WILLIAM, an English lawyer, and recorder of London in the reign of Elizabeth, was a natural son of Mr Fleetwood of Hesketh, in Lancashire. He was educated at Oxford, and studied law at the Middle Temple. In 1569 he was appointed recorder of London, and during his holding of this office he exercised his power very zealously against papish priests and their chapels. He was eminent as an orator and politician. As an author his chief works are—*An Oration*, spoken before the Lord Mayor at Guildhall; *A Table to Plowden's Reports*; *The Office of a Justice of the Peace*, 1658; *Annalium tam Regum Eduardi V., Richardi III., Henrici VII., quam Henrici VIII.: Titulorum ordine Alphabet, et Elenchus*, 1579 and 1597. He died in 1593.