Sir William Methold was an English-born Irish judge.

He was born in Norfolk

Norfolk

Norfolk is a low-lying county in the East of England. It has borders with Lincolnshire to the west, Cambridgeshire to the west and southwest and Suffolk to the south. Its northern and eastern boundaries are the North Sea coast and to the north-west the county is bordered by The Wash. The county...

, son of William Methold ( or Methwold ) senior and his wife Susanna Alington ;called to the Bar 1589, a serjeant by 1612 and bencher of Lincoln's Inn

Lincoln's Inn

The Honourable Society of Lincoln's Inn is one of four Inns of Court in London to which barristers of England and Wales belong and where they are called to the Bar. The other three are Middle Temple, Inner Temple and Gray's Inn. Although Lincoln's Inn is able to trace its official records beyond...

 1608. He was knighted and sent to Ireland as Chief Baron of the Irish Exchequer in 1612 and held the position until his death . He was buried in Christ Church Cathedral

Christ Church Cathedral

Christ Church Cathedral is the name of many Anglican cathedrals around the world, and may refer to:-Canada:*Christ Church Cathedral , New Brunswick*Christ Church Cathedral , Quebec*Christ Church Cathedral , Ontario...

. He married Margaret Southwell of Suffolk.

Elrington Ball states that he was noted for severity against Roman Catholics and a determination to exclude them from any part in public life. Crawford , however praises him as an exceptionally able, energetic and dependable judge who was diligent in going on assize ( which many judges found an ordeal ) and in referring difficult cases to the Court of Castle Chamber.