William of March
Encyclopedia
William of March was a medieval Lord High Treasurer
of England and a Bishop of Bath and Wells.
, and may have attended and graduated from Oxford University. He was controller of the wardrobe from 1283 to 1290 and Dean
of St. Martin's-le-Grand before being selected as Treasurer in August of 1290. He was Treasurer until he was dismissed in August of 1295. While treasurer, he introduced the practice of keeping Exchequer
Journal rolls, or as accountants know them day books, which recorded the total amount in the treasury at the start of each day along with all payments made that day. This practice began in 1293, and did not record any payments made before taxes arrived at the treasury.
William was a canon
of Wells by 20 March 1291 and a royal clerk.
William was elected bishop
30 January 1293 and consecrated 17 May 1293. As treasurer he was instrumental in putting forward administrative changes in the way the department was run. For the first time, monies coming into the treasury were recorded on special accounts and the officials of the department became more involved in the collection and assement of taxes and other varieties of income. However, in August of 1295 William was dismissed as treasurer, although the financial policies did not change. It may be that King Edward I
used March as a scapegoat, or it may be that some charges that citizens of London brought against the treasurer were felt to be valid. After his dimissal from the treasurership in 1295, he devoted himself to the care of his diocese, and was regarded as pious bishop.
William died on 11 June 1302 although current historical research is challenging that date. He was buried at Wells Cathedral
in the south transept wall on 17 June 1302. In 1325 there was a petition for him to be canonized, which continued to be supported by kings Edward II
and Edward III of England
. William is supposed to have built the chapter house at Wells
. His will named a brother, John March, and a nephew, Robert Urry, who William left monies to go on crusade in William's name.
Lord High Treasurer
The post of Lord High Treasurer or Lord Treasurer was an English government position and has been a British government position since the Act of Union of 1707. A holder of the post would be the third highest ranked Great Officer of State, below the Lord High Chancellor and above the Lord President...
of England and a Bishop of Bath and Wells.
Life
William was always referred to as magisterMagister (degree)
Magister is an academic degree used in various systems of higher education.-Argentina:...
, and may have attended and graduated from Oxford University. He was controller of the wardrobe from 1283 to 1290 and Dean
Dean (religion)
A dean, in a church context, is a cleric holding certain positions of authority within a religious hierarchy. The title is used mainly in the Anglican Communion and the Roman Catholic Church.-Anglican Communion:...
of St. Martin's-le-Grand before being selected as Treasurer in August of 1290. He was Treasurer until he was dismissed in August of 1295. While treasurer, he introduced the practice of keeping Exchequer
Exchequer
The Exchequer is a government department of the United Kingdom responsible for the management and collection of taxation and other government revenues. The historical Exchequer developed judicial roles...
Journal rolls, or as accountants know them day books, which recorded the total amount in the treasury at the start of each day along with all payments made that day. This practice began in 1293, and did not record any payments made before taxes arrived at the treasury.
William was a canon
Canon (priest)
A canon is a priest or minister who is a member of certain bodies of the Christian clergy subject to an ecclesiastical rule ....
of Wells by 20 March 1291 and a royal clerk.
William was elected bishop
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
30 January 1293 and consecrated 17 May 1293. As treasurer he was instrumental in putting forward administrative changes in the way the department was run. For the first time, monies coming into the treasury were recorded on special accounts and the officials of the department became more involved in the collection and assement of taxes and other varieties of income. However, in August of 1295 William was dismissed as treasurer, although the financial policies did not change. It may be that King Edward I
Edward I of England
Edward I , also known as Edward Longshanks and the Hammer of the Scots, was King of England from 1272 to 1307. The first son of Henry III, Edward was involved early in the political intrigues of his father's reign, which included an outright rebellion by the English barons...
used March as a scapegoat, or it may be that some charges that citizens of London brought against the treasurer were felt to be valid. After his dimissal from the treasurership in 1295, he devoted himself to the care of his diocese, and was regarded as pious bishop.
William died on 11 June 1302 although current historical research is challenging that date. He was buried at Wells Cathedral
Wells Cathedral
Wells Cathedral is a Church of England cathedral in Wells, Somerset, England. It is the seat of the Bishop of Bath and Wells, who lives at the adjacent Bishop's Palace....
in the south transept wall on 17 June 1302. In 1325 there was a petition for him to be canonized, which continued to be supported by kings Edward II
Edward II of England
Edward II , called Edward of Caernarfon, was King of England from 1307 until he was deposed by his wife Isabella in January 1327. He was the sixth Plantagenet king, in a line that began with the reign of Henry II...
and Edward III of England
Edward III of England
Edward III was King of England from 1327 until his death and is noted for his military success. Restoring royal authority after the disastrous reign of his father, Edward II, Edward III went on to transform the Kingdom of England into one of the most formidable military powers in Europe...
. William is supposed to have built the chapter house at Wells
Wells
Wells is a cathedral city and civil parish in the Mendip district of Somerset, England, on the southern edge of the Mendip Hills. Although the population recorded in the 2001 census is 10,406, it has had city status since 1205...
. His will named a brother, John March, and a nephew, Robert Urry, who William left monies to go on crusade in William's name.