Christopher Bainbridge

1464?-1514. Archbishop of York. Born in Westmoreland, he was educated at Queen's College, Oxford, of which he became provost in 1495. Two years later he was treasurer of St. Paul's, then successively dean of York (1503), dean of Windsor (1505), bishop of Durham (1508), and archbishop of York (1509). He was sent to Rome as ambassador by Henry VIII* in the same year, and in 1511 rewarded for his services to Pope Julius II by a cardinal's hat and the command of a papal army against Ferrara. There are two conflicting accounts of the manner of his death-by stabbing or poisoning-but only one agent, his chaplain, allegedly at the instigation of the bishop of Worcester (permanent English ambassador in Rome) who was finally acquitted.