Background
He was born at Burton-Overy, Leicestershire, about 1505, and educated at Balliol College, Oxford, migrating to Lincoln College.
He was born at Burton-Overy, Leicestershire, about 1505, and educated at Balliol College, Oxford, migrating to Lincoln College.
He graduated Bachelor of Arts on 18 July 1530, Master of Arts
On 14 January 1533, B.M. on 30 May 1537, Bachelor of Divinity on 2 May 1539, and Doctor of Divinity in July 1540, being incorporated Doctor of Divinity at Cambridge in 1554. On 16 July 1533 he was elected one of the officials of Oxford market, and in 1537 was proctor. On 8 January 1538 he was elected Rector of Lincoln College, and in 1540 was appointed Lady Margaret professor of divinity.
On 15 September 1541 he was collated rector of Saint Nicholas Olave, and on 19 May 1544 rector of Saint Botolph"s, Bishopsgate.
On 17 October 1547 he was appointed archdeacon of Cornwall, and in the same year he became rector of Burton-Overy. Early in 1549 his Catholic views brought him into collision with the university visitors.
He was ejected from his professorship, and on 11 September following Alexander Seymour was paid for arresting Weston in Leicestershire and conveying him to the Fleet prison. How long he remained in confinement is uncertain, but he retained all his offices except his professorship, and received further preferment on Queen Mary"s accession.
On 18 September 1553 he was installed dean of Westminster, and on 22 January 1554 was collated to the archdeaconry of Colchester.
He also received the living of Cliff-at-Hoo, Kent, on 2 April 1554, resigning the rectorship of Lincoln in 1555. His services as a controversialist were in great demand. He acted as confessor to Henry Grey, 1st Duke of Suffolk and Sir Thomas Wyatt at their execution, was prolocutor of the convocation that met on 16 October 1553, and preached at Saint Paul"s Cross four days later, and before the queen on Ash Wednesday (7 February 1553-1554) during Wyatt"s rebellion.
He examined Thomas Philpot, had disputations with Nicholas Ridley and John Bradford, and presided over Thomas Cranmer"s trial in Saint Mary"s, Oxford, on the 14th, and over the disputation between Latimer and Richard Smith on 18 April 1554.
In 1556, when it was decided to restore Westminster Abbey to its monastic character, Weston was induced to resign his deanery in favour of John de Feckenham, receiving instead the deanery of Windsor. He determined to appeal against Pole"s decision to the Roman curia, but was arrested at Gravesend when setting out, and lodged in the Tower of London.
He was released on plea of sickness on 3 December 1558, and died at the house of one Winter in Fleet Street on 8 December, being buried in the Savoy. By his will, dated 26 November 1558, he provided for masses for his soul at Balliol and Lincoln Colleges, at Saint Mary"s, Oxford, at Burton-Overy, and at Islip, of which he is said to have been rector.
His Oratio coram Patribus et Clero habita 16 October 1553 was published in that year (London), and disputations are printed in John Foxe"s Actes and Monuments.
Edward Weston was his great-nephew.