Short answers, pulled from the story.
Authorities cite either the year 1483 or 1485 as his birth year though some claim he reached ninety-seven years old which would place his birth closer to 1474. Disagreement persists over whether he was born at Fisherton Delamere in Wiltshire or elsewhere among his father's holdings.
William Paulet emerged from the manor of Paulet near Bridgwater in Somerset around 1483 or 1485. The family lineage traced back to Hinton St George where they had lived since the early thirteenth century.
He professed five distinct changes in religious course throughout his lifetime. This metaphorical flexibility allowed him to maintain power across four different monarchs with opposing faiths.
In March 1539 William Paulet received creation as Baron St John holding that style until 1550. On the 19th of January 1550 he gained the Earldom of Wiltshire and later on the 11th of October 1551 Paulet received the Marquessate of Winchester.
When asked how he survived so many political storms unharmed while rising higher each time Paulet answered: By being a willow not an oak. His metaphorical flexibility allowed him to maintain power across four different monarchs with opposing faiths.