Edward Lee, Archbishop of York

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Edward Lee
Archbishop of York
Enthroned 1531
Ended 1544
Predecessor Thomas Cardinal Wolsey
Successor Robert Holgate
Born c. 1482
Died 13 September 1544

Edward Lee (c. 148213 September 1544) was archbishop of York from 1531 until his death.

[edit] Life

He was famous for his attack on Erasmus, who responded in his Epistolae Aliquot Eruditorum Virorum. Edward was of use to Henry VIII in the matter of the divorce of Catherine of Aragon, and was sent by the king on embassies to Emperor Charles V and to Pope Clement VII.

In 1531 he became archbishop of York. Henry however was suspicious of him, as Lee disliked Henry's position as leader of the Church of England. At Pontefract, during the Pilgrimage of Grace of 1536, Lee was forced to join the rebels, but he did not sympathize with the rising and in 1539 he spoke in parliament in favour of the six articles of religion. Lee was the last archbishop of York to mint coins.


Church of England titles
Preceded by
Thomas Cardinal Wolsey
Archbishop of York
1531 – 1544
Succeeded by
Robert Holgate