William de Warenne (justice) facts for kids

William de Warenne (died 1209) was an important person in England during the time of King Richard I and King John. He was known as the feudal baron of Wormegay, which meant he controlled a large area of land and had power over the people living there.

William de Warenne worked as a royal justice, which is like a judge for the king. He also helped with money matters for the government, like collecting taxes. His career was closely connected to Hubert Walter, a very powerful official who was the Lord Chancellor. William also helped start a priory (a type of religious house) and gave gifts to other religious places.

Early Life and Family

William de Warenne was the son of Reginald de Warenne, who was also a royal justice and a Sheriff (a local government official).

William's mother, Alice, was the original owner of the lands that made up the feudal barony of Wormegay in Norfolk. When William's father passed away, William inherited these lands and became the new feudal baron.

Working for the King

William de Warenne was a key figure in the king's government. He was part of a group of judges appointed in 1194 by Hubert Walter. These judges helped manage the legal system.

Serving as a Royal Judge

William served as a royal judge in different parts of England. He worked with other important officials like William Brewer. He was a judge from 1198 to 1199 and continued this role during the first two years of King John's reign. His last time serving as a regular judge was in 1200.

Justice for the Jews

In 1200, King John gave William a new job. He became one of the four "Justices for the Jews." This job was not about judging Jewish people in court. Instead, it was about making sure that debts owed by Christians to Jewish people were collected properly. William stayed in this role until 1209.

Collecting Taxes and Fines

Besides being a judge, William de Warenne also helped the king collect money. In 1194, he worked to collect a land tax called the carucage in eastern England. In 1199, he helped collect amercements, which were fines paid for breaking certain rules, in several counties.

Rewards for His Service

Because of his hard work, William received special favors from the king. He was put in charge of lands that had been taken from Prince John (who later became King John). This included a large area called the Honour of Gloucester. William managed these lands for the king from 1194 to 1196.

He also gained the right to care for young heirs who had lost their parents. For example, in 1194, he was given care of the heir of Hugh de Chandos. This was a valuable reward, and he paid the king 40 marks for it.

William's career was strongly supported by Hubert Walter, who helped him get important judging roles. Walter also used William to help with church-related legal issues. For instance, in 1194, William went to York to help resolve problems between the cathedral chapter (the clergy who run the cathedral) of York Minster and their archbishop. William also witnessed important documents for Hubert Walter, showing their close connection.

Marriage and Family Life

William de Warenne married a woman named Melisent. She was the widow of Richard de Montfichet and the mother of Richard de Montfichet. William paid King John 500 marks for permission to marry her.

William's only child who lived to adulthood was his daughter, Beatrice. She was his sole heir, meaning she would inherit his lands and titles. Beatrice first married Doun Bardolf. They had a son named William Bardolf, who later inherited William de Warenne's barony.

Beatrice married two more times. Her third husband was Hubert de Burgh, a very powerful man. He controlled the rights to William de Warenne's barony until he died in 1243.

Later Life and Legacy

William de Warenne passed away in 1209. He was buried at St Mary Overy Priory in Southwark, which is now known as Southwark Cathedral.

William also founded a religious house called Wormegay Priory in Norfolk. This priory was home to Augustinian monks. He also gave gifts to other religious places, including St Mary Overy Priory, Carrow Abbey (where one of his sisters was a nun), and Lewes Priory (where his father had become a monk).