the bishop, and that of ordination superadded; which was their principal distinction, and the mark of their sovereignty in their diocese.

By the ancient discipline, bishops were to be married once, and not to put away their wives on pretence of religion; but a second marriage was a disqualification for this order. If they lived chastly, they were ranked as confessors. Some bishops, in the middle ages, on account of their regalia or temporalities, were obliged to a military service called hollis, by which they were to lead their vassals into the field, and attend the king in his military expeditions. This Charlemagne excused, and even forbid; but the prohibition was little regarded; since we find the thing often practised afterwards.

The election of bishops was anciently placed in the clergy, and the people of the parish, province, or diocese; but afterwards, princes and magistrates, patriarchs and popes, usurped the power. The election was to be within three months after the vacancy of the see; and the person to be chosen out of the clergy of that church. Formerly the bishop claimed a share in the election of an archbishop; but this was set aside by the popes.

In England, during the Saxon times, all ecclesiastical dignities were conferred by the king in parliament. At length, however, after several contests, especially between archbishop Anselm and Henry I., in consequence of a grant of king John, recognized in Magna Charta, and established by stat. 25 Edw. III. stat. 6. § 3. bishops were elected by the chapters of monks or canons, some shadow of which still remains in the present method of disposing of bishoprics; but by stat. 25 Hen. VIII. cap. 20, the right of nomination was restored to the crown.

Ordinarily at least three bishops are required in the ceremony of consecrating a bishop; but in some cases a single one might suffice. The English succession of Protestant bishops stands on this last ground. In England, the king being certified of the death of a bishop by the dean and chapter, and his leave requested to elect another, the conge d'elire is sent to them, with a letter missive, nominating the person whom he would have chosen. The election is to be within twelve days after the receipt of it, otherwise the king by letters patent appoints whom he pleases; and the chapter, in case of refusing the person named by the king, incurs a praemunire. After election, and its being accepted of by the bishop, the king grants a mandate under the great seal for confirmation; which the bishop consigns to his vicar-general; confining molly in a solemn citation of such as have any objections to the bishop elect, a declaration of their contumacy in not appearing, and an administration of the oaths of allegiance and supremacy, of simony, and canonical obedience. Sentence being read by the vicar-general, the bishop is installed in the province of Canterbury by the arch-deacon; the fact is recorded by a public notary; and the bishop is invested with full powers to exercise all spiritual jurisdictions, though he cannot sue for his temporalities till after consecration. Then follows the consecration by the archbishop or some other bishop appointed by lawful commissions, and two assistant bishops; the ceremony of which is much the same as in the Romish church, save that having put on the episcopal robes, the archbishop and bishops lay their hands on the new prelate's head, and consecrate him with a certain form of words. The process of the translation of a bishop to another bishopric only differs in this, that there is no consecration. The age of a bishop is to be at least thirty years; and by the ancient discipline, none were to be chosen but those who had passed through all the inferior orders; but in some cases of necessity this was dispensed with, and deacons, nay laymen, were raised per saltum to the episcopal dignity.

The form of consecrating a bishop is different in different churches. In the Greek church, the bishop elect, being by the assistant bishops presented for consecration, and the instrument of election put in his hand; after several prayers (the first called diaconicum) demanding consecration, makes profession of his faith; Bishop after which he receives a benediction. He is then interrogated as to the belief of the Trinity; to which he answers by a long profession of faith, and receives a second benediction. Lastly, he is asked what he thinks of the incarnation; to which he answers in a third profession of faith; which is followed by a third benediction; after which the consecrator gives him the pastoral staff; then he is led up to the altar; where, after certain prayers, and three crosses on his head, he receives the pallium, if he be an archbishop or patriarch; he then receives the kifs of peace of his consecrator and two assistants; and sitting down, reads, prays, and gives the communion to his consecrator and others.

In the Romish church, the bishop elect being presented by the elder assistant to the consecrator, takes the oath; he is then examined as to his faith; and after several prayers, the New Testament is drawn over his head, and he receives the chrismon or unction on his head. The pastoral staff, ring, and Gofpel, are then given him; and after communion, the mitre is put on his head: each ceremony being accompanied with proper prayers, &c. the consecration ends with Te Deum. These last mentioned ceremonies are laid aside in the consecration of English bishops. Nevertheless, the book of consecration set forth in the time of Edward VI. and confirmed by act of parliament, in which some of them are enjoined, is declared to be the standard for this purpose by the thirty-sixth article.

The function of a bishop in England may be considered as two-fold; viz., what belongs to his order, and what belongs to his jurisdiction. To the episcopal order belong the ceremonies of dedication, confirmation, and ordination; to the episcopal jurisdiction, by the statute law, belong the licencing of physicians, chirurgeons, and schoolmasters, the uniting small parishes (though this last privilege is now peculiar to the bishop of Norwich), afflicting the civil magistrate in the execution of statutes relating to ecclesiastical matters, and compelling the payment of tithes and subsidies due from the clergy. By the common law, the bishop is to certify the judges, touching legitimate and illegitimate births and marriages; and by that and the ecclesiastical law, he is to take care of the probate of wills and granting administrations; to collate to benefices, grant institutions on the presentation of other patrons, command induction, order the collecting and preserving the profits of vacant benefices for the use of the successors, defend the liberties of the church, and visit his diocese once in three years. To the bishop also belong fulpenison, deprivation, deposition, degradation, and excommunication.

All bishops of England are peers of the realm, except the bishop of Man; and, as such, sit and vote in the House of Lords: they are barons in a threefold manner, viz., feudal, in regard to the temporalities annexed to their bishoprics; by writ, as being summoned by writ to parliament; and lastly, by patent and creation: accordingly they have the precedence of all other barons, and vote as barons and bishops; and claim all the privileges enjoyed by the temporal lords, excepting that they cannot be tried by their peers, because, in cases of blood, they themselves cannot pass upon the trial, for they are prohibited by the canons of the church (as already observed) to be judges of life and death. They have the title of Lords and Right Reverend Fathers in God. Besides two archbishops, there are 24 bishops in England; exclusive of the bishop Sodor and Man, who has no seat in the House of Peers: The bishops of London, Durham, and Winchester, take place from the other bishops, who are to rank after them according to their seniority of consecration.

—There is now also a bishop in our settlement of Nova Scotia.—In Scotland, before the Presbyterian establishment, there were two archbishoprics and 12 bishoprics.

Bishop's Court, an ecclesiastical court, held in the cathedral of each diocese, the judge whereof is the bishop's chancellor, who judges by the civil and canon law; and if the diocese be large, he has his commissaries in remote parts, who hold what they call consistory courts, for matters limited to them by their commission.

Bishop and his Clerks, some little islands and rocks on the coast of Pembroke-shire near St David's in Wales, which are very dangerous to mariners.

Bishop's Auckland. See Auckland.

Bishop's Castle, a town of Shropshire in England, seated near the river Clun. It is a corporation, sends two members to parliament, and its market is much frequented by the Welch. W. Long. 2° 55'. N. Lat. 52° 30'.

Bishop's-Stortford, a town of Hertfordshire in England, seated on the side of a hill, in E. Long. o° 25'. N. Lat. 51° 50'. It has several good inns, but the streets are not paved. It has a large church, one Presbyterian, and one Quaker meeting. Here was formerly a castle called Weymore castle, wherein a garrison was kept, but no remains of it are now left.