William James (bishop)

The Right Reverend William James
Bishop of Durham

Diocese	Diocese of Durham
In office	September 1606 (conf.) – 1617 (died)
Predecessor	Tobias Matthew
Successor	Richard Neile
Other post(s)	Master of University College, Oxford (1572–1584) Vice-Chancellor of Oxford University (1581–1582 & 1590–1592) Dean of Christ Church (2 September 1584–1596) Dean of Durham (5 June 1596 {installed} – 1606)
Personal details
Born	1542 Sandbach, Cheshire, England
Died	(1617-05-12)12 May 1617 (aged 74–75) Durham, County Durham, England
Buried	Durham Cathedral
Nationality	English
Denomination	Anglican
Parents	John James & Ellen Bolte
Spouse	1. Katherine (née Risby) 2. unknown person 3. Isabel (Atkinson née Rilley)
Children	at least 2 (a son, Francis, and a daughter who married a Ferdinand Morecroft)
Profession	academic
Alma mater	Christ Church, Oxford

Ordination history of
William James

History
Episcopal consecration
Date	c. 1606

William James (1542 – 12 May 1617) was an English academic and bishop.

Life

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William James graduated with an MA degree at Christ Church, Oxford, in 1565.^[1] He was Master of University College, Oxford, in 1572, and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Oxford in 1581, and again in 1590. He became Dean of Christ Church in 1584.^[2]

James became Dean of Durham in 1596, where he was a witness to the decay of agriculture in northeast England.^[3]^[4] He was Bishop of Durham from 1606.^[2]

In early 1611, James had custody of Arbella Stuart, with the intention of the King to take her north to Durham. In the event, Arbella was moved from Lambeth to be confined at Barnet, while the bishop travelled north leaving Sir James Croft in charge, and for health reasons did not follow, being moved to East Barnet.^[5] When Arbella and her husband William Seymour, 2nd Duke of Somerset, (who was in the Tower of London) made simultaneous but badly coordinated escapes on 3 June 1611, she simply walked free.^[6]

Wolsingham School was founded on 19 June 1614 by James as the Bishop of Durham. The board of trustees included nine landowners who had all donated land to create the (then) boys' school. Each of the founding trustees was allowed to name two boys to be taught a basis education from the age of eight.^[7]

References

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^ Alumni Oxonienses 1500-1714, Jablonski-Juxston
^ ^a ^b Tillbrook, Michael (September 2004). "James, William (1542–1617)". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/14623. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.) Online edition, January 2008.
^ "Deans of Durham". Fasti Ecclesiae Anglicanae 1541–1857. Vol. 11, Carlisle, Chester, Durham, Manchester, Ripon, and Sodor and Man Dioceses. London: Institute of Historical Research. 2004. pp. 77–81. Retrieved 21 September 2015 – via British History Online.
^ Richard L. Graves, Society and Religion in Elizabethan England (1981), page 638.
^ Sarah Gristwood, Arbella: England's Lost Queen (2003), pp. 359–368.
^ Gristwood, pp. 370–371.
^ "Scholars and scandals". The Northern Echo. 21 July 2014. Retrieved 18 October 2024.

Academic offices
Preceded by Thomas Caius	Master of University College, Oxford 1572–1584	Succeeded by Anthony Gate
Preceded by Tobias Matthew	Dean of Christ Church, Oxford 1584–1596	Succeeded by Thomas Ravis
Preceded by Arthur Yeldard	Vice-Chancellor of Oxford University 1581–1582	Succeeded by Robert Hovenden
Preceded by Nicholas Bond	Vice-Chancellor of Oxford University 1590–1592	Succeeded by Nicholas Bond
Church of England titles
Preceded by Tobias Matthew	Bishop of Durham 1606–1617	Succeeded by Richard Neile

v t e Bishops of Durham
Bishops of Lindisfarne	Aidan Finan Colmán Tuda United to York Eata Cuthbert Eadberht Eadfrith Æthelwold Cynewulf Higbald Egbert Heathwred Ecgred Eanbert Eardulf
Bishops of Chester-le-Street	Eardulf Cutheard Tilred Wigred Uhtred Sexhelm Ealdred Ælfsige Aldhun
High Medieval Bishops of Durham	Aldhun Edmund Eadred Æthelric Æthelwine
High Medieval Bishops rulers of the County Palatine of Durham	Walcher William de St-Calais Ranulf Flambard Geoffrey Rufus William Cumin William of St. Barbara Hugh de Puiset Philip of Poitou Richard Poore John de Gray Morgan Richard Marsh William Scot Richard Poore Thomas de Melsonby Nicholas Farnham Walter of Kirkham Robert Stitchill Robert of Holy Island Antony Bek
Late Medieval Bishops rulers of the County Palatine of Durham	Richard Kellaw Lewis de Beaumont Richard de Bury Thomas Hatfield John Fordham Walter Skirlaw Thomas Langley Robert Neville Lawrence Booth William Dudley John Sherwood Richard Foxe
Early modern Bishops rulers of the County Palatine of Durham	William Senhouse Christopher Bainbridge Thomas Ruthall Thomas Wolsey Cuthbert Tunstall James Pilkington Richard Barnes Matthew Hutton Tobias Matthew William James Richard Neile George Montaigne John Howson Thomas Morton Episcopacy abolished (Commonwealth) John Cosin Nathaniel Crew William Talbot Edward Chandler Joseph Butler Richard Trevor John Egerton Thomas Thurlow Shute Barrington William Van Mildert
Late modern Bishops	Edward Maltby Charles Longley Henry Montagu Villiers Charles Baring J. B. Lightfoot Brooke Foss Westcott Handley Moule Hensley Henson Alwyn Williams Michael Ramsey Maurice Harland Ian Ramsey John Habgood David Jenkins Michael Turnbull N. T. Wright Justin Welby Paul Butler

v t e Dean of Christ Church, Oxford
Predecessors	John Hygdon* John Oliver* John London Richard Cox
Early modern	Richard Cox Richard Marshall George Carew Thomas Sampson Thomas Godwin Thomas Cooper John Piers Tobias Matthew William James Thomas Ravis John King William Goodwin Richard Corbet Brian Duppa Samuel Fell Edward Reynolds John Owen Edward Reynolds George Morley John Fell John Massey Henry Aldrich Francis Atterbury George Smalridge Hugh Boulter William Bradshaw John Conybeare David Gregory William Markham Lewis Bagot Cyril Jackson
Late modern	Charles Henry Hall Samuel Smith Thomas Gaisford Henry Liddell Francis Paget Thomas Strong Henry Julian White Alwyn Williams John Lowe Cuthbert Simpson Henry Chadwick Eric Heaton John Drury Christopher Lewis Martyn Percy Sarah Foot
* – Academic deans only; prior to the establishment of Christ Church Cathedral; ** – Cathedral deans at Osney.

Masters of University College, Oxford

v t e Vice-Chancellors of the University of Oxford
13th century	1230 Elyas de Daneis 1270 Robert Steeton 1288 John Heigham
14th century	1304 John de Oseworhd 1311 Walter Gifford 1325 Richard Kamshale 1333 Richard FitzRalph 1336 John de Ayllesbury 1337 John de Reigham 1347 Hugh de Willoughby 1348 William de Hawkesworth 1367 John de Codeford 1368 John de Codeford 1377 Robert Aylesham 1382 Fr Peter Stokes 1386 Henry Nafford or Yafford 1389 John Lyndon 1391 John Ashwardby 1394 Richard Ullerston 1396 Nicholas Faux 1397 William Farendon or Faringdon 1399 John Snappe and others
15th century	1401 William Farendon 1404 Griffin Kirkadam 1405 William Farendon 1406 John Whytehede 1407 John Orum 1422 John Daventry 1426 Richard Roderham 1430 Thomas Eglesfield 1431 Richard Roderham 1433 John Burbach or Hurbach 1434 Thomas Gascoigne, Christopher Knolles, John Burbach 1435 John Burbach, Thomas Bonyngworth 1436 John Burbach, Thomas Greneley 1437 John Gorsuch, Thomas Greneley 1438 John Gorsuch, William Hawtrine 1439 John Gorsuch, John Burbach, Thomas Southam, Thomas Gascoigne 1440 John Gorsuch 1441 John Gorsuch, Robert Thwaits, William Babington 1442 William Grey, William Babington, John Gorsuch, William Westkarre 1443 William Dowson, William Westkarre 1444 William Dowson, Richard Hall, William Westkarre 1445 William Dowson, John Selot 1446 William Westkarre, John Moreton, William Dowson 1447 John Burneby, William Dowson 1448 John Burneby 1449 John Willey, John Burneby, William Dowson 1450 Richard Ringstede, John Beke, Roger Bulkeley, John Van 1451 John Beke, John Van 1452 John Beke, Thomas Tweyn or Yweyn alias Chalke, Thomas Saunders 1453 Luke Lacock, Robert Thwaits, Thomas Saunders 1454 Thomas Tweyn, Thomas Saunders 1455 Thomas Twynge alias Bonifaunt 1456 Thomas Saunders 1457 Thomas Chippenham 1458 Walter Wynhale, Thomas Twynge 1459 John Danvers, Thomas Jaune or Jane 1460 Thomas Tweyn 1461 William Ive, Roger Bulkeley 1462 William Ive 1463 John Watts, Thomas Chaundler, David Husband, John Mulcaster 1464 Laurence Cokkys, Thomas Chaundler, Roger Bulkeley, John Caldbeck, Thomas Person 1465 Thomas Smith, Robert Ixworth, John Caldbeck, Thomas Chaundler 1466 Thomas Chaundler, John Caldbeck, Thomas Stevyn, Laurence Cokkys, Thomas Hill 1467 Thomas Chaundler, Thomas Stevyn, Thomas Walton 1468 Thomas Stevyn, Thomas Jaune 1469 Robert Tulley, Thomas Jaune 1470 Thomas Stevyn 1480 John Lane, William Sutton 1481 Richard Fitzjames, William Sutton 1482 Robert Wrangwais, William Sutton 1484 Richard Mayew, Thomas Pawnton 1485 Richard Mayew 1486 John Taylor 1487 Richard Estmond 1488 John Coldale 1489 John Coldale 1490 John Coldale 1491 Richard Fitzjames, John Coldale 1492 John Coldale 1493 Robert Smith 1497 William Atwater 1498 Thomas Harpur 1499 David Hays, William Atwater, Thomas Chaundeler
16th century	1500 William Atwater 1501 Thomas Banke, Hugh Saunders alias Shakspeere 1502 William Atwater, Thomas Banke, Hugh Saunders 1503 John Thornden or Thornton, John Kynton, Simon Grene alias Fotherby 1504 John Kynton, Robert Tehy or Thay 1505 Simon Grene, John Roper, John Adams 1506 John Thornden, William Fauntleroy 1507 John Thornden or Thornton, John Avery, John Kynton 1508 William Fauntleroy, John Thornden 1509 William Fauntleroy 1510 John Thornden, John Mychell 1511 William Fauntleroy, Thomas Drax, John Roper, John Cockys, Edmund Wylsford 1512 Edmund Wylsford, William Fauntleroy, John Kynton 1513 William Fauntleroy, John Kynton, John Thornden 1514 John Thornden, Lawrence Stubbs, Edmund Wylsford, Hugh Whytehead 1515 Edmund Wylsford 1516 Lawrence Stubbs 1517 Richard Duck or Doke 1518 Richard Duck or Doke 1519 Richard Barnack, Richard Duck or Doke 1520 William Broke or Brook, Richard Benger 1521 Richard Benger 1522 Richard Benger 1523 Thomas Musgrave 1527 Martin Lyndsey, John Cottisford 1528 John Cottisford 1531 Henry White 1532 John Cottisford, William Tresham 1547 Walter Wright 1550 William Tresham 1551 Owen Oglethorpe 1552 James Brookes or Brooks, Richard Marshall 1553 Richard Marshall 1554 John Warner 1555 Richard Smyth 1556 William Tresham, Thomas Raynolds 1557 Thomas Raynolds, Thomas Whyte 1558 William Tresham 1559 John Warner 1560 Francis Babbington 1561 Francis Babbington 1562 Thomas Whyte 1564 John Kennall 1567 Thomas Cowper 1570 Thomas Cowper 1571 Lawrence Humphrey 1576 Herbert Westfaling 1577 William Cole 1578 Martin Culpepper 1579 Tobias Matthew 1580 Arthur Yeldard 1581 William James 1582 Robert Hovenden 1583 Thomas Thornton 1584 John Underhill 1585 Edmund Lilly 1586 Daniel Bernard 1587 Francis Wyllis 1588 Martin Heton 1589 Nicholas Bond 1590 William James 1592 Nicholas Bond 1593 Edmund Lilly 1596 Thomas Ravys 1598 Thomas Singleton 1599 Thomas Thornton
17th century	1600 George Abbot 1601 George Ryves 1602 John Howson 1603 George Abbot 1604 John Williams 1605 George Abbot 1606 Henry Airay 1607 John King 1611 Thomas Singleton 1614 William Goodwyn 1616 Arthur Lake 1617 William Goodwyn 1619 John Prideaux 1621 William Piers 1624 John Prideaux 1626 William Juxon 1628 Accepted Frewen 1630 William Smyth 1632 Brian Duppa 1634 Robert Pincke 1636 Richard Baylie 1638 Accepted Frewen 1640 Christopher Potter 1641 John Prideaux 1642 John Prideaux in absentia (duties performed by Robert Pincke and then John Tolson as Pro-Vice-Chancellors) 1643 John Tolson, Robert Pincke 1645 Samuel Fell 1648 Edward Reynolds 1650 Daniel Greenwood 1652 John Owen 1657 John Conant 1660 Paul Hood 1661 Richard Baylie 1662 Walter Blandford 1664 Robert Say 1666 John Fell 1669 Peter Mews 1673 Ralph Bathurst 1676 Henry Clerk 1677 John Nicholas 1679 Timothy Halton 1682 John Lloyd 1685 Timothy Halton 1686 John Venn 1687 Gilbert Ironside 1689 Jonathan Edwards 1692 Henry Aldrich 1695 Fitzherbert Adams 1697 John Meare 1698 William Paynter
18th century	1700 Roger Mander 1702 William Delaune 1706 William Lancaster 1710 Thomas Brathwait 1712 Bernard Gardiner 1715 John Baron 1718 Robert Shippen 1723 John Mather 1728 Edward Butler 1732 William Holmes 1735 Stephen Niblett 1738 Theophilus Leigh 1741 Walter Hodges 1744 Euseby Isham 1747 John Purnell 1750 John Browne 1753 George Huddesford 1756 Thomas Randolph 1759 Joseph Browne 1765 David Durell 1768 Nathan Wetherell 1772 Thomas Fothergill 1776 George Horne 1780 Samuel Dennis 1784 Joseph Chapman 1788 John Cooke 1792 John Wills 1796 Scrope Berdmore 1797 Edmund Isham 1798 Michael Marlow
19th century	1802 Whittington Landon 1806 Henry Richards 1807 John Parsons 1810 John Cole 1814 Thomas Lee 1818 Frodsham Hodson 1820 George William Hall 1824 Richard Jenkyns 1828 John Collier Jones 1832 George Rowley 1836 Ashhurst Turner Gilbert 1840 Philip Wynter 1844 Benjamin Parsons Symons 1848 Frederick Charles Plumptre 1852 Richard Lynch Cotton 1856 David Williams 1858 Francis Jeune 1862 John Prideaux Lightfoot 1866 Frances Knyvett Leighton 1870 Henry George Liddell 1874 James Edwards Sewell 1878 Evan Evans 1882 Benjamin Jowett 1886 James Bellamy 1890 Henry Boyd 1894 John Richard Magrath 1898 Sir William Reynell Anson 1899 Thomas Fowler
20th century	1901 David Binning Monro 1904 William Walter Merry 1906 Herbert Warren 1910 Charles Buller Heberden 1913 Thomas Banks Strong 1917 Herbert Edward Douglas Blakiston 1920 Lewis Richard Farnell 1923 Joseph Wells 1926 Francis William Pember 1929 Frederick Homes Dudden 1932 Francis John Lys 1935 Alexander Dunlop Lindsay 1938 George Stuart Gordon 1941 Sir William David Ross 1944 Sir Richard Winn Livingstone 1947 William Teulon Swan Stallybrass 1948 The Very Reverend John Lowe 1951 Sir Cecil Maurice Bowra 1954 Alic Halford Smith 1957 John Cecil Masterman 1958 Thomas Sherrer Ross Boase 1960 Arthur Lionel Pugh Norrington 1962 Walter Fraser Oakeshott 1964 Kenneth Clinton Wheare 1966 John Norman Davidson Kelly 1966 Kenneth Turpin 1969 Alan Bullock, Lord Bullock of Leafield 1973 Sir John Habakkuk 1977 Sir Rex Richards 1981 Sir Geoffrey Warnock 1985 Lord Neill of Bladen 1989 Sir Richard Southwood 1993 Sir Peter North 1997 Sir Colin Lucas
21st century	2004 John Hood 2009 Andrew D. Hamilton 2016 Louise Richardson 2023 Irene Tracey