WILLIAM OF WYKEHAM

'William of Wykeham' (1320 – September 27, 1404) was Bishop of Winchester, Chancellor of England, founder of Winchester College and of New College, Oxford, and builder of a large part of Windsor Castle.

Contents

Life

Notes

References

See Also

Further reading

Life

William was born to an undistinguished family, in Wickham, Hampshire, and educated at a school in Winchester. He was appointed Justice in Eyre south of the Trent along with Peter Atte Wode in 1361, a position he held until about 1367. He became secretary to the constable of Winchester Castle and in that capacity learned a lot about building. This led to architectural work for King Edward III, for whom he reconstucted Windsor Castle whilst residing at Bear's Rails in Old Windsor. William was paid for these services by being given the incomes of various churches, and eventually, in 1362, he was ordained. He had shown considerable talent as an administrator and in June of 1363 was appointed Lord Privy SealPowicke ''Handbook of British Chronology'' p. 91 and then in October of 1366 he was elected Bishop of Winchester,Powicke ''Handbook of British Chronology'' p. 258 and in 1367, Chancellor of England.Powicke ''Handbook of British Chronology'' p. 84 He resigned this position in 1371 and began a long conflict with John of Gaunt. However, with the ascension of Richard II to the throne, William was reappointed Chancellor in 1389, retaining that office through 1391.Powicke ''Handbook of British Chronology'' p. 85
He had many ups and downs in his long career, but at the time of his death on September 27, 1404, he was one of the richest men in England. Much of his wealth went into the schools he patronized, but he also contrived to leave a fortune to a nephew, whose descendants include the Twisleton-Wykeham-Fiennes family.
His motto was 'Manners makyth man'. This, along with a coat of arms, were granted to him by the College of Arms and not acquired by descent. His biography was written by Bishop Lowth. He was also written about by Lord Brougham in his 'Old England's Worthies' (1857) and by Froissart.

Notes

References

★ Lowth, Robert ''Life of William of Wykeham, Bishop of Winchester'' (London, 1759)

★ Moberly, G. H. ''Life of William Wykeham'' (Wells, 1887, 2nd edition, London, 1893)

★ Powicke, F. Maurice and E. B. Fryde ''Handbook of British Chronology'' 2nd. ed. London:Royal Historical Society 1961

★ Walcott, Mackenzie Edward Charle ''William of Wykeham and his Colleges'' (London, 1897)

See Also

★ List of bishops of Winchester

★ List of Lord Chancellors and Lord Keepers

Further reading

★ John, Lord Campbell, ''Lives of the Lord Chancellors and Keepers of the Great Seal of England'' (London, 1848), I, xv, xvii

★ Augusta Theodosia Drane, ''The Three Chancellors, or Sketches of the Lives of William of Wykeham, William of Waynflete and Sir Thomas More'' (London, 1882), 1-112

★ Thomas Kitchin, ''Winchester'' (London, 1890).