William D'Aubigny

  General Notes:

known as Pincerna - a Latin version of a Greek word that means cupbearer (the cupbearer was not the most important function at the court but he was in control of the valuable wine cellar, and in this function was also known as avaricious and as the confidant of his lord), son of Roger de Albini and elder brother of Nigel de Albini, whose posterity assumed and attained such eminence under the name of Mowbray, accompanied the Conqueror into England and acquired extensive territorial possessions by royal grants in Norfolk and other counties.

One of these grants was the lordship of Bokenham, to be held by the service of being Butler to the Kings of England on the day of their coronation and in consequence we find this William styled in divers charters "Pincerna Henrici Regis Anglorum".

William de Albini founded the abbey of Wymondham in Norfolk and gave to the monks of Rochester the tithes of the manor of Elham and also one carucate of land in Achestede, with a wood called Acholte. He likewise bestowed upon the abbey of St. Etienne at Caen, in Normandy, all his lands lying in Stavell, which grant he made in the presence of Henry and his Barons.

He married Maud, daughter of Roger Bigod, by whom he obtained ten knights' fees in Norfolk and had issue: William1 (d.1176), Earl of Arundel, Ralph2, Nigel, Oliver and Olivia who married Ralph de Haye.

At the obsequies of Maud, William de Albini gave to the monks of Wymondham the manor of Hapesburg, in pure alms, and made livery thereof to the said monks by a cross of silver, in which (says Dugdale) was placed certain venerable reliques, viz: "part of the wood of the cross whereon our Lord was crucified, part of the manger wherein he was laid at his birth and part of the sepulchre of the Blessed Virgin and also a gold ring and a silver chalice for retaining the Holy Eucharist, admirably wrought in form of a sphere. Unto which pious donation his three sons were witnesses with several other persons". The exact time of the decease of this great feudal baron is not ascertained but it is known that he was buried before the high altar in the abbey of Wymondham and that the monks were in the constant habit of praying for his soul by the name of "William de Albini, the king's butler". He was survived by his eldest son, William de Albini.

William married Maud Bigod, daughter of Roger Bigod and Adelisa de Toeni.