William Grey (bishop of Ely) facts for kids

William Grey (who died in 1478) was an important English church leader, a smart scholar, and a top government official in medieval times. He was the head of Oxford University as its Chancellor and also served as the Bishop of Ely.

His Family Background

William Grey was the son of Sir Thomas Grey and Alice Neville. His father, Sir Thomas Grey, was involved in a political plot known as the Southampton Plot. His mother, Alice, was the daughter of Ralph Neville, 1st Earl of Westmorland.

William had three brothers and several sisters. His siblings included:

• Sir Thomas Grey, who was engaged at a young age but died without children.
• Sir Ralph Grey, who married Elizabeth FitzHugh and had children.
• Sir John Grey.
• Joan Grey, who married Sir John Salvin.
• Elizabeth Grey, who married Sir William Whitchester and later Sir Roger Widdrington.

Learning in England

William Grey studied at Balliol College, Oxford, which is part of Oxford University. He earned a special degree called a Doctor of Divinity. Because his family was powerful, he quickly got important jobs in the church.

He held several church positions, like being a prebendary (a type of church official) in different areas. He was also the Archdeacon of Northampton and later the Archdeacon of Richmond.

William Grey was elected Chancellor of Oxford University in 1440-1441 and again in 1442. This shows he spent a good amount of time in Oxford, likely finishing his studies.

Studying Abroad

William Grey traveled a lot to continue his education. First, he went to Cologne (in modern-day Germany) to study logic, philosophy, and theology. He lived there in a very grand way for several years.

Later, he traveled to Italy to focus on learning about classical subjects, like ancient Greek and Roman writings. He spent time in Florence and then Padua. He also studied in Ferrara with a famous teacher named Guarino da Verona. In Ferrara, he had a splendid home and even supported a young scholar named Niccolò Perotti, who later became a well-known grammarian.

In 1449, King Henry VI of England appointed William Grey as his representative at the Roman curia (the Pope's court) in Rome. William took Perotti with him and helped him get a job with a powerful church leader, Cardinal Bessarion.

Becoming Bishop of Ely

William Grey loved learning and supported many scholars. This made him popular with Pope Nicholas V. The Pope tried to make him a bishop in 1450.

On June 21, 1454, when Bishop Bourchier became the Archbishop of Canterbury, Pope Nicholas V chose William Grey to be the new Bishop of Ely. This was a very important church position. William officially took over his duties on September 6, 1454, and was consecrated (made a bishop) two days later. However, he wasn't formally installed in his cathedral in Ely until March 20, 1458.

Helping Balliol College Library

Bishop Grey cared a lot about collecting books. Wherever he lived, he hired people to copy books he couldn't buy. Many of these books were decorated with beautiful pictures and fancy letters by an artist in Florence.

He wanted his collection to be the start of a library for Balliol College, Oxford, where he had studied. He also gave a lot of money to help build the college's library, the master's (head of the college) lodgings, and other parts of the college. The building work was finished around 1477. William Grey gave about 200 valuable handwritten books (manuscripts) to the college library.

Even in 1890, 152 of his original books were still at the college. They are a big part of the college's collection today. You can see his family's coat of arms (a special symbol) in the college's old library windows and in the master's dining room.

Role During the Wars of the Roses

During his time as bishop, England was going through a difficult period called the Wars of the Roses. William Grey didn't take a main role in politics. He focused more on his church duties and his love for learning. People said he knew not only Greek but also Hebrew. He kept a grand household in London, similar to how he lived in Europe.

However, he was still involved in some political events. In 1455, he was part of a group trying to make peace between the Duke of York and the Duke of Somerset. This attempt failed, leading to the First Battle of St Albans. He also tried to help the Yorkist leaders make peace again before the Battle of Northampton in 1460.

On October 25, 1469, he was made Lord High Treasurer, a very important government job in charge of the country's money. He held this position until July of the next year. During this time, England faced economic problems. He was also involved in talks with Scotland to keep the peace.

In early 1478, William Grey's health started to decline. He left his London home and moved to his manor in Downham. He died there on August 4, 1478. The next day, his body was carried with great ceremony to Ely Cathedral. He was buried there between two marble pillars on the north side of the cathedral. He had also given money to help improve the cathedral building.