Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Redman, William
REDMAN, WILLIAM (d. 1602), bishop of Norwich, only son of John Redman of Great Shelford, Cambridgeshire, gent., and Margaret his wife, entered at Trinity College, Cambridge, in 1558, was elected scholar, and in due course fellow of his college. He graduated B.A. in 1563, and commenced M.A. in 1566, and proceeded B.D. in 1573, being then one of the senior fellows of Trinity. In July 1571 he became rector of Ovington in Essex, in the presentation of Anne, dowager lady Maltravers. In the following March he became rector of Toppesfield, and resigned Ovington (Newcourt, Repertorium). In 1576 he was promoted to the archdeaconry of Canterbury. In 1578, being then D.D., he was presented to the rectory of Upper Hardres in Kent, and resigned Toppesfield. The last three pieces of preferment were bestowed upon him by the queen, probably at the suggestion of Archbishop Grindal, whose chaplain he was. He also held the living of Bishopsbourne, to which Richard Hooker [q. v.] succeeded on Redman's promotion to a bishopric. In 1584 and in 1586 he was prolocutor of the lower house of convocation. In 1589 he became canon of Canterbury, and finally was elected to the bishopric of Norwich (17 Dec. 1594), and consecrated on 10 Jan. following. He died at Norwich on 25 Sept. 1602, at which time Chamberlain, writing to Sir Dudley Carleton, describes him as ‘one of the wisest of his coat’ (Cal. State Papers, Dom. 1601–3, p. 249); by this he probably meant that the bishop had a great gift for absorbing preferment, holding his tongue and making no mistakes. Redman married Isabel Calverley, who survived him till 1613. Four sons and two daughters are mentioned as the fruit of this union. Archbishop Grindal appointed him one of his executors, and left him a riding horse. He himself bequeathed one hundred marks towards the wainscoting of the library of Trinity College, Cambridge.
[Cooper's Athenæ Cantabr. and the authorities quoted there.]