BAINBRIDGE, CHRISTOPHER. - Cardinal Archbishop of York, b. at Hilton c. 1464, d. at Rome 14 July 1514. Ambassador of Henry VIII to Rome, he was created cardinal by Julius II in 1511 with the title of S. Prassede. He secured for Julius II the support of England against France when Louis XII had turned against the Pope, and he worked to obtain from Leo X the title of “Most Christian King” for Henry VIII. He was poisoned by Rinaldo da Modena, his treasurer. Silvestro Giglio, Bishop of Worcester and English legate at Rome, was suspected of having instigated the crime, and a trial followed, but the charge against Giglio was not proven.
BIBL.: H. N. Birt, s. V. in The Catholic Encycl., II (1907), col. 207; I. Gardiner, s. V. in Dict. of nat. biography, I (1908), p. 705.