Brewer's: Fighting Prelate

Henry Spencer, Bishop of Norwich, who greatly distinguished himself in the rebellion of Wat Tyler. He met the rebels in the field, with the temporal sword, then absolved them, and sent them to the gibbet.

“The Bishop of Norwich, the famous `fighting prelate,' had led an army into Flanders.” —Lord Campbell.

Source: Dictionary of Phrase and Fable, E. Cobham Brewer, 1894
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