Henry Beaufort, Bishop of Winchester

Also known as: Henrie Beauford bishop of Winchester / Henrie Beaufort / Henrie bishop of Winchester / Henry Beaufort, Cardinal of Winchester · Family: House of Lancaster · Role: son of John of Gaunt and Katherine Swynford · First appears: Richard II 63

Henry Beaufort was the son of John of Gaunt and Katherine Swynford, and the sibling of Thomas Beaufort, Duke of Exeter. He was brought up at Aachen, became a lawyer, and was later made Bishop of Winchester. He was an uncle of Henry V, lent him twenty thousand pounds, and became godfather to Henry VI; around 1422, he and Thomas Beaufort, Duke of Exeter were appointed to the custody of the young king while John of Lancaster, Duke of Bedford served as regent in France and Humphrey Duke of Gloucester as protector of England.

Around 1424, Henry Beaufort and Humphrey Duke of Gloucester became rivals, and their quarrel troubled the realm. Humphrey Duke of Gloucester brought articles against him, and accused him of setting armed men and archers at London Bridge with the intention of causing his death. He was also accused of procuring a man to kill Henry V and of urging him to take the crown during Henry IV’s illness. Henry Beaufort received and supported Richard Woodville against Humphrey Duke of Gloucester, but in 1425 their disputes were submitted to arbitration by, among others, Henry Chichele, Archbishop of Canterbury, Thomas Beaufort, Duke of Exeter, John Mowbray, Duke of Norfolk, Thomas Langley, Bishop of Durham, Philip Morgan, Bishop of Worcester, John Stafford, Bishop of Bath, Humphrey Stafford, Duke of Buckingham, William Alnwick, and Ralph Cromwell, Lord Cromwell. The settlement required Humphrey Duke of Gloucester and Henry Beaufort to show each other affection as kinsmen; Henry also declared, “I haue béene at all times, and am true louer, and true man, to you my souereigne lord, and shall be all my life.”

In 1426, Pope Martin V made him a cardinal and appointed him legate for an intended invasion of Bohemia. Around 1441, Henry Beaufort represented Henry VI in negotiations with Charles VII at Calais, but was accused of retaining the king’s jewels after their repayment and of recovering forfeited jewels and plate through a small loan, to the king’s loss and his own profit. He also granted Elizabeth Beauchamp a livelihood despite her marriage taking place later than the required year. In 1448, the Bishop of Winchester, known as the rich cardinal, died and was buried at Westminster.