WARHAM, war'mn, WILLIAM An English churchman and statesman. Ile was born at Malshaneer, Hampshire; was educated at Winchester College, and New College, Ox ford, and then went to London, where he ticed as an advocate and whence he was sent on numerous diplomatic missions to Italy and the Low Countries in a professional capacity. In 1493 he was ordained and from that time pur sued the double career of churchman and jurist, in 1494 being appointed master of the rolls. From 1.496 to 1502 he was royal ambassador in several important diplomatic affairs, notably the negotiations for the marriage of Prince Arthur to Catharine of Aragon and for a league with the Emperor Maximilian. In 1502 lie was secrated Bishop of London, and became keeper of the great seal, and in 1504 became Lord Chancellor. Meanwhile, in 1503, lie had been translated from the See of London to the Arch bishopric of Canterbury. He continued to be employed by Henry VIII. on diplomatic mis lions and throughout his long tenure of office as Archbishop did his best to remedy and avoid ecclesiastical abuses. in 1509 he crowned Henry
l 1. and Catharine of Aragon- at Westminster, and in 1515 presented \Volsey with the hat as representative of the Pope. The same year he retired from office and was succeeded by Wolsey as Lord Chancellor. in 1527 he was drawn into the inquiry as to the validity of marriage to Catharine, His vacillation in this matter was not altogether commendable. but he finally rebelled against the course of ceedings and at the time of his death was gaged in a vigorous contest for the rights of the Church.
Warham was a generous patron of learning, and from 1506 was chancellor of the Oxford University. His private life, as described by Erasmus, was simple and abstemious, while he was munificent in his public character. Con sult: Campbell. Lire's of the Lords Chancellors (London, 1845-46; new ed., New York, 1874.75) ; Dixon, History of the Church of England, vols. i. and ii. (London, 1884-91) : and Hook. Lires of the Archbishops of ('anterbury, new ser., vol. i. (ib., 1868).