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Around 1542 William Dethick was born to Gilbert Dethick (age 32). He was educated at St John's College, Cambridge University [Map].
In 1567 William Dethick (age 25) was appointed Rouge Croix Pursuivant of Arms in Ordinary.
In 1570 William Dethick (age 28) was appointed York Herald of Arms in Ordinary.
On 03 Oct 1584 [his father] Gilbert Dethick (age 74) died. Robert Cooke (age 49) served as Acting Garter King of Arms until the appointment of Gilbert's son William Dethick (age 42) on 21 Apr 1586.
Archaeologia Volume 1 Section 55. On Sunday, being the 30th of July, 1587, in the 29th year of the reign of Elizabeth, the queens majestie of England, there went from Peterborough M.... Dethick (age 45), alias Garter principal king of armes, and five heralds, accompanied with forty horse and men, to conduct the body of Mary, late queen of Scots, from Fotheringham Castle [Map] in Northamptonshire to Peterborough aforesaid, which queen had remained prisoner in England .... years; having for that purpose brought a royal coach, drawn by four horses, and covered with black velvet richly set forth with escotcheons of the armes of Scotland, and little penons, round about it; the body being inclosed in lead, and the same coffined in wood, was brought down and reverently put into the coach, at which time the heralds put on their coats of arms, and bare-headed, with torches light, brought the same forth of the castle, about ten of the clock at night, and so conveyed it to Peterborough .... miles distant from Fotheringham Castle,
Tudor Tracts Chapter 20. The following is a truer account of the actual interment:
On Sunday, being the 30th of July, 1587, in the 20th year of the reign of Elizabeth the Queen's Majesty of England, there went from Peterborough Master William Dethick (age 45), alias Garter Principal King of Arms, and five Heralds, accompanied by 40 horse and men, to conduct the body of Mary, late Queen of Scots, from Fotheringhay Castle [Map] in Northamptonshire (which Queen had remained prisoner in England nineteen years): having for that purpose, brought a royal coach drawn by four horses, and covered with black velvet; richly set forth with escutcheons of the Arms of Scotland, and little pennons round about it.
The body (being enclosed in lead; and the same coffined in wood) was brought down, and reverently put into the coach.
At which time, the Heralds put on their Coats of Arms, and bareheaded, with torches' light, brought the same forth of the Castle, about ten of the clock at night: and so conveyed it to Peterborough [eleven] miles distant from Fotheringhay Castle.
On 13 May 1603 William Dethick (age 61) was knighted by King James I of England and Ireland and VI of Scotland (age 36).
In May 1604 Robert Spencer 1st Baron Spencer (age 34) and William Dethick (age 62) travelled to Frederick Württemberg I Duke Württemberg (age 46) to present jewels including two garters with diamonds and rubies, and two St Georges with diamonds and rubies, and a gold chain or collar, made by the London goldsmiths, John Spilman and William Herrick.
In 1612 William Dethick (age 70) died. He was buried at St Paul's Cathedral [Map]. His grave was lost in the Great Fire of London.