Bishop Of Norwich

Norwich. 11 recorded holders. religious office ← all offices

The succession the rolls themselves record for this office, earliest first — a finding aid drawn from the roll text, not an authoritative fasti. Spelling variants of one holder now fold together where the volumes' own printed indexes attest them (“Burghers” and “Burghersh” are one man when the editors say so); the opposite case — one name hiding two men — is proposed from the same indexes and from matched identities, and separates only after human confirmation. Until then a shared name lists as one holder, and the list can be checked against printed succession lists (Fasti / VCH).

1. William de Ralegh 1242 ×2
   • 1242-03-06 — William de Haverhull, the treasurer, has letters directed to the dean and chapter of Lichfield, for the prebend that was of William de Radlegh, bishop of Norwic…
2. William de Middelton 1279
   • 1279-01-06 — Roger de Mortuo Mari puts in his place John de Everley and John de Cilecestre in the suit before the king concerning the purparty of the inheritance of the Mars…
3. William de Ayremynne 1326–1336 ×15
   • 1326-11-30 — Order to restore to William de Ayremynne, bishop of Norwich, all his lands, goods, and chattels, which the king lately caused to be taken into his hands, and to…
   • 1327-02-10 — Order to deliver to William de Ayremynne, bishop of Norwich, the issues received by him from the manor of Drax Paynel, co. York, from the time when it was taken…
   • 1330-01-24 — Cancelled on payment. Ralph atte Hull of Westhurrok acknowledges that be owes to John de clerk, 107. ; to be levied, in default of payment, of his lands and in …
   • 1330-01-24 — Cancelled on payment. Ralph atte Hull of Westhurrok acknowledges that he owes to John de clerk, 107. ; to be levied, in default of payment, of his lands and in …
   • 1332-10-07 — de Muscote came before the king, on Wednesday after St. Faith and sought to replevy to Henry Roger and Juliana his wife their land which was taken into the king…
   • 1332-10-15 — John de Wyke, parson of North Luffenham church, acknowledges that he owes to Edmund de Grymesby, clerk, 20s. ; to be levied, in default of payment, of his lands…
   • 1334-03-26 — To the justices of the Bench. Order to proceed to render judgment and - do justice to the parties in a suit before them which Sibyl, late the wife of John de Mo…
   • 1334-03-26 — To the justices of the Bench. Order to proceed to render judgment and do justice to the parties in a suit before them which Sibyl, late the wife of John de Mohu…
4. William de Ayermynne 1334
5. Thomas de Percy 1363
   • 1363-10-24 — Thomas de Percy bishop of Norwich, Henry de Percy and John of Essex to Queen Philippa. Recognisance for 1,000 marks, . 549 to be levied, in default of payment, …
6. Henry le Despenser 1376–1391 ×10
   • 1376-03-29 — Memorandum that this recognisance was taken by Richard de Ravensere clerk, by the king's writ of dedimus potestatem which is on the files for this year. Writing…
   • 1376-03-29 — Memorandum of acknowledgment, 13 May. Writing of Margery daughter of Ralph de Shymplyngford, being confirmation for herself, her heirs and assigns and all futur…
   • 1376-05-07 — Memorandum of acknowledgment, 7 May. Writing of John de Pyshale clerk and Roger de Wolferston, granting Henry Dispencer bishop of Norwich, William de Ufford ear…
   • 1376-05-17 — Memorandum of acknowledgment, 7 May. Writing of John de Pyshale clerk and Roger de Wolferston, granting to Henry Dispencer bishop of Norwich, William de Ufford …
   • 1390-02-18 — To the treasurer and the barons of the exchequer. Writ of superuntil the quinzaine of Easter next in respect of their demand Edmund Hastynges late escheator or …
   • 1390-11-26 — To the treasurer and the barons of the exchequer. Writ of superuntil the quinzaine of Easter next in respect of their demand Edmund Hastynges late escheator in …
   • 1391-02-14 — To the same. Writ of supersedeas until the quinzaine of Easter next in respect of their demand upon John Reede late escheator in Norffolk to answer for the issu…
7. William Alnewyk 1429–1436 ×4
   • 1429-02-16 — Grant to Richard duke of York, William Alnewyk, bishop of Norwich, and Henry Percy, earl of Northumberland, by and with the advice and assent of the king's coun…
   • 1430-03-20 — for 10/. paid in the hanaper, for William Porter, knight, and Ryvell to grant the manor of Ixnynge, cos. Suffolk and Cambridge one acre which they are to retain…
   • 1430-06-18 — Licence, for 10/. paid in the hanaper, for William Porter, knight, and John Ryvell to grant the manor of Ixnyngge which they hold in chief in the counties of Su…
   • 1436-02-20 — Licence, by advice of the council and without fine, for Richard, duke of York, Walter Lucy, chivaler, and Richard Wyggemore to enfeoff William Alnewyk, bishop o…
8. Walter Lyhert 1462–1481 ×4
   • 1462-10-24 — John Cook, parson of the church of Brouneswell, co. Suffoik, alias late of Bromeswell, clerk, for not appearing to answer Walter Lyhert, bishop of Norwich, touc…
   • 1473-11-29 — Stephen Debenham of Hoxen, co. Suffolk, yoman, for not appearing to answer Walter Lyhert, bishop of Norwich, touching a debt of 4 marks. Middlesex.
   • 1481-02-12 — Pardon to William Geddyng late of London, gentilman, alias late of Lakford, co. Suffolk, son of Thomas Geddyng late of Lakford, co. Norfolk, of his outlawries i…
   • undated — Stephen Debenham of Hoxen, co, Suffolk, yoman, for not appearing to answer Walter Lyhert, bishop of Norwich, touching a debt of 4 marks.
9. John de Grai 1466
   • 1466-01-07 — Letters patent dated 20 September, 10 Richard II. granting to them a moiety of two mills, a meadow and a moiety of a fishery. 8. A charter of the said Robert de…
10. James Goldwell 1476
    • 1476-10-18 — Licence for James Goldwell, bishop of Norwich, to found a perpetual chantry of one chaplain to pray at the altar of the Holy Trinity in the parish church of Gre…
11. James Goldewell 1478
    • 1478-12-19 — Grant to James Goldewell, bishop of Norwich, for his good service the seas, that he and his successors shall have two fairs yearly their town of Bishop's Lenn, …

Ordered by the first date each holder appears with the office — where a holder is undated they sort last. Dates are the roll entries' own, not tenure dates.
Cite: “bishop of Norwich”, Reading the Rolls, https://readingtherolls.com/office/bishop-of-norwich, accessed 2026-07-25. Derived from the printed calendars of the medieval English royal records.