William Aubrey

Aubrey was born in Brecknockshire, Wales, the second of Thomas Aubrey, MD, of Cantreff.

After being educated at what later became Christ College, Brecon, Aubrey went to Oxford University, becoming a Fellow of All Souls College, Oxford in 1547. He obtained a BCL degree in 1549 and was appointed Principal of New Inn Hall, Oxford in 1550. In 1553 he succeeded Robert Weston as Regius Professor of Civil Law. He held the position until 1559, when he was succeeded by John Griffith.[1] He served as judge-marshal of the army led by William Herbert, the Earl of Pembroke in the St. Quentin campaign of 1557.[2]

In 1571 he was named in the foundation charter as one of the original eight fellows of Jesus College, Oxford.[3] He obtained the degree of DCL in 1554 and the following year he was made a Master in Chancery.[1]

Aubrey was buried in Old St Paul's Cathedral. This engraving of his monument is by Wenceslaus Hollar.

In 1562 Aubrey was a member of the commission set up by Matthew Parker, Archbishop of Canterbury that declared unlawful the marriage of Lady Catherine Grey to Henry Herbert (son of the 1st Earl of Pembroke). He was one of the signatories of the opinion that John Lesley (Bishop of Ross and an ambassador for Mary, Queen of Scots) could be tried in England for intriguing against Queen Elizabeth.[1]

He was MP for various constituencies: Carmarthen Boroughs (1554), Brecon (1558), Hindon (1559), Arundel (1563), and Taunton (1593). He was a member of the Council of Wales and the Marches from 1586. He was also auditor and vicar-general of the Province of Canterbury under Archbishop Grindal, retaining his position as vicar-general under Archbishop Whitgift.[1]

Aubrey died in London, England in 1595 and was buried in Old St Paul's Cathedral.[4]