William Lyndwood facts for kids

William Lyndwood (born around 1375 – died 1446) was an important English church leader, a diplomat, and a legal expert. He is best known for writing a major book called the Provinciale.

Early Life and Education

William Lyndwood was born in a place called Linwood, in Lincolnshire, England. He was one of seven children. His father, John Lyndwood, was a successful wool merchant. A special brass plaque in the local church shows a young William dressed in the robes of a law doctor.

William went to Cambridge University, first at Gonville Hall and later Pembroke College. He then studied at Oxford University, where he earned a degree as a Doctor of Canon Law. Canon law is the law of the Christian Church. He became a deacon in 1404 and a priest in 1407.

A Busy Career

William Lyndwood had a very successful career in the church and in government.

Church Roles

• In 1408, he started working for the Bishop of Salisbury as a legal advisor.
• By 1414, he became the main legal advisor to the Archbishop of Canterbury. This meant he helped the Archbishop with important church laws.
• In 1426, he became the Dean of the Arches. This was a top judge in the church's legal system.
• He held several other important church positions.
• In 1434, he became the Archdeacon of Stow.
• In 1442, King Henry VI strongly recommended him. Because of this, Pope Eugene IV made William the Bishop of St. David's.

Diplomat and Government Official

Besides his church work, Lyndwood was also a busy diplomat. He traveled to other countries like Portugal, France, and the Netherlands for England. He helped negotiate important political and trade agreements. He also represented the King at a big meeting called the Council of Basle in 1433.

From 1432 to 1443, he held a very important government job as the Keeper of the Privy Seal. This role involved managing official documents and advising the King.

William Lyndwood died in 1446. He was buried in the crypt (an underground room) of St Stephen's Chapel.

The Provinciale Book

William Lyndwood is most famous for his large book called the Provinciale. This book is a detailed explanation of the church laws that were made in England by the Archbishops of Canterbury.

What the Book Is About

The Provinciale explains many rules and customs that were followed by the English clergy (church leaders) in Lyndwood's time. It helped people understand how the general church law (called jus commune) applied to specific situations in England. The book also included copies of many English church laws.

Why It Was Important

The Provinciale was first published in 1496. It was printed many times in the early 1500s. It became a very important book for understanding church law in England before the big changes of the Protestant Reformation. It showed how English church leaders viewed their own laws and how they related to the laws from the Pope in Rome.