"SI DEUS NOBISCUM QUIS CONTRA NOS” His motto on his Brass at Ely Vide also Add. 1940, p.24 .

Thomas Goodricke, Bishop of Ely and Lord Chancellor in the reign of Edward VI was the third son of William Goodricke of East Kirby, Co. Lincoln by his wife Jane, daughter and heiress of William Williamson of Boston Esq. He was born at East Kirby about the year 1490, and showing early signs of talent and industry, he was entered at Bene't College, Cambridge, at the then usual age of ten (1500). He took his B.A. Degree in 1510, the same year with Cranmer and Latimer, and M.A. 1514. He was a fellow of Jesus College, and was one of the Proctors of the University in 1515. He was presented to the rectory of St. Peter Cheap, 16th November 1529 by Cardinal Wolsey as Commendatory of the Abbey of St. Alban.

He was one of the divines consulted by the convocation as to the legality of the King's marriage with Catherine of Aragon, and also one of the syndics appointed by the University of Cambridge to determine that question in February 1529-30. At this time he was a doctor of divinity. Soon afterwards he occurs as one of the chaplains to Henry VIII and Canon of St. Stephen's, Westminster.

He was a commissioner for reforming the Canon Laws in the reigns of Henry VIII and Edward VI.  About a year after the death of Bishop West the King granted a license to the Prior and Convent at Ely, to choose themselves a Bishop and they thereupon, on 17th March 1534 elected Dr. Goodricke who was consecrated at Croydon by Archbishop Cranmer on 19th April 1534.

It was soon after his elevation to the See of Ely that he repaired and beautified the palace there entirely at his own expense and built the long gallery (called Bishop Goodricke's gallery) on the west side of it.   His Arms are still to be seen beneath the central window of this gallery, as also on the sides of it

 "Our duty towards God"and"Our duty towards our neighbour"

in nearly the same words as those with which we are familiar in the Church Catechism.  Bishop Goodricke composed this portion of the Catechism and it has been conjecture with some show of reason that he was the author of the catechism as it appeared in the Prayer Book of 1549. (Evan Danirel).  It is sad to relate these most interesting carvings on the walls of the Goodricke galley at Ely are now almost obliterated by age and decay.

Bishop Goodricke was a zealous supporter of the Reformation, as may by seen from the mandate which he addressed in the next year to his diocese; in which he directs, that at High Mass or at Vespers, a declaration shall be made in English to the intent that the

"Authority of long time usurped by the Bishop of Rome in this realm, who then was called Pope, ys now by God's laws, justly, lawfully, and on grounded reasons and causes, by authority of Parliament, and by and with the hole consent and agreement of the Bishops, Prelates, and both Universities of Oxford and Cambridge and also of the hole Clergies of  this realm, extinct and ceased for ever."

Illustration artist impression of Bishops palace Somersham by Michael B Goodrick. 

This document is dated from the Episcopal Palace at Somersham June 27th 1535.

In 1537 he was one of the compilers of what was called the "Bishops' Book" which was published under the title of "The Godly and Pious Institution of a Christian Man," (Hore 254) and soon after he was entrusted with the Gospel of St. John in the revision of the New Testament.
In 1541 he published a violent mandate for the utter destruction of

"All images and bones of such as the King’s people resorted and offered unto,"

as also: -

"The ornaments, writings, table monuments of miracles or pilgrimage, shrines, coverings of shrine, appertaining to the said images and bones."

These he commanded should be
 

"So totally demolished and obliterated with all speed and diligence that no remains or memory of them might be found for the future."

On the accession of Edward VI he was sworn of the Privy Council, and in November 1548 was appointed one of the royal commissioners for the visitation of the University of Cambridge.  He was one of the compilers of the First Prayer Book of Edward VI (1549).
On 15th March 1548-9 Bishop Goodricke was sent to prepare Lord Seymour of Sudeley for death, after his brother the Duke of Somerset had signed the warrant for his execution.

The Duke’s harsh conduct induced the bishop to join the malcontents in the Privy Council who sought the overthrow of the protector.  In 1550 Goodricke was one of the bishops who tried to obtain a recantation from Joan Bocher, and "I.M.N." of Trinity College, Camb. Writes: -
 

"It should ever be remembered that in the memorable dispute on the use of ecclesiastical vestments it was by the advice of Bishop Goodricke that the Primate stood firm against the objections of Hooper."

In Nov. 1550 Goodricke was appointed one of the commissioners for the trial of Gardiner, bishop of Winchester.  Soon afterwards he and Cranmer were ordered by the Council to dispute with George Day, Bishop of Chichester, who was deprived and committed to Goodricke in "Christian Charity."  In May 1551 Bishop Goodricke was appointed a commissioner to invest Henry II, King of France with the order of the Garter, and to treat of the marriage of his daughter Elizabeth with Edward VI.  On 22nd December 1551 the great Seal, on the retirement of Lord Chancellor Rich, was given into the bishop's hands as keeper and Goodricke received the full title of Lord Chancellor on 19th January 1551-2 when it was discovered that Rich's illness has been pretended.  Bishop Goodricke's portrait is in Holbein's picture of the "Grant of the Charter to Bridewell Hospital" of which I present here a reduced copy of Virtue’s well known engraving.
 
 

In the last chapter I gave an outline of the chief events in the life of Bishop Goodricke up to the year 1552 when he was raised to the Lord Chancellor ship.  The next two years were by far the most eventful of all, in consequence of the part he was persuaded to take in the plot to place Lady Jane Grey on the throne.
 

"In June 1553, when the poor young King was stretched on his couch at Greenwich, dying of a hopeless complication of diseases, the Duke of Northumberland laid a proposal dealing with the succession to the Crown before him, which set aside his Majesty's two sisters  (Mary on account of her religion and Elizabeth on that of her doubtful legitimacy) and entailed the throne on the Lady Frances, Marchioness of Dorset, mother of Lady Jane Grey, the newly-wedded bride of Northumberland's son, Lord Guilford Dudley, and on her sisters and their heirs.
Northumberland ended by inducing the dying King to eliminate every one of these other heirs, save and except Lady Jane Grey, who was named his immediate successor.  His first step had been the overthrow of Somerset; his second, the alliance of his family with the Royal blood by the marriage of his youngest son, Guilford, to Lady Jane Grey, and the proclamation of Lady Jane as Queen of England was to be the third, The King's Council was easily induced to approve the "Devise" as the scheme was called.  And so it came to pass that when Edward VI passed away on July 6, 1553, all was prepared for the realization of Northumberland's audacious plan." (Davey p. 191).

Bishop Goodricke, the Lord Chancellor, was apparently not consulted upon this settlement of the succession, but his well known zeal for the suppression of popery caused him to be easily persuaded by Northumberland and the Council to affix the great seal to the instrument in which it was declared, and with the rest of the Council he subscribed to the understanding to support the royal testament and he acted continuously on the Council during the nine days of the Lady Jane's usurpation, signing as Chancellor several letters on her behalf.

On the 8th July 1553, two days after the death of the King, the Duke of Northumberland, accompanied by the Duke of Suffolk, Jane's father, the Earl of Pembroke, Bishop Goodricke, the Lord Chancellor and other members of the Council proceeded on that memorable journey to Sion House, Isleworth, and proclaimed Lady Jane Queen,

"an honour, which she refused with tears and protestations."

 Lady Jane's scruples were however entirely overcome and on the following afternoon she was conveyed in state from Sion House to the Tower.
There is a fine painting by Leslie, R.A. at Woburn Abbey, Bedfordshire, which portrays the scene at Sion House on 8th July 1553.  Lady Jane is the chief figure, standing by her side is her husband drawing her attention to the Patent with the Great Seal hanging from it which the Duke of Northumberland, kneeling, is displaying to her view.  Prominent among the other figures - all-kneeling - is the Lord Chancellor holding his insignia of office in both hands.
Jane was proclaimed Queen in the city of London on 10th July 1553 but the people received the announcement with manifest coldness.

 
"Meanwhile events within the Tower moved rapidly. Bad news came in daily and it became increasingly evident that Northumberland's efforts were being checked at every turn. At last, the Duke growing desperate, decided to take the field against Mary himself, and he departed, very unwillingly on July 12th, after a meeting of the Council, which sat daily in the White Tower, and rode northwards with a troop of horse and several noblemen. He got as far as Bury St. Edmunds, and then, scenting defeat, fell back on Cambridge, where he was taken an unresisting prisoner by the Earl of Arundel and Sir John Gates, both of whom had, up to that time, pretended to be his warmest friends. (Davey p.195)

"For the whole week most of the members of the Council had been kept strictly within the Tower, holding consultations etc. By July 19, the Council had matured its centre-coup. Very early in the morning of that day, certain of them waited on the Duke of Suffolk and asked to depart temporarily from the Tower and resort to Baynard's Castle to confer with the French Ambassador about the importation of French levies to reinforce Northumberland." (Davey)

 This was a ruse,

"Suffolk, having given his consent, the Ministers trooped out of the Tower and proceeded to Baynard's Castle where they signed a paper proclaiming Mary Queen, and this they forthwith caused to be promulgated at various points of the City amid the shouts of citizens."

 The Council were alarmed, they felt that Jane's cause was lost and however zealous they may have been for the Protestant Religion, or for preferment under Northumberland, they hastened to revoke their acts as done under coercion and hoped that by an early demonstration of loyalty they might at least save themselves! The Council ordered Suffolk to then and there depose his own daughter.
 

"And Suffolk did as he was bid, and proclaimed the rightful Queen on Tower Hill in person"
"Suffolk told his gentle daughter that her brief reign was now closed and the little "Queen," a great weight lifted from her mind, passed silently out of the State Room to her own chamber." (Davey)

 The leading actors in the conspiracy were now called to answer for their deeds. Northumberland was tried and sent to the block (Aug 22nd 1553). Sir Thomas Palmer and Sir John Gates suffered with him. Lady Jane Grey and her husband, Lord Guildford Dudley, were executed (Feb 12^th.1554) the following year. Thus ends the tragic story of Lady Jane Grey one of the most popular heroines in our history, the helpless victim of circumstances, and of the soaring ambition of a singularly masterful and unscrupulous man, came to be known as the nine day Queen.

Bishop Goodricke was imprisoned being one of those named for trial as traitors. His action in affixing the great Seal to the "Devise" was alone sufficient to have speedily brought him to the scaffold along with Northumberland and those who suffered death with him. Richard Davey in his interesting and valuable work "The Nine Days Queen" gives at page 254-255 the full text of the celebrated "Devise" drawn up by Northumberland and approved by Edward VI. It bears seventy-three signatures-- those on the first line being: - T. Cant (Cranmer) T. Ely Cam (Goodricke) Winchester and Northumberland.

The reader of these lines will be able to realise the anxiety which would now arise in the homes of the Goodricke’s at Ribston, in Lincolnshire, and at Ely, for was not the aged and revered member of their family to whom they looked with affectionate regard, standing in the imminent danger of death on the scaffold for high treason! Who shall say what days of anxious fear were passed by all members of the family and what relief they must have felt when the news reached them that Queen Mary had herself struck the Bishop's name out of the list of those to be tried, that he had been released and had safely reached his home at Ely. It had been thought that Queen Mary's reason for exempting from trial was consideration for his age and on account of his having joined in the order sent by the Council on July 20th commanding the Duke of Northumberland to disarm. The Great Seal, of course, was taken from him. He did homage to Queen Mary on the day of her coronation October 1st 1553 and he was permitted to retain his bishopric until his death.

When we remember the terrible fate of so many Divines who were disposed towards the new doctrines, the protracted punishment of the Lady Jane Grey and her husband and the fate of Northumberland and others, we cannot fail to realise the painful suspense that must have been felt by all the members of the family and their thankfulness that the Bishop's natural death on 10th May 1554, their old and honoured relative was at rest. Bishop Goodricke was buried in the Chancel of Ely Cathedral and the handsome monumental brass to his memory--much mutilated, however, during the Civil War-- is the oldest remaining in that beautiful building. This brass is now in the south aisle of the choir and it seems probable that it was removed to that position when the Cathedral was renovated, as Willis in his "Survey" 1742 Vol 3 has the Bishop's grave marked as

"in the middle of the Quire" (App.2.)
The Effigy, as can be seen from the illustration, is perfect with the exception of a small piece in the upper part of the right shoulder; it represents the Bishop in full Episcopal vestments.  The alb, which is handsomely ornamented in the affray, reaches to the feet, which are sandaled; above these is the tunic; between the latter and the dalmatic the fringed ends of the stole are visible; the maniple and chasuble are both richly ornamented.  In the left hand is the pastoral staff adorned with the vexillum, in the right, the Bible and the great seal.  The legend, which is now much mutilated, is in Latin.  Six small scrolls contained the Bishop's motto "Si Deus nobiscum, quis contra nos" and his name "Goodryke."

At the top right hand corner was a shield  Ely See impaling the Goodricke arms quartered with Williamson.  At the foot on same side was Goodricke quartered with Williamson, but these are lost.  (Vide Add. M.S. 5813 p.123. Brit. Mus.)  The two corresponding shields on the other side are lost and I cannot find any record of what they were.  The Bishop's character and actions are much abused by Dr. Burnet, and especially his acceptance of the office of Chancellor but Mr. Downes, in his "Lives of the compilers of the English Liturgy" says of him: 
 

"He was a sincere promoter of pure religion and a patron to all learned men he had the blessings and prayers of the poor and the favour and esteem of the rich.  His greatest enemies could not but acknowledge him gentle, just and gracious; and his most intimate friends, when they brought a bad cause before him found him inflexible, severe and unprejudiced."

One who knew him personally, however, Robert Steward, the last Prior and first Dean of Ely writes of him as follows: -
 

"Vir erat justus, mansuctus, hospitalis, misericors, amans omnes, et amatus ab omnibus." He was a just and friendly man hospitable and merciful loving all and loved by all. (Rob. Steward, Hist. Eli. p. 676).

He stood forth boldly in defence of what he considered right, but that he was very considerably influenced by the "new learning" his conduct while in the See of Ely abundantly shows, and this burning zeal for the promotion of Protestantism undoubtedly contributed largely to his acquiescence in Northumberland's plans on behalf of Lady Jane Grey.
 There is ample evidence that King Edward was entirely persuaded and most fully believed that Northumberland's intense desire to see the "Devise" carried into effect was the outcome of his zeal for the new religion.  Archbishop Cranmer and others of the Council had qualms of conscience as to it’s legality but Cranmer, as the result of an interview with the King was finally converted to his views and it is on record that when he, with the others, signed the scheme for the succession of the Lady Jane Grey he
 

"did it unpainedly and without dissimulation."  (Crammer’s Works, Parker Society, Vol.II p.442, also Nine Days Queen p.241)

1554 Queen Mary marries Philip of Spain in Winchester Cathedral and the persecution of Protestants begins, the heresy laws are revived and England is reconciled to Papal authority 1555 three protestant Bishops are burned at the stake for heresy 1556 Thomas Cranmer is also burned at the stake on the orders of Mary.

There seems to be, therefore, no reason for doubting the "bona fides" of the Chancellor in his action, ill advised as it was. Hooper, writing to Bullinger on 27th December 1549, refers to Goodricke as one of the six or seven bishops who comprehended the (so-called) reformed doctrine relating to the Lord's Supper with as much clearness and piety as one could desire.
It has been said that he would not have been pardoned by Queen Mary had he not veered round with the times. But it is on record, that he was, from middle age, a delicate man and that at the time we are considering, he was in declining health, suffering from that painful malady, stone.  One writer ("J.M.N." Trinity College) says: 

"If we cannot assign to this prelate that energetic resolution and unwearied perseverance and courage which distinguished some of his contemporaries; still, while the gentle, the persuasive, the long -suffering, are held in esteem, so long will the Anglican Church feel a pride in, and look back in reverence to the name of Bishop Goodricke"

Bishop Goodricke's Will, dated 24th April 1554, was proved in the Prerogative Court of Canterbury 7th October the same year. Before closing this chapter I should mention that the Bishop is often misnamed Goodrich, but, as I have many times pointed out, he was not related, even remotely, to the Goodrich family, though he is continually claimed by it as an ancestor without, however, one atom of proof being brought forward to support such a claim.