Biography of William Bill Almoner 1505-1561

Around 1505 William Bill Almoner was born.

In 1551 William Bill Almoner (age 46) was appointed Master of Trinity College, Cambridge University [Map].

In 1558 William Bill Almoner (age 53) was appointed Master of Trinity College, Cambridge University [Map].

In 1558 William Bill Almoner (age 53) was appointed Almoner to Queen Elizabeth I of England and Ireland (age 24).

Henry Machyn's Diary. 20 Nov 1558. The xx day of November dyd pryche at Powlles crosse doctur Bylle (age 53), quen Elsabeth('s) chaplen, and mad a godly sermon.

Henry Machyn's Diary. 27 Mar 1559. The xxvij day of Marche dyd pryche at sant Mare Spyttyl doctur Bylle (age 54) the quen('s) (age 25) amner [almoner].

Henry Machyn's Diary. 09 Apr 1559. The ix day of Aprell dyd pryche at Powlles crosse [Map] doctur Bylle (age 54) the quen('s) (age 25) awmer, and declaryd warfor the byshopes whent to the Towre.

Henry Machyn's Diary. 23 Jun 1559. The xxiij day of June was electyd vj nuw byshopes, com from beyond the see, master Parker (age 54) bysshope of Canturbere, master Gryndall (age 40) bysshope of London, docthur Score (age 49) bysshope of Harfford, Barlow (age 61) Chechastur, doctur Bylle of Salysbere [Note. Possibly a reference to William Bill Almoner (age 54) although he wasn't Bishop of Salisbury, doctur Cokes (age 66) (of) Norwyche [Note. He was elected but the Queen changed her mind and appointed him to Ely].

Henry Machyn's Diary. 06 Mar 1560. The vj of Marche dyd pryche at the court doctur Byll (age 55) dene of Westmynster that day in the quen('s) chapell, the crosse and ij candylles bornyng and the tabulles standyng auter-wyse.

On 30 Jun 1560 William Bill Almoner (age 55) was appointed Dean of St Paul's Cathedral.

On 15 Jul 1561 William Bill Almoner (age 56) died. He was buried in the Chapel of St Benedict, Westminster Abbey [Map].

Henry Machyn's Diary. 20 Jul 1561. The xx day of July was bered in Westmynster abbay [Map] master Bylle (deceased) dene of Westmynster abbay and master of Etton and master (of sant John's) college in Cambryge, and cheyffe amner [almoner] to the quen('s) (age 27) grace.

Note. P. 264. Burial of [William] Bill, dean of Westminster. His sepulchral brass remains in the abbey, and has been engraved, as also a portrait derived from it, for the series of portraits of the deans of Westminster which accompany their lives in Neale and Brayley's History of Westminster Abbey. See also an engraving in Dart, i. 101.