Richard Fitz-James

, son of John Fitzjames (by Alice his Wife daugh, of Joh. Newbourgh) son of James Fitz-james by Eleanor his Wife daugh. and heir of Sim. Draycot, was born in Somersetshire, became a Student in the University of Oxon about 1459. elected probatoner-Fellow of Merton coll. in 1465. took holy orders when he was Master, and in 1473 was elected one of the Proctors of the University. In the beginning of March 1474 he became Preb. of Taunton in the church of Wells upon the resignation of John Wansford, and afterwards being constituted chaplain to K. Edw. 4. he proceeded in Divinity. On the 12 of March 1482 he was elected Warden of Merton coll. upon the resignation of John Gygur, being then and after esteemed a frequent Preacher. Which place he keeping about 25 years, he shewed himself most worthy of it by his admirable way of government which he exercised, by his continual benefaction thereunto, and by his endeavours, when in power, to promote his Fellows. In March 1484-85. he was made Vicar of Mynhead, and about that time Rector of Aller, in Somersetshire; in which last he was succeeded by Mr. Christopher Baynbrigg in the latter end of May 1497. On the 2. of June 1495. he was admitted Almoner to K. Hen. 7. and on the 2. of January 1496. being then elected by the Monks of Rochester to be Bishop of that See, was consecrated thereunto at Lambeth 21. May following by Cardinal Moreton Archb. of Canterbury, and his Assistants Land [•] ff and Bangor. In January 1503. he was translated to the See of Chichester in the place of Dr. Edw. Story a Cantabrigian, (who dying in the latter end of the year 1502. was buried on the north side of the high Altar in the Cath. Ch. at Chichester, under a fair Tomb which he a little before had built for himself,) and on the 14. March. 1505. he was nominated by the King to succeed Dr. Barons in the See of London. On the 1. Aug. 1506. the temporalities of that See were (*)(*) [〈…〉] restored to him: So that soon after being setled there, he resigned his Wardenship of Merton coll. which he had kept in Commendam with Rochester and Chichester, and all that time had administred the Government thereof with great commendation. But this the Reader is to note, that tho he was a Bishop several years while Warden, yet did he, according to statute and custom, submit himself yearly in the month of January to the scrutiny of the Fellows of the said coll. in the Chappel of S. Cross of Halywell near to Oxon, de mora & muribus Custodis. Which statute continuing in use till the time of Hen. 8. was then disused by Dr. Joh. Chamber Warden thereof, under pretence of absence in serving his Majesty as Physician. He the said Dr. [〈…〉] bestowed much money in adorning the Cathedral of S. Paul, as he had done before the collegiate Parish Church belonging to Merton coll. in which house he built (I cannot say all at his own charge) the hall, with a fair dining-room over it; and a lodging room, with a large vault under it, both joyning on the west side to the said hall and dining-room, for the use of him while Warden, and his Successor in that office for ever. Which hall, dining-room, and lodging Chamber were made as additions to the old lodgings belonging to the Wardens of the said college, and were built on the south side of those lodgings which were erected by Hen. Sever sometimes Warden. He the said Dr. Fitz-James also bestowed much money in the building and finishing of S. Maries Church in Oxon. In memory of which benefaction were his Arms, quartering those of Draycot, engraven on stone over the north door leading from the Schoolstreet to the lower end (on the north side) of the body of that church. His Arms also with those of Card. Joh. Moreton Archb. of Cant. and Edm. Audley Bish. of Sarum were at the bottom of the Stone-pulpit in the said Ch. of S. Mary, most curiously engraven, and also on the roof of the old Library, (afterwards a Congregation-house) on the north side of S. Maries Chancel. To the reparation of which Church, as also to the building of the Pulpit, which consisted all of Ashler-stone, there is no doubt but that he was a benefactor. He also, with his brother Sir Joh. Fitz-James L. Ch. Justice of England, were the chief Founders of the School-house in Brewton in Somersetshire, near which Town (at Redlinch, as ’tis said) they were both born. Will. Gilbert Abbat of Brewton was a benefactor to it, and so was John Edmonds D. D. Abbat of Glastenbury. At length, after good deeds had trod upon his heels even to Heaven gates, he gave way to fate in a good old age in the beginding of fifteen hundred twenty and two: 1522 Whereupon his body was buried in the nave of his own Cathedral of S. Paul, under the Altar of S. Paul, near to the foundation or foot of the Campanile, under a marble Tomb prepared and erected by him in his life time. Afterwards was a little Chappel erected over the said Tomb, wherein, I presume, were Masses said for his Soul. But when the said Campanile was consumed with fire 1561. the Chappel then was consumed also.