William de Raley

Infobox bishopbiog
name =William de Raley


religion =Catholic
See =Diocese of Winchester
Title = Bishop of Winchester
Period = 1242–1250
Predecessor = Peter des Roches
Successor =Aymer de Valence
ordination =
bishops = Bishop of Norwich
Bishop of Coventry and Lichfield-elect
post =Treasurer of Exeter
date of birth =
place of birth =
date of death =1 September 1250
place of death =

William de Raley (or William de Ralegh) (or William Raleigh) was a medieval judge, administrator and bishop.

Life

In 1212 he was presented with the church of Bratton Fleming, with his occupation being described as "clerk".Pegues "Clericus" in Legal Administration" "English Historical Review" p. 543] He is known to have served as a clerk of the bench in 1214, and again from 1219 to 1229. From 1225 to 1229 he was the personal clerk of Martin of Pattishall, with whom he travelled the Eyre in the north between 1226 and 1227, where he acted as a commissioner for the assessment of Tallage. He became justice of the bench in 1229 following Pattishall's retirement,Fact|date=October 2008 with Roger of Thirkleby being appointed as his clerk in 1231.Pegues "Clericus" in Legal Administration" "English Historical Review" p. 544]

He took part in an Eyre in Middlesex in 1229, and seven more Eyres elsewhere between 1232 and 1233. In 1233 he was made Chief Justice of the Court of Common Pleas, a position he held until 1234 when he was appointed to the more senior position of Justice of the Court in the Presence of the King, becoming the most senior of the King's judges after the title of Justiciar, which was allowed to lapse.

He was a trusted royal councillor as well as a judge, and between 1236 and 1239 was one of the King's chief advisors, being responsible for part of the Statute of Merton in 1236, as well as other legal reforms. In February 1239 he was elected Bishop of Coventry and Bishop of Lichfield, which he declined. He was elected to the see of Norwich on on 10 April, which he then accepted. [ [http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/23042?&docPos=4&backToResults=list=yes|group=yes|feature=yes|aor=3|orderField=alpha Oxford DNB: Raleigh, William] ]

He was translated to the see of Winchester on 1 September 1242,Powicke "Handbook of British Chronology" p. 258] but King Henry III of England objected and appealed to Pope Innocent II, who rejected the appeal. [http://british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=33876 British History Online Bishops of Winchester] accessed on 29 October 2007]

He died shortly before 1 September 1250, the date he was buried.

ee also

* List of the Bishops of the Diocese of Norwich, England and its precursor offices
* List of bishops of Winchester
* Henry de Bracton

Notes

References

* [http://british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=33866 British History Online Bishops of Norwich] accessed on October 29, 2007
* [http://british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=33876 British History Online Bishops of Winchester] accessed on October 29, 2007
*
* Powicke, F. Maurice and E. B. Fryde "Handbook of British Chronology" 2nd. ed. London:Royal Historical Society 1961

Persondata
NAME=Raley, William de
ALTERNATIVE NAMES=Raleigh, William
SHORT DESCRIPTION=Bishop of Norwich; Bishop of Winchester
DATE OF BIRTH=
PLACE OF BIRTH=
DATE OF DEATH=1 September 1250
PLACE OF DEATH=