William Alnwick

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William Alnwick
Cambridge University

William Alnwick (died 1449) was an English Catholic clergyman. He was Bishop of Norwich (1426–1436) and Bishop of Lincoln (1436–1449).[1]

Educated at Cambridge,

Archdeacon of Salisbury, but by early 1421 had been appointed King's Secretary, and is recorded as attending Privy Council meetings.[4] In the new reign he was forced to surrender his seals of office to Parliament before being named Keeper of the Privy Seal on 19 December 1422.[5] He had custody of the seal until 24 February 1432.[6]

Alnwick was nominated to the

see of Lincoln on 19 September 1436.[7]

While bishop Alnwick built the east wing of bishop's palace at

Lincoln, with chapel and dining-parlour and a gateway tower.[8]

While at Lincoln Alnwick attempted a resolution of a dispute within the cathedral, producing an elaborate arbitration. He then reviewed the whole body of statutes of the diocese, then largely unaltered since the Norman Conquest, creating an improved one. He finished this by 1440, but the dean of the cathedral was hostile, and they argued over the implementation of the reforms until Alnwick's death.

Alnwick was an assiduous heresy-hunter, and persecutor of the

Lollards, punishing them with imprisonment, forced entry into monasteries and, in at least one case, execution. He twice tried Margery Baxter who was sentenced to be flogged in church and in public. He also tried Hawise Mone (fl. 1428–1430) and they both agreed to recant their heresies.[9]

Alnwick was involved in the foundation and building of Eton College and King's College, Cambridge, as well as modifying Norwich and Lincoln Cathedrals, and the palaces in both of the dioceses of which he was bishop.

He died in 1449, and was buried in

antiphoner
, and a chalice.

Alnwick died in office as Bishop of Lincoln on 5 December 1449.[10]

His executors are listed as: John Breton, of Therfeld, parson; John Wygnell, master & doctor of decretals; Thomas Dunken, of Chalfhunt, master & parson; Thomas Twyer, master & parson [11]

Citations

  1. ^ Logan Runaway Religious p. 133
  2. ^ "Alnwick, William (ALNK420W)". A Cambridge Alumni Database. University of Cambridge.
  3. ^ I Mortimer, 1415, p.36
  4. ^ Proceedings of the Council, vol.2, p.315.
  5. ^ Rotuli Parliamentorum, IV: Tempore Henrici R. V (Commissioners, 1783), p.179, A.D. 1422.
  6. ^ Fryde, et al. Handbook of British Chronology p. 95
  7. ^ Fryde, et al. Handbook of British Chronology p. 262
  8. ^ Bishops of Lincoln accessed on 21 October 2007
  9. .
  10. ^ Fryde, et al. Handbook of British Chronology p. 256
  11. ^ Plea Rolls of the Court of Common Pleas; year: 1460; http://aalt.law.uh.edu/AALT1/H6/CP40no799/aCP40no799fronts/IMG_0168.htm ; county margin Rutland

References

Political offices
Preceded by
John Stafford
Lord Privy Seal
1422–1432
Succeeded by
Catholic Church titles
Preceded by Bishop of Norwich
1426–1436
Succeeded by
Preceded by
William Grey
Bishop of Lincoln
1436–1449
Succeeded by