William of Nassyngton facts for kids
William of Nassyngton (died 1354) was an English writer and church official from a village called Nassington in Northamptonshire. He is best known for writing a very long poem called Speculum Vitae, which means "The Mirror of Life."
Contents
Who Was William of Nassyngton?
William of Nassyngton was born in Nassington, a village in England. His family often worked as administrators for the church. This means they helped manage the church's affairs and properties.
By 1327 or 1328, William had become a master of law. This shows he was well-educated and understood legal matters.
William's Church Career
William held several important jobs in the church. In the 1330s, he worked in the Diocese of Exeter. A diocese is an area managed by a bishop. He worked under Bishop John Grandisson during this time.
Later, in the 1340s, William moved to the Diocese of York. Here, he worked under Archbishop William Zouche. He continued his work as a church administrator until his death in 1354. He likely died from the plague, a serious illness that was common back then.
The Mirror of Life: A Famous Poem
William of Nassyngton is most famous for his long poem, Speculum Vitae, or "The Mirror of Life." He wrote this poem in the middle to late 1300s.
What is Speculum Vitae About?
This poem is very long, with about 16,000 lines! It explains and discusses the Lord's Prayer in great detail. The poem also covers many other important religious topics, such as:
- The Ten Commandments
- The Creed (a statement of beliefs)
- Different virtues (good qualities)
- The gifts of the Holy Spirit
- The seven deadly sins
- The Beatitudes (blessings from the Bible)
- Ideas about heavenly rewards
Part of William's poem was inspired by an older French book called Somme le roi, which was written in 1279.
