Grenvil, William De

Grenvil, William De an early English prelate, was born of a noble family in Cornwall; became canon of York, dean of Chichester, chancellor of England under king Edward I, and finally archbishop of York. His confirmation to this last preferment was delayed until he had paid the pope nine thousand five hundred marks, which reduced him to such poverty, that he had to be relieved by the clergy of his province. He had this compensation-he was consecrated by the very hands of pope Clement V. He highly favored the Templars, but persons so greatly opposed as they were by the pope and Philip of France had more fear of losing than hope of gaining by his friendship. He was present at the Council of Vienna (1311), where he had a high place assigned him. He died at Cawood in 1315, and was buried in the Chapel of St. Nicholas, leaving the reputation of an able statesman and a good scholar. See Fuller, Worthies of England (ed. Nuttall), 1:309.