Believed to have been the Son of Cardinal Wolsey by "one Larck's daughter". The fact that he was obliged at a latter date to obtain a dispensation points to some stigma upon his birth.
1511-He held a corrody at Evesham which he resigned in April this year.
1519-He is known to be studying at Louvain before November this year.
Through the Cardinal's influence he received many preferment's.
1522-1528 He is known to have received twenty ecclesiastical positions. Dispite the fact that it is doubtful he even took deacon's orders.
1526-On his appointment to the Deanery of Wells he received a grant of arms which closely resembled Wolsey's, and in the same year a dispensation was sought of him.
1528-Wolsey suggested that Wynter should be made Bishop of Durham an office the Cardinal contemplated resigning.
During all this time Wynter was pursuing his studies at Louvain, Padua, Ferrara, Poissy and Paris. Like many scholars, he paid no attention to business matters, so ever lacked money. In Paris he lived magnificently, associating with the highest in the land, recognised as the Cardinal's kinsman. His frequent requests for money disturbed Wolsey, who fell into the habit of asking any friend passing through Paris to report on Wynter's establishment.
1529-The Cardinal's fall made changes in Wynter's position.
1532-3 Obtained a licence to remain abroad and to travel with a retinue of three servants, four horses or geldings, ambling or trotting, and baggage as usual. He retired to Padau, where he lived wretchedly, lacking both clothes and money, and subjected to the insolence of Bonner, whom the Cardinak, just before he died had commended him "quasi fratrem frati. "He threatened to have Wynter deprived of his preferment's, and wrote home complaining of Wynter's treatment of him.
1534-Returned from the Continent in the middle of this year, when pressing business called him to England. Including writing several pathetic letters to Thomas Cromwell describing his state of poverty and begging assistance, in response he received a few benefices of little value.
Wynter writes that he had not yet been admitted as priest. Although he had held man y ecclesiastical positions.
1537- October he obtained the Archdeaconry of Cornwall. There is reason to believe he accepted it eagerly, not with the intention of assuming the duties of his office, but as a marketable commodity; possibly he had already agreed to transfer it to Thomas Body in consideration of the payment of certain debts and a margin of cash; if not the promptitude of the striking of the bargain is not easily explained.
8th October- Wynter was collated to the Archdeaconry.
10th October -Installed by proxy.
9th November-according to Body-he executed a pair of indentures, whereby he, Thomas Wynter, clerk, Archdeacon of Cornwall:-
"granted, demised, betaken and to farm letten" to William Body "his said Archdeaconry in Cornwall and his prebend in the Collegial Church in Glasney, otherwise called Penryn in Cornwall annexed to the same Archdeaconry, and all manner manors, woods, underwoods, timber, trees, profits, procurations, oblations, emoluments and commodities to the same Archdeaconry and prebend belonging; together with the advowson and patronage of a priory called seynte Jones yn Helstone belonging to the same Archdeaconry together also with all maner proxes Synages, probates of testaments, administrations, dilapidations, inductions, corrections, commutations, citations, suspensions, excommunication's, monitions, compulsory decrees, sentances and all and singular profits of the seal belonging to the same Archdeaconry, visitations and the making instituting and putting in and putting out of all manner officials, registers, seals and all manner other offices and offices, etc,etc for three years and so from three years unto three years then next following during the term of xxxv years"
Afterward Body stated that he had laid out £90 i.e the annual rent for three years served on Wynter, and had also paid the Ten ths and Subsidy, amounting to £9 11s 2d. Altogether it looks as if Body had made an expensive bargain.
The indentures, it is said, were signed in Body's house in London, but there is a conflict of evidence as to what happened on that occasion. On Wynter's behalf it is said by Falk Aphowell that Body brought Wynter a bill of attorney, which the latter looked at and said he could not "skill the sums" so it must be withdrawn.
Another testified that Wynter had agreed to a certain lease, but that Body had devised a pair of indentures "clean contary" disagreeing from the agreement, and that Wynter, "not thinking but that the said complainant had faithfully and truly caused the said indentures to be made," had signed them only to find later that they were not such as had been represented.
But a doubt as to the validity of the sale must have been in Wynters mind, for, before signing the agreement, he had desired Body to "axe thadvyse of such persons as knew the spirituall lawe" dealing with the subject. Body promptly assured him that he had already consulted Drs Hewis, Olyver and Darell, (counsellors in the lawe for the kings parte, when Cranmer, at Dunsyable, pronounced the decree of divorce of Queen Katherine ) who decalred that it would stand - a decision which they afterwards denied having given. "Very well" then said Wynter, "you must keep me harmless against the Bishop of Exeter and his successors for and concerning the said Archdeaconry". To which, it was asserted, Body agreed, and proceeded to act as Archdeacon.
1540-20th December. Bishop Veysey issued first a "writ citory" of this date, directed to John Harry's, late of Penryn, clerk, bachelor of law, the Bishop's commissary general, to John Bostock, late of Exeter, gent. and to clerks and scholars throughout his diocese, commanding them to bring the citation to the notice of Thomas Wynter, who was thereby summoned to appear before the said Bishop at Penryn, on the 17th February following there to answer for indulging in prohibited games and in other things contrary to the office of am archdeacon and the honesty of a clerk. Having summoned Wynter to answer a charge of evil living the Bishops principal registrar, proceeded to charge him , among the things contrary to the office of an archdeacon, with having let to farm the ecclesiastical and spiritual jurisdiction belonging to the archdeaconry to William Body,
1541-17th Feb-Apparently John Broke, who appeared as Wynter's deputy at Penryn, was not prepared for all the charges, so simply asked for a copy of the articles. Thereupon Brerewood proceeded to deprive Body of the farm of the Archdeaconry, to his great loss, as he afterwards complained. Wynter, finding his sale condemned in the Episcopal Court, and failing to prove that the indentures were subtly devised and nor faithfully and truly executed according to the agreements with Body, now authorised others to hold his archdeaconry and act for him in future. perhaps by the advice of the Bishop he appointed as his deputies John Harrys, alias Rowden, clerk. and George Stapleton. the former was prebendary of St Thomas of Glasney, superior of the Hospital of St John next Helston., one of the benefices appertaining to the archdeaconry, and , as we have seen, the Bishops commissary in Cornwall named in the writ citatory, while George Stapleton was the Bishops servant who received Body's payments at Crediton (See William Body File Christmas 1540).
March 1541-Wynter by his own hand gave Stapleton his "deed patent" in the house of one Grey, in Fleet Street.
John Harrys, alias Rowden and George Stapleton set out for Launceston , the place fixed for the archidiaconal visitation. Nor were they the only persons to arrive from a distance in that border town. (see William Body file to pick up the story).