Biography of John Williams Archbishop of York 1582-1650

On 22 Mar 1582 John Williams Archbishop of York was born to Edmund Williams in Conwy [Map].

In 1617 John Williams Archbishop of York (age 34) was appointed Chaplain to King James I (age 50).

In 1620 John Williams Archbishop of York (age 37) was appointed Dean of Westminster Abbey.

In 1621 John Williams Archbishop of York (age 38) was appointed Lord Keeper of the Great Seal by King James I (age 54).

In 1621 John Williams Archbishop of York (age 38) was appointed Bishop of Lincoln by King James I (age 54).

Autobiography Simon D'Ewes. 22 Jun 1621. About Friday the 22nd of this month was Doctor Williams (age 39), Dean of Westminster, sworn of the Privy Council, after he bad been first made Bishop of Lincoln; and the Earl of Southampton (age 47) was committed prisoner to him at his Deanery of Westminster1. For what cause none of his own servants yet knew, from which imprisonment he was again awhile after freed by the mediation of some noble persons with the beloved Marquis of Buckingham (age 28), whom the issue showed he had only offended, crossing him often during the continuance of Parliament, and answering him shortly since it had been adjourned.

Note 1. "The Earl of Southampton is committed to Dr. Dean of Westminster, his keeper being Sir Richard Weston (age 44). The Earl desired three things of the Lords, 1. That in regard his lady (age 49) was much subject unto sudden grief and passion, his letter might be the first messenger of his detainment, 2. That because his son (age 16) was ready to go to travel, he might first speak with him and give some directions. 3. That he might be permitted, in his Majesty's presence, to answer all that should be objected against him. The two former were granted conditionally, that Sir Richard Weston might see the one and hear the other; which were accordingly performed. The third was not in them to grant, but in his Majesty, and therefore put it off." - HarL MSS,

Autobiography Simon D'Ewes. 06 Jul 1621. All men generally condemned the Archbishop for enterprising such an unnecessary and idle action in his old age; and yet was he much pitied, being an orthodox and a learned divine, no way infected with those anabaptistieal blasphemies lately broached by James Arminius in the Low Countries. It was afterwards much debated, whether his shedding of man's blood had not made him irregular, and so incapable of continuing Archbishop; and the matter was referred to the decision of Doctor Andrews (age 66), Bishop of Winchester, and other select commissioners, by whom the said Archbishop was in fine cleared, and adjudged still regular, and capable of the prelacy; in which Doctor Andrews aforesaid, although there had been small correspondence between him and Doctor Abbot formerly, yet, out of his emulation to prevent Doctor Williams (age 39), Bishop of Lincoln, from attaining the see of Canterbury, to which he was designed if the other had proved irregular, did use his uttermost skill and power to clear him.

Autobiography Simon D'Ewes. 09 Oct 1621. Michaelmas Term beginning upon Tuesday, the 9th day of October, John Williams (age 39), Doctor of Divinity, Dean of Westminster and Bishop of Lincoln, took his place in the Chancery, as Lord Keeper of the Great Seal, Viscount Mandeville (age 58), Lord President, administering the oath to him. Much talk there was of this divine's sudden rising, being a Welchman by birth, and, but a few years before, a poor subsizar in St. John's College in Cambridge of little regard or learniug. After he had taken his oath, he made a long, learned, and ho&est speech in the Chancery Court; but little practised it, as the sequel too plainly verified. I heard it confidently reported, that the old Lord Chancellor, Sir Thomas Egerton, Lord Ellesmere, prophesied of him, being then his household chaplain, that he would prove another Wolsey, which was as strangely verified many years after by his fall, as now by his rising.

Before 1634 Gilbert Jackson (age 39). Portrait of John Williams Archbishop of York (age 51).

In 1640 John Williams Archbishop of York (age 57) was appointed Archbishop of York.

In May 1645 John Owen (age 45) forcibly took Conwy [Map] whose defences had been arranged by the native John Williams Archbishop of York (age 63).

On 25 Mar 1650 John Williams Archbishop of York (age 68) died of quinsy.

Evelyn's Diary. 31 Aug 1654. This evening, to Cambridge; and went first to St. John's College [Map], well built of brick, and library, which I think is the fairest of that University. One Mr. Benlowes has given it all the ornaments of pietra commessa, whereof a table and one piece of perspective is very fine; other trifles there also be of no great value, besides a vast old song-book, or Service, and some fair manuscripts. There hangs in the library the picture of John Williams, Archbishop of York, sometime Lord Keeper, my kinsman, and their great benefactor.

Evelyn's Diary. 31 Aug 1654. Trinity College [Map] is said by some to be the fairest quadrangle of any university in Europe; but in truth is far inferior to that of Christ Church, in Oxford; the hall is ample and of stone, the fountain in the quadrangle is graceful, the chapel and library fair. There they showed us the prophetic manuscript of the famous Grebner, but the passage and emblem which they would apply to our late King, is manifestly relating to the Swedish; in truth, it seems to be a mere fantastic rhapsody, however the title may bespeak strange revelations. There is an office in manuscript with fine miniatures, and some other antiquities, given by the Countess of Richmond, mother of Henry VIII, and the before-mentioned Archbishop Williams, when Bishop of Lincoln. The library is pretty well stored. The Greek Professor had me into another large quadrangle cloistered and well built, and gave us a handsome collation in his own chamber.

Autobiography Simon D'Ewes. 31 Dec 1690. The four lords that came for it were Henry Viscount Mandeville, Lord Treasurer, Lodowick Stewart, Duke of Lennox, Lord Steward of the King's house-hold, William Herbert, Earl of Pembroke, Lord Chamberlain of the same household, and Thomas Earl of Arundel, Earl Marshal of England (whom I should have placed before Pembroke); they, coming to York House [Map] to him, where he lay, told him they were sorry to visit him upon such an occasion, and wished it had been better. "No, my lords," replied he, "the occasion is good;" and then delivering them the great seal, he added, "It was the King's favour that gave me this, and it is my fault that hath taken it away: Rex dedit, culpa abstulit" - or words to that effect. So leaving him, the said four lords carried the gage they had received to Whitehall, to the King, who was overheard by some near him to say upon their delivery of it to him, "Now, by my soul, I am pained at the heart where to bestow this; for as to my lawyers, I think they be all knaves." Which it seemeth his Majesty spake at that time to prepare a way to bestow it on a clergyman, as the Marquis of Buckingham had intended; for otherwise there were at this present divers able wise lawyers, very honest and religious men, fit for the place, in whom there might easily have been found as much integrity, and less fawning and flattery than in the clergy; and, accordingly, Doctor Williams, now Dean of Westminster, and before that time made Bishop of Lincoln, was sworn Lord Keeper, and had the great seal delivered to him. On October the 9th, next ensuing, being the first day of Michaelmas Term, one Lloyd, or Floud, a Papist, being of the Inner Temple, having spoken these buse and opprobrious words following of the distressed Prince Elector Palatine and his royal lady, to wit, - "What is now become of your goodman Palsgrave, and your goodwife Palsgrave?1 - they had, I think, as much right to the kingdom of Bohemia as I have to the principality of Wales," was censured by the House of Commons, to pay a fine to the King, to be imprisoned during the King's pleasure, to ride disgracefully two several days in the open street upon a horse, with his face to the tail of it, and each day to stand in the pillory. The execution was long deferred, his fine and imprisonment remitted, and himself and his fellow Romanists began to boast that nothing should be inflicted. But at last, tho two Houses of Parliament appearing stoutly in the cause, he underwent the first day's punishment on May the 30th, being Wednesday, and the second on Friday the 1st day of June, on which Midsummer Term began. These days' actions I have added a little before the due time, that I might at once finish the relation of this business; in which the faithful zealous affection of the whole state and kingdom, in their body representative, consisting of the two Houses of Parliament, was fully expressed to that royal Princess, our King's only daughter, amidst the many scorns and oppressions of her irreconcilable and bloody enemies.

Note 1. This exclamation is given somewhat differently by Meade in the Harl. MSS. He says, "On Tuesday, Floyd, a counsellor, steward and receiver in Shropshire to the old Lord Chancellor Ellesmere and the Earl of Suffolk, a papist, and prisoner in the Fleet, was censured to ride thrice with papers, and stand in the pillory, and first at Westminster, for saying, Goodman Palsgrave. and Goody Palsgrave may or must go pack their children at their backs and beg. On Wednesday should have been the first time, but his Majesty stayed it. Yesterday the King and House met; his Majesty thanked them for the care they had of his son-in-law, daughter, and grandchildren's honour; if it were in them to censure this prisoner, the censure should be executed, otherwise there should be a punishment equivalent to that they had set down; which gave good content."