William Middleton (or William de Middleton; died 31 August or 1 September 1288) was a medieval

Bishop of Norwich The Bishop of Norwich is the ordinary of the Church of England Diocese of Norwich in the Province of Canterbury. The diocese covers most of the county of Norfolk and part of Suffolk. The bishop of Norwich is Graham Usher. The see is in the ...

Life

Middleton began his career as a clerk in the Jewish exchequer in 1265. He was given custody of the rolls in 1276, and in 1277 was at the French royal court.Pegues "''Clericus'' in Legal Administration" ''English Historical Review'' p. 548 He was an official of Canterbury when he was appointed

Archdeacon of Canterbury The Archdeacon of Canterbury is a senior office-holder in the Diocese of Canterbury (a division of the Church of England Province of Canterbury). Like other archdeacons, he or she is an administrator in the diocese at large (having oversight of ...

by Archbishop

Robert Kilwardby Robert Kilwardby ( c. 1215 – 11 September 1279) was an Archbishop of Canterbury in England and a cardinal. Kilwardby was the first member of a mendicant order to attain a high ecclesiastical office in the English Church. Life Kilwardby s ...

in October 1275. He may also have held a

prebend A prebendary is a member of the Roman Catholic or Anglican clergy, a form of canon with a role in the administration of a cathedral or collegiate church. When attending services, prebendaries sit in particular seats, usually at the back of the ...

in the

diocese of London The Diocese of London forms part of the Church of England's Province of Canterbury in England. It lies directly north of the Thames. For centuries the diocese covered a vast tract and bordered the dioceses of Norwich and Lincoln to the north ...

.British History Online Archdeacons of Canterbury
accessed on 29 October 2007 Middleton was elected on 24 February 1278 and was consecrated on 29 May 1278. He was enthroned at

Norwich Cathedral Norwich Cathedral is an Anglican cathedral in Norwich, Norfolk, dedicated to the Holy and Undivided Trinity. It is the cathedral church for the Church of England Diocese of Norwich and is one of the Norwich 12 heritage sites. The cathedral ...

on 27 November 1278.British History Online Bishops of Norwich
accessed on 29 October 2007 He continued to work on royal administrative business after his election and consecration. In July 1287 Middleton was appointed to the offices of

Seneschal of Gascony The Seneschal of Gascony was an officer carrying out and managing the domestic affairs of the lord of the Duchy of Gascony. During the course of the twelfth century, the seneschalship, also became an office of military command. After 1360, the off ...

and

Lieutenant of the Duchy of Aquitaine The Lieutenant of the Duchy of Aquitaine was an officer charged with governing the Duchy of Aquitaine on behalf of the King of England. Unlike the seneschalcy of Gascony, the lieutenancy was not a permanent office. Lieutenants were appointed in ti ...

."Principal Office Holders in the Duchy"
an
"King's Lieutenants in the Duchy (1278–1453)"
''The Gascon Rolls Project (1317–1468)''. He died 31 August or 1 September 1288.Fryde, et al. ''Handbook of British Chronology'' p. 261

Citations

References

British History Online Archdeacons of Canterbury
accessed on 29 October 2007
British History Online Bishops of Norwich
accessed on 29 October 2007 * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Middleton, William Bishops of Norwich Archdeacons of Canterbury 1288 deaths Year of birth unknown Seneschals of Gascony 13th-century English Roman Catholic bishops