William Barons | |
|---|---|
| Bishop of London | |
| Church | Roman Catholic |
| Diocese | Diocese of London |
| Elected | 1504 |
| Term ended | 1505 (death) |
| Predecessor | William Warham |
| Successor | Richard FitzJames |
| Other post(s) | Master of the Rolls 1502–1504 |
| Orders | |
| Consecration | 26 November 1504 |
| Personal details | |
| Died | 1505 |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| Alma mater | University of Oxford |
William Barons (also Barnes; died 1505) was theBishop of London from 1504 to 1505.[1] He was alsoMaster of the Rolls of the Court of Chancery from 1502 to 1504.
Remarkably little is known of his family background and early life. The little information we have comes from thePaston Letters, from which it is clear that he was related, though probably only distantly, to the Paston family. In 1504, on the death of Sir John Paston, he wrote to condole with the family on the death of "Cousin Paston".[2]
He took the degree of LL.D. at theUniversity of Oxford. On the vacancy of thearchdiocese of Canterbury in 1500, he became commissary of the chapter and of the prerogative court. That same year he obtained the livings ofEast Peckham in Kent, and ofBeaconsfield in Buckinghamshire; in 1501 that ofGedney in Lincolnshire; in 1502 that ofBosworth inLeicestershire; and in 1503 that ofTharfield in the archdeaconry of Huntingdon.[3]
In 1501, at the marriage ofArthur, Prince of Wales, andCatherine of Aragon, when thebanns were asked inSt. Paul's Cathedral, it was arranged that the king's secretary should 'object openly in Latin against the said marriage', alleging reasons why it could not be lawful, and that he should be answered by Barons, who was to produce the dispensation.[4] Barons, in high favour, was made master of the rolls on 1 February following (1502). On 24 January 1503 he assisted in laying the first stone ofHenry VII's chapel at Westminster.[3]
On 3 August 1504, he was appointed by papal provision bishop of London onWilliam Warham's translation to Canterbury, Henry VII having written toPope Julius II in his favour on 8 July preceding. He received the temporalities on 13 November and gave up his office of Master of the Rolls the same day. He was consecrated on 26 November; he died on 9 or 10 October 1505.[3]
This article incorporates text from a publication now in thepublic domain: "Barons, William".Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co. 1885–1900.| Catholic Church titles | ||
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| Preceded by | Bishop of London 1504–1505 | Succeeded by |