William Ayermin
| William Ayermin | |
|---|---|
| Bishop of Norwich | |
| Elected | 19 July 1325 |
| Term ended | 27 March 1336 (death) |
| Predecessor | Robert Baldock |
| Successor | Thomas Hemenhale |
| Orders | |
| Consecration | 6 February 1327 |
| Personal details | |
| Died | 27 March 1336 |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
William Ayermin (or Ayermine) (died 27 March 1336) was a medieval Bishop of Norwich.
Ayermin, was descended from a family settled at Osgodby, Lincolnshire. He was the eldest of three brothers, of whom Richard obtained many ecclesiastical offices, and Adam became archdeacon of Norfolk. In early life William was probably a clerk of the exchequer.
Ayermin sat in the Edward II's Parliament at Carlisle for St. Augustine's Abbey, Canterbury in 1306-7. He also recorded the proceedings of Edward II's parliament at Lincoln in 1316. In August of that year he became master of the rolls and he temporarily performed for many years before and after this date the duties of both the keeper of the great seal and of the chancellor. In 1317 he was made guardian of the Jewish converts' house for life, although previously the office had only been held during the king's pleasure.
In 1319 Ayermin joined the Archbishop of York, the Bishop of Ely, and other ecclesiastics, who with a force of 8,000 men attempted to resist an invasion of the Scots in the North during the First War of Scottish Independence. The army was defeated at the Battle of Myton near the river Swale with great slaughter. William was taken prisoner, and was not released for several months.
Around about 26 May 1324 Ayermin resigned the mastership of the rolls to his brother Richard, and became keeper of the king's privy seal. In the church he meanwhile secured much preferment, although he was always manoeuvring to obtain more. He was rector of Wearmouth, and canon of St. Paul's, Lincoln Hereford, Lincoln, York, Salisbury, and Dublin.
In July 1325 Ayermin is said by some authorities to have been staying at Rome, to have there received the news of the death of Salmon, bishop of Norwich, and to have straight away obtained Pope John XXII's nomination to the vacant see, regardless of the known intention of Edward II to bestow the bishopric on his chancellor, Robert Baldock. But there seems little doubt that William was living in France at the time, engaged in settling a dispute between the kings of England and France as to the possession of land in Aquitaine. His conduct of this business appears to have displeased Edward II, who had instructed him to offer certain concessions to France, which he failed to do. He had, however, friends at Rome, who undoubtedly obtained for him the papal nomination on 19 July 1325 to the see of Norwich, and he was consecrated on 6 February 1327.
...
Wikipedia