William Latymer
Encyclopedia
William Latymer or Latimer (1499–1583) was an English evangelical clergyman, Dean of Peterborough from 1560. He was chaplain to Anne Boleyn
, and is best known for his biography of her, the Chronickille of Anne Bulleyne.
, Suffolk
, and his wife Anne, daughter of Edward Bokinge of Ashbocking
, Suffolk
.
He was among the group of evangelicals, including Thomas Cranmer
and Matthew Parker
, who gathered round Anne Boleyn as Queen and patron of the reformers. He became one of her chaplains; Hugh Latimer
apparently did not, though the coincidence of names has led to confusion on this point. In 1535 Latymer was arrested at Sandwich
, bringing forbidden books of Protestant reformers into the country. Anne Boleyn was already detained on the charges that would bring about her death. Latymer was allowed to send his books ahead, to Joan Wilkinson. His reputation was not damaged. He graduated M.A. 1536 at Corpus Christi College, Cambridge
; this was by special grace after seven years of study.
He was rector of Witnesham
, Suffolk, from 1538 to 1554, presented by Edward Latymer, and also in 1538 was appointed by the king Master of the College of St Laurence Pountney
, though this appointment was ended in 1547, since Edward VI dissolved the College and sold it to John Cheke
. He became involved in the trial and downfall of Edmund Bonner
, after Bonner's Paul's Cross sermon of 1 September 1549 was the subject of a complaint by Latymer and John Hooper
, who were monitoring it. Latymer made no objection to the dissolution, and with others received a pension. Under Queen Mary
, he lost a number of preferments.
The Chronickille was written for Elizabeth I of England
, and concentrates on the religious aspects of her mother Anne Boleyn's life. Prominent in the Queen's 1564 visit to Cambridge, he was Clerk of the Closet
and D.D.
. He was father of the benefactor Edward Latymer
, who was his eldest son.
Anne Boleyn
Anne Boleyn ;c.1501/1507 – 19 May 1536) was Queen of England from 1533 to 1536 as the second wife of Henry VIII of England and Marquess of Pembroke in her own right. Henry's marriage to Anne, and her subsequent execution, made her a key figure in the political and religious upheaval that was the...
, and is best known for his biography of her, the Chronickille of Anne Bulleyne.
Life
He was the third son of William Latymer of FrestonFreston, Suffolk
Freston is a village and a civil parish in the Babergh District, in the English county of Suffolk.-History:Freston is notable as the location of the last outbreak of bubonic plague in England. The centre of the outbreak was Latimer Cottages, where it is thought plague-bearing rats may have come...
, Suffolk
Suffolk
Suffolk is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in East Anglia, England. It has borders with Norfolk to the north, Cambridgeshire to the west and Essex to the south. The North Sea lies to the east...
, and his wife Anne, daughter of Edward Bokinge of Ashbocking
Ashbocking
Ashbocking is a village and civil parish in the Mid Suffolk district of Suffolk, England. The village is about seven miles north of Ipswich, and according to the 2001 census had a population of 318....
, Suffolk
Suffolk
Suffolk is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in East Anglia, England. It has borders with Norfolk to the north, Cambridgeshire to the west and Essex to the south. The North Sea lies to the east...
.
He was among the group of evangelicals, including Thomas Cranmer
Thomas Cranmer
Thomas Cranmer was a leader of the English Reformation and Archbishop of Canterbury during the reigns of Henry VIII, Edward VI and, for a short time, Mary I. He helped build a favourable case for Henry's divorce from Catherine of Aragon which resulted in the separation of the English Church from...
and Matthew Parker
Matthew Parker
Matthew Parker was Archbishop of Canterbury from 1559 until his death in 1575. He was also an influential theologian and arguably the co-founder of Anglican theological thought....
, who gathered round Anne Boleyn as Queen and patron of the reformers. He became one of her chaplains; Hugh Latimer
Hugh Latimer
Hugh Latimer was a Fellow of Clare College, Cambridge, Bishop of Worcester before the Reformation, and later Church of England chaplain to King Edward VI. In 1555, under Queen Mary, he was burnt at the stake, becoming one of the three Oxford Martyrs of Anglicanism.-Life:Latimer was born into a...
apparently did not, though the coincidence of names has led to confusion on this point. In 1535 Latymer was arrested at Sandwich
Sandwich
A sandwich is a food item, typically consisting of two or more slices of :bread with one or more fillings between them, or one slice of bread with a topping or toppings, commonly called an open sandwich. Sandwiches are a widely popular type of lunch food, typically taken to work or school, or...
, bringing forbidden books of Protestant reformers into the country. Anne Boleyn was already detained on the charges that would bring about her death. Latymer was allowed to send his books ahead, to Joan Wilkinson. His reputation was not damaged. He graduated M.A. 1536 at Corpus Christi College, Cambridge
Corpus Christi College, Cambridge
Corpus Christi College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. It is notable as the only college founded by Cambridge townspeople: it was established in 1352 by the Guilds of Corpus Christi and the Blessed Virgin Mary...
; this was by special grace after seven years of study.
He was rector of Witnesham
Witnesham
Witnesham is a village situated roughly to the north of Ipswich, Suffolk. The main road from Ipswich that links the village to the town is the B1077, Westerfield Road....
, Suffolk, from 1538 to 1554, presented by Edward Latymer, and also in 1538 was appointed by the king Master of the College of St Laurence Pountney
St Laurence Pountney
St Laurence Pountney was a former church in the City of London.The Mortality Bill for the year 1665, published by the Parish Clerk’s Company, shows 97 parishes within the City of London. By September 6 the city lay in ruins, 86 churches having been destroyed...
, though this appointment was ended in 1547, since Edward VI dissolved the College and sold it to John Cheke
John Cheke
Sir John Cheke was an English classical scholar and statesman, notable as the first Regius Professor of Greek at Cambridge University....
. He became involved in the trial and downfall of Edmund Bonner
Edmund Bonner
Edmund Bonner , Bishop of London, was an English bishop. Initially an instrumental figure in the schism of Henry VIII from Rome, he was antagonized by the Protestant reforms introduced by Somerset and reconciled himself to Roman Catholicism...
, after Bonner's Paul's Cross sermon of 1 September 1549 was the subject of a complaint by Latymer and John Hooper
John Hooper
John Hooper, Johan Hoper, was an English churchman, Anglican Bishop of Gloucester and Worcester. A Protestant Reformer, he was killed during the Marian Persecutions.-Biography:...
, who were monitoring it. Latymer made no objection to the dissolution, and with others received a pension. Under Queen Mary
Mary I of England
Mary I was queen regnant of England and Ireland from July 1553 until her death.She was the only surviving child born of the ill-fated marriage of Henry VIII and his first wife Catherine of Aragon. Her younger half-brother, Edward VI, succeeded Henry in 1547...
, he lost a number of preferments.
The Chronickille was written for Elizabeth I of England
Elizabeth I of England
Elizabeth I was queen regnant of England and Ireland from 17 November 1558 until her death. Sometimes called The Virgin Queen, Gloriana, or Good Queen Bess, Elizabeth was the fifth and last monarch of the Tudor dynasty...
, and concentrates on the religious aspects of her mother Anne Boleyn's life. Prominent in the Queen's 1564 visit to Cambridge, he was Clerk of the Closet
Clerk of the Closet
The College of Chaplains of the Ecclesiastical Household of the Sovereign of the United Kingdom is under the Clerk of the Closet, an office dating from 1437. It is normally held by a diocesan bishop, who may however remain in office after leaving his see...
and D.D.
Family
He married Ellen or Helena (died 1603); her son Edmund English from a previous marriage (died 1603), was a benefactor of Emmanuel College, CambridgeEmmanuel College, Cambridge
Emmanuel College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge.The college was founded in 1584 by Sir Walter Mildmay on the site of a Dominican friary...
. He was father of the benefactor Edward Latymer
Edward Latymer
Edward Latymer was a wealthy merchant and official in London. His will established both Latymer Upper School and The Latymer School and is associated with Godolphin and Latymer School.-Life:...
, who was his eldest son.