Thomas Goodryke Bishop of Ely 39th Lord Chancellor
ARMS. Bishop Thomas Goodrick. Pedigree in the Genealogist vol, IV, P.31 taken from the Visitations of Lincolnshire 1564 spelling Goodryke. Arms Bottom Left : -
Quarterly 1&4: Argent on a fesse (gules) I think it should be sable, between two lions passant guardant gules, a fleur-de-lis between as many crescents or 2&3: Argent on a chevron engrailed between three trefoils sable three crescents or this is correct. (The book quotes fleur-de-lis instead of trefoils) Bottom Right Crest a demi lion rampant gules collared or supporting a battle-axe proper. The only two accounts of a demi lion gules that I have found to date.
Arms. Top Right and left Ely Diocese Arms Gules three crowns or, Crest Bishops Mitre.
A note on the arms of the See of Ely.
"Gules, three crowns Or", is first found being used by Bishop William of Louth (or William de Luda), the twelfth Bishop of Ely, in 1290. They are the arms attributed to Saint Etheldreda, who died long before heraldry began, and are a differenced version of the arms attributed to the Kingsof East Anglia (azure three crowns Or).
Arms. Left centre Medieval Monasteries Ely Arms Or Pale wise three keys Argent.
Arms. Right centre Ely Arms Gules Pale wise three keys or.
See Fig 2.
*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. (MBG 2000)
Thomas Goodryke Bishop of Ely 39th Lord Chancellor story.
THOMAS GOODRYKE was born 1490 in East Kirkby, and died May 10th 1554 at the Bishops Palace, Somersham, Co Cambridge and buried Ely Cathedral.
In East Kirkby Co Lincolnshire1490 William and Jane Goodryke (Nee Williamson daughter and heiress of William Williamson ) lived with their two sons John and Henry soon to be joined by a third brother Thomas, he was destined to become the 39th Lord Chancellor of England and Bishop of Ely. His brother John became High Sheriff and father of Lionel, who erected the new High Hall at East Kirkby. This was probably built in 1549 if a stone bearing the initials and mark of Lionel Goodrick inserted in the wall above the door is there to commemorate this event. Henry became the owner and the first of the Goodricke`s to become the Yorkshire branch of the family, who live there for 300 years. During the 16th Century the Goodrick’s were one of the principal families in East Kirkby and had representation until 1968. The brothers also had four sisters Catherine, Margaret, Elizabeth and Anne.
Thomas started his education at East Kirkby he very soon distinguished himself in his studies, and was entered at Bennett college, Cambridge, at the then usual age of ten (1500). He took his B.A. Degree in 1510, the same year with Crammer and Latimer, and M.A. in1514. He was a fellow of Jesus College, and appointed Proctor in 1514.
Thomas began his church career in the Diocese of Hogely, Co. Lincoln. In 1529 he was presented to the rectory of St. Peters, Cheap, by Cardinal Wolsey, and was appointed canon of Westminster, and soon afterwards made chaplain to the King Henry VIII, (8th) by whom he was frequently employed in embassies to foreign courts.
On 17th March 1534, he was chosen by the Prior and Convent of Ely as Bishop (fig1 illustration 1 early copper plate owned by the author) of that diocese, under a license from the King, and was consecrated by Archbishop Crammer and the Bishop of Lincoln, in the Archiepiscopal Chapel at Croydon, on the 19th April 1534.
Soon after his elevation to the See of Ely, he repaired and redecorated the Bishops palace, Somersham, entirely at his own expense, and built the long gallery on the north side of it. His arms were still to be seen beneath the central window of this gallery in the mid 17 hundreds, as was his version of mans duty towards God and his neighbour; both at that time were decaying fast along with what was left of the palace. (Illustration 4 fig4 artist impression of Bishops palace Somersham with brief history)(Illustration 5 fig5 Plan of Bishops palace Grounds circa 1510).
Bishop Thomas Goodryke was a zealous favourer of the Reformation, and lost no time after entering upon his bishopric in issuing a mandate (27th June, 1535) to the clergy in his diocese instructing them to erase the name of the Pope from all their books, and declare in their churches that the papal authority had ceased throughout the kingdom; and this he followed up in 1541 with an injunction “to see that all images, relics, table-monuments of miracles, shrines, etc, be so totally demolished and obliterated with all speed and diligence that no remains or memory of them might be found for the future.” In a letter from his brother Henry of Ribston Co. Yorkshire when asked as to the wisdom of his actions he said.” idols and graven images.” And went on to quote” Thou shalt not make thee any graven image, or likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the waters beneath the earth. Thou shalt not bow down thyself unto them, nor serve them.
He was one of the Commissioners appointed to reform the Canon Laws, and in 1540 one of the revisers of the translation of the New Testament, having St Johns Gospel allotted to him for his own share. He was also one of the compilers of the first liturgy of the Church of England, which was enacted in 1549 and should have come into general use.
Upon the resignation of Lord Riches, Bishop Thomas Goodryke was made 39th Lord Chancellor, the great seal being delivered to him by the young King on 19th January 1552. He had previously had a seat in the Privy Council. At the King’s request he put the great seal to the instrument for the succession of Lady Jane Grey; and the part he took in this attempt to change the succession, together with his zealous promotion of the Reformation, naturally caused him to be regarded with ill favour by Queen Mary.
He resigned his office, in July1554, and delivering up the great seal to Lords Arundel and Paget, he retired to his diocese, retaining the bishopric till his death, which took place at his palace at Somersham Co. Cambridge on the 10th of May 1554.
Bishop Thomas Goodryke’s character and actions are much abused by Dr. Burnet, and especially his acceptance of the office of Chancellor; but the Rev. 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 who he thought might be of service towards the abolition of the papal tyranny and superstitions, and the restitution of true primitive Christianity. While Chancellor, he was admired by all for his impartial distribution of justice; 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.”
Robert Steward, Dean of Ely, says of him
“Vir eratjustus, mansuetus, hospitalis, misericors, amans omnes, et amatus ab omnibus.”
He was a just and friendly man hospitable and merciful loving all and loved by all.
Bishop Thomas Goodryke was buried in the south aisle of the choir of Ely Cathedral, (Fig2 illustration 2) between the graves of Bishop Walter de Luda and Bishop Heton; and a handsome monumental brass to his memory, much mutilated, is I believe the oldest remaining in that edifice. The brass represents the Bishop in full robes, the Bible and great seal in his right hand and the pastoral staff in his left. The canopy, a large portion of the legend, the arms, and the small scrolls, excepting two, are lost. The six scrolls contained the Bishop’s motto, “Si Deus nobiscum quis contra nos “. If God is with us who will stand against us. (Other images of him from this period offer a bearded and thinner faced man).
Bishop Goodryke’s will, dated April 24th 1554 in the reign of Queen Mary I, and was proved in the Prerogative Court of Canterbury, October 7th 1554. Among many other relatives and friends, he mentions his nephews Richard and John, sons of his brother Henry Goodricke, of Ribston Co. York.
(Fig2
illustrations 2) The effigy represents the Bishop in full Episcopal vestments.
The alb, which is handsomely ornamented in the affray, reaches to the feet,
which are sandaled. It can be found in the south aisle of the choir of Ely
Cathedral, with full robes, the Bible and great seal in his right hand and the
pastoral staff in his left. (Other images of him from this period offer a
bearded and thinner faced man) To the right a rubbing taken by The Monumental
Brass Society about 1885 showing the mutilation and damage done to the brass
over a 300 year period Ref M.B.S. Portfolio, IV, pl. 15. Descriptions of damage
to canopy and foot inscription missing two scrolls remain four others missing
margin inscription damaged and missing Evangelical symbols on roses mutilated.
The legend, which is also mutilated, is in Latin. Six small scrolls contained
the Bishop's motto and name.
*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.
Edward VI Granting the Charter to Bridewell Hospital in 1553
(fig4 illustration artist impression of Bishops palace Somersham with brief history MBG)
The Palace was constructed of terra cotta coloured brick with tiled roof. There were two courtyards and numerous outbuildings serving a variety of purposes, which I describe later. A moat that surrounded the front of the building was more decorative than defensive. It was probably constructed to provide drainage from nearby fields and reserve water for two fishponds. Two nearby streams were also used to feed the moat.
All that now remains of the Palace are the abutments of a moat bridge (about 230 metres south of the Church of St. John the Baptist) and part of a garden wall, with entrance, built alongside the Palace in the early part of the 16th century.
In 991 Duke Brithnoth (The Saxon) was the first Lord of the Manor of Somersham. He was an extremely rich man owning a great deal of land throughout the country. Some of his property was in Northumberland and it was there that he raised an army to do battle with the Vikings shortly after they had landed at Maldon in Essex. Brithnoth rode south with his army and is said to have stopped at Ramsey Abbey seeking rest and refreshment for his men. The Abbott stated he would gladly accept Brithnoth and his senior officers as honoured guests but would be unable to give food or accommodation to the remainder of his army. Annoyed, Brithnoth rode onto the Abbey at Ely and made the same petition.
This time his request was accepted and he and his men were treated to a lavish feast by Aelsi, Abbot of Ely. Brithmoth was well connected with the church and had relatives who had taken holy orders. Shortly before continuing on his journey Brithnoth promised various lands, including Somersham, to the Abbey on the understanding that if he were killed his body would be laid to rest at the Abbey. Abbot Aelsi agreed and Brithnoth rode south to do battle content in the belief that his life in the after world was now adequately catered for.
After the battle Brithnoth was found with his head cut off. The Vikings had claimed it as a trophy. Knowing of his desire to be buried at Ely his headless body was carried to Abbot Aelsi. A wax head was made, for fear an incomplete body might be rejected at the gates to heaven, and he was laid to rest as requested. Despite objections by the Abbot of Ramsey, for Brithnoth had likely made similar promises to him prior to their falling out, Somersham became the property of the Abbey of Ely. As it was one of the few dry areas in the region some type of lodgings would, no doubt, have been constructed at Somersham. The location was well suited as a ‘stop oft’ on the then long and difficult journey from Ely to London. Clean drinking water was available and a wooden church, which is thought to have stood nearby, would have met the spiritual needs of the religious travellers. The Duke of Brithnoth’s tomb can still be seen in Bishop West’s Chapel, Ely Cathedral.
1086 The Doomsday Book records that Somersham was still owned by the Abbey at Ely and consisted of 1000 acres, 3 square miles of woodland, 20 acres of meadow and 3 fisheries. The woodland, or forest as it is often later referred to, was probably situated towards Woodhurst (as the name suggests). Although the population and buildings were not described in the survey, the mention of the 3 fisheries indicates that Somersham was inhabited and some structured buildings would have been in existence.
1109 A Bishop, named Hervey, was allocated to the Abbey at Ely and it became a ‘Bishopric’. The lodge at Somersham continued to develop and became ‘official lodgings’. Although the first chronicled use of Somersham spa water was not made until the 18th century, the Romans, centuries before, had made long journeys to the area, no doubt to take the waters. Famous for their belief in the power of spa water, it was the Romans who gave Somersham its name (summer station). It is also likely that the Bishop made use of the same spa waters for medicinal purposes and the brewing of ale. A good stock of fresh fish and the odd wild deer that strayed from the nearby forest meant the Bishop could maintain a healthy life style.
1190 Somersham was by now becoming an important and thriving community and King Richard I granted permission to hold a weekly Thursday market. This was, of course, an ideal venue for the Bishop to trade his own produce. The charter that was issued marks the date when Somersham first became a town.
1197 King Richard I, known affectionately as ‘The Lion heart’, visited the Palace and to ensure a ready supply of fresh venison on future visits, granted the Bishop permission to hunt deer in the forest of Somersham. This would have suited the Bishop, as he no longer had to rely on strays for his own use.
1199 King Richard died and was succeeded by his brother John. The new King was approached and asked if the practice might be allowed to continue. An invitation was given to his highness to use the facilities at the Palace. Permission was granted and King John is thought to have made numerous visits to Somersham prior to his death in 1216.
1229 King Henry III granted the Bishop of Ely ‘Somersham Forest’. Bishop Hugh de Northwold was in residence at the Palace, Somersham and remained until 1254. It was he that set about raising funds to improve the structure of the nearby church.
1250 Construction of the Chancel of St. John the Baptist began. Rubble and barnack stone were used to make a more permanent structure.
The main street is thought to have travelled from east to west and ‘south’ of the church at that time. The present crossroads appear too small to hold a market. This theory would account for the sharp bends in the present main road system through the town. It follows that the entrance to the Palace would have been nearer to the main street, so much more fitting for a building of such importance. It is also conceivable that the sign of the cross would have been placed at the entrance to the Palace on the then junction.
On relocation, the junction adopted the name ‘The Cross’, a reference to a religious symbol and not as some consider a ‘crossroads’. The Cross has now gone. It is possible that the white post standing at the St. Ives road junction is the remains of the bottom half.
1251 Bishop Hugh de Northwold, on returning from Ely, was required to travel to Doddington to find a man to transport him by boat back to Somersham. He was apparently excited by a report of wild pig having been seen in Somersham Woods.
1254 Bishop Hugh de Northwold died and was buried in Ely Cathedral where his tomb can still be seen.
1257 Bishop Hugh de Balsam lived at the Palace until 1286. The Bishop was a hard task master and demanded fixed quantities of produce from tenants working the land. He is reported to have decreed that any tenant not reaching his full quota through ‘lack of animal to pull the plough’ would be required to plough a further nine acres every year to make up any deficiency. During his stay at Somersham he is also recorded as employing potters and charcoal burners. This suggests a large community was already in existence around the Palace.
1279 The house and gardens were described in a survey as covering 6 acres with fishponds. Alongside the Palace stood a vast forest of 200 acres.
1316 Bishop John Hotham came to Somersham. As mentioned, the then official Bishop’s residence stood where the ruins of Park House now stand. However Bishop Hotham did not consider the property worthy of his rank, let alone that of visiting royalty! He arranged for a palace ‘fit for a King’ to be constructed near the site of the first residence. When the new ‘Palace’ was completed Bishop Hotham wasted little time in inviting the then monarch King Edward II to Somersham.
1320 King Edward II produced a charter which granted “Joh`es de Hothum-Somersham manor’ mercat’ feria” (John of Hotham, Somersham manor, market and fair). It therefore seems likely that the King spent some time at the Palace as the granting of such a charter was considered an honour. The fair was to be held each year to celebrate the birth of St. John the Baptist (connected by name to the local church). On the 24th of June that year the first fair was held in Somersham. It lasted for three days and wandering entertainers arrived from all over the region, keen to cash in on this new venue for their talents. The tradition of Somersham Fair carries on to this day.
1332 In addition to the usual serving staff the Bishop is recorded as employing at Somersham, “five ploughmen, two carters, two shepherds, an ox herder, a swine herder and a gardener,” an indication of the busy day to day running of the Palace. A large agricultural environment must have been in existence to warrant such specialist employees. The transportation of livestock would have been a constant headache to the Bishop. The safest and quickest method of transporting animals would have been by flat-bottomed boat.
1334 King Edward II had died in 1327. Bishop Hotham was keen to curry favour with the new monarch. Finally, seven years after his coronation, King Edward III visited the Palace. The king was a keen huntsman and would no doubt have made use of the many sporting facilities available at Somersham.
1337 On the 14th of January Bishop John de Hotham died at Somersham Palace. His tomb is still to be seen in Ely Cathedral.
1348 Additional capital to finance the Palace was acquired by raising rents on land around Somersham. Those who could not afford to pay were put to work at the Palace.
Contemporary records show there were 460 acre’s rented out to 26 tenants at 8d to
2s 4d an acre.
1355 Lady Wake (Blanche Plantagenet), best known as Lady Blanche, took up residence at nearby Colne. As a member of the royal family she carried great influence.
1359 Bishop Thomas L’Isle, described as being ‘very outspoken’, was resident at the Palace when he unwisely made comments about the King’s appointment of Robert Stretton as Bishop of Litchfield. Lady Blanche, on hearing of what he had said, sought revenge and accused the Bishop of being involved in the burning of houses in Colne some years earlier.
The case was heard in the King’s Court and the Bishop was found guilty, in his absence, and fined £900. He paid the fine but demanded a retrial by his peers. Soon afterwards the Bishop’s servants were repairing a fence at the edge of the Palace grounds when they were approached by Lady Blanche’s steward who accused them of straying on to land belonging to her Ladyship. A fight developed and the steward was killed.
The Bishop, now fearful of the power of her Ladyship, sold most of his property and went into hiding. Again in his absence Lady Blanche had the Bishop tried and convicted of being an accessory to murder. Bishop LIsle appealed to the Archbishop of Canterbury for help. The Archbishop stated he was unable to and advised him to try and make peace with Lady Blanche and the King.
In desperation the Bishop travelled to Rome and begged help from the Pope. The Pope was more sympathetic and instructed that all involved in the matter should be brought before him.
His demands did not go down well with King Edward III who instructed that he wanted no further meddling from Rome.
Furious, the Pope sent a messenger to The Bishop of Rochester with written instruction as to what he wanted done in retaliation. The messenger was intercepted by the King’s men and executed.
On hearing of the execution the Pope wrote to King Edward demanding justice be done or he would suffer the consequences. The King did not bother to reply and the tension rose.
1361 Bishop Llsle conveniently died in exile. Thus defusing a situation that may well have changed the course of history.
1422 On the 3lst of August King Henry V died of dysentery at Vincennes and was succeeded by his 9 months old son Henry VI. Little is recorded about the Palace during this period but it can be assumed that the I5th century Bishops of Ely would have at least visited the Palace at regular intervals. The 15th century Bishops were:
John Fordham1388 to 1425
Philip Morgan1425 to 1438
Lewis de`Luxemburgh 1438 to 1443
Thomas Bouchier 1444 to 1454
William Gray1454 to 1478
John Morton1478 to 1486
John Alcock1486 to 1500
Bishop Alcock spent most of his time in office improving buildings throughout the region, but alas not at Somersham. He was the founder of Jesus College, Cambridge and began construction of the Bishop’s Palace situated on The Green, Ely. He was also responsible for the construction of a chapel in the east corner of Ely Cathedral. Bishop Alcock is said to have spent many hours in the chapel praying for his soul.
1506 Bishop James Stanley was well known for extravagance and on his appointment he decided he would make Somersham Palace his home. He remained at Somersham until his death in 1515. The Bishop made numerous improvements to the main structure of the building and the surrounding grounds. Friends and family were with him during his stay and would have had some say in the improvements made. It is most likely that the walled garden was constructed around this time. Deer are known to have roamed the grounds around the Palace and would have had a tendency to eat any unprotected crops. Some of the wall still remains and the current owner keeps the garden in splendid order.
1520 Bishop Nicholas West wrote to Cardinal Wolsey complaining that Somersham Palace was surrounded by water and his only visitors had to arrive by boat. He further complained that the earth banks surrounding the property were in danger of collapse and that he feared drowning.
His worry was so great that 100 men were tasked with watching the banks at night. If the defences collapsed bells were to be sounded to warn all of the imminent danger.
1528 Cardinal Wolsey attempted to acquire the Palace at Somersham but was unsuccessful. Although still powerful, he was falling out of favour. Two years later he was arrested for treason. He died at Leicester on the 29th of November 1530.
1533 These were turbulent times. Henry VlII had been King since 1509 and was constantly falling out with the church over his desire to remarry. Catherine of Aragon was being accommodated, to all intents under house arrest, at Buckden Palace near Huntingdon, but she disliked the building and asked King Henry if different accommodation could be found. Fotheringay Castle, Somersham Palace and Kimbolton Castle were offered. Fotheringay had previously been used to house prisoners and was rejected. Somersham was ‘too familiar’ and not suitable. And so it was that Catherine went to Kimbolton (now a private school).
1534 Thomas Goodrick became Bishop of Ely. He is, to this day, the least liked of the Ely Bishops still vilified with old prejudice that no longer stand close scrutiny, historical tradition not fact. (His name still spelled Goodrich incorrectly his name correctly spelled Goodryke or Goodricke Not Goodrich. One just has to look at the family pedigrees and heraldry at the College of Arms for confirmation of the family name). For it was Goodricke who removed many of the statues and paintings from the Cathedral. He was most likely working on the instruction of King Henry VIII, and in his defence, would have been mindful of what happened to all those who fell out of favour with Henry (usually execution by decapitation).
He is said to have had little regard for the Cathedral and spent much of his time in London and Somersham. Even now many people are unaware that he was the 39th Lord Chancellor and worked as a diplomat and affairs of state frequently employed in embassies to foreign courts. He loved Ely and Somersham and spoke of both with fondness, wishing to be back there away from politics.
King Henry is likely to have visited Somersham as a guest of Bishop Goodrick. Some of the fields around the Palace were, at that time, named ‘King’s Ground’ and ‘Bluffs’ after him.
1554 Bishop Thomas Goodrick died at the Palace. He was buried in Ely Cathedral and a brass over his tomb is still visible, Richard Cox succeeded Bishop Goodrick.
k.
Illustration 4 above show’s the extent of the Bishops palace grounds in its hay day.
NOTES: - Heraldry at heading first page for Thomas Goodryke Bishop of Ely 39th Lord Chancellor from left to right Ely Diocese, Medieval Monasteries Ely. Thomas Goodryke Bishop of Ely, Ely Arms. Ely Diocese. Heraldry this page 6.ARMS. Bishop Thomas Goodrick.
2. Medieval Monasteries Ely Arms Or Pale-wise three keys Argent.
6. ARMS. Bishop Thomas Goodrick. Pedigree in the Genealogist vol, IV,
P.31 taken from the visitations of Lincolnshire 1564 spelling Goodryke
Williamson.
ARMS. Bishop Thomas Goodrick.
Quarterly 1&4: Argent on a fesse gules, between two lions passant guardant sable, a fleur-de-lis argent between two crescents or 2&3: Argent on a chevron engrailed between three trefoils sable three crescents or this is correct. (The book quotes fleur-de-lis instead of trefoils) crest a demi lion rampant gules collared or supporting a battle-axe proper.
Thanks to Brian Turner & Ron Fiske for their kind help in producing this article.
Thanks to John Bell for the historical notes on Somersham author of “The story of one of our region’s most important, yet least known, buildings”.
Bishop of Ely
Heraldry to 1771. (Goodrick Family History Centre 2001)
Thomas Goodryke Notes & Source
Thanks to Charles Alfred Goodricke Incidents in the lives of some of the Goodricke`s.
Thanks also to Martin Fleet Verger Ely Cathedral The Chapter House Ely Cambs.
recorded in James Bentham’s book, The History and Antiquities of Ely Cathedral, written in 1771. James Bentham was Rector of Feltwell St.Nicholas, Norfolk, and later was a Minor Canon of Ely. He has written a substantial History of the Cathedral and is popularly referred to.
Translation of text of Bishop Goodricke’s epitaph as recorded in Latin in James Bentham, The History and Antiquities of the Conventual and Cathedral Church of Ely (Second edition Norwich 1812) p191, n.1
[Thomas Goodricke, for twenty years, more or less, Bishop of this Church, was buried in this place. He was greatly pleasing to two most distinguished Kings of England in many offices of Church and State;] for abroad he was frequently an ambassador at the courts of foreign princes and at home, after having been for some while a counsellor to King Edward, the sixth of that name, he was actually in the end made Great Chancellor of England. Whether he was dearer to his Prince because of his singular prudence or more beloved by the people because of his integrity and abstinence it is very difficult to judge. He died on the 10th day of May, [in the 1[5]54th year from the birth of Christ. ‘If God be with us, who is against us?’]
The brass inscription is now mutilated. Only the central section of it, not in square brackets, remains in the surround of the brass.
More information:
P189 from Benthams History:
Thomas Goodricke, D.D. 1534
ON the death of Bishop West, his Nephew and Godson, Dr. Nicholas Hawkins Archdeacon of Ely, at that time the King’s Ambassador in foreign parts, was designed to succeed him: but he dying before his Consecration could be effected; the King granted his Licence to the Prior and Convent, dated March 6, 1534, to choose themselves a Bishop; 1 who thereupon elected in their Chapter-house the 17th of the same Month, THOMAS GOODRICKE, S. T. P.; which Election was confirmed by the Archbishop April 13 following, in the Parish-Church of Croydon; who also consecrated him in his own Chapel in that Town, on the 19th of that Month. He was installed by his Proxy William Meye LL.D. 2 May.
THIS Bishop was the Second Son of Edward Goodricke of East-Kirby in Lincolnshire; was admitted Pensioner of Benet College in Cambridge2 soon after the year 1500. He became Fellow of Jesus College in 1510, commenced M.A. in 1514, and the following year was Proctor of the University. Being of a studious turn, he made great proficiency in several branches of Learning, particularly in the Civil and Canon Laws. In 1529, he was appointed one of the Syndics to return an Answer from the University of Cambridge, concerning the Lawfulness of King Henry VIII’s Marriage with Queen Catherine; and from his readiness to oblige the King in that business, was recommended to his royal favour. He was presented to the Rectory of St. Peter’s Cheap in London, by Cardinal Wolsey at that time Commendatory of the Monastery of St. Alban; and soon after made Canon of St. Stephen’s Westminster, and Chaplain to the King; by whose favour he was advanced to the See of Ely.
BEING a zealous forwarder of the Reformation, on the 10th Sept. after his coming hither, he Visited the Prior and Convent of Ely:3 and the next year sent a Mandate to all the Clergy of his Diocese, dated at Somersham June 27th, 1535, with orders to erase the Name of the Pope out of all their books and to publish in their Churches, that the Pope had no further authority in this Kingdon: this Mandate may be seen in the Appendix;4 together with his Injunctions, dated from Ely 21st Oct. 1541, to the Clergy; to see that all Images, Relics, Table-Monuments of Miracles, Shrines and c. be so totally demolishes and obliterated, with all speed and diligence, that no remains or memory might be found of them for the future. Which Injunctions were executed with such speed, secrecy, and punctuality in his Cathedral, and other Churches in the Diocese of Ely; that no traces remain of many famous Shrines and Altars, which formally were the objects of frequent resort nor any signs at all that they had ever existed.5
IN 1540 he was appointed by the Convocation to be one of the Revisers of the Translation of the New Testament: and St. John’s Gospel was allotted to his share; He was named one of the Commissioners for reforming the Ecclesiastical Laws, both by Henry VIII and Edward VI, as well as by the University of Cambridge; and has a hand in compiling the Common Prayer Book of the Church of England 1548; and also the Institution of a Christian Man. Besides this, he was of the Privy Council to King Henry VIII and Edward VI, and employed by them in several Embassies, and other business of the State. In 1551 he was made Lord Chancellor of England, in the room of Lord Rich, which high Office he discharged with singular reputation of integrity: though in matters of Religion he was suspected by some, of too much disposition to temporize in favour of Popery, upon the accession of Queen Mary: but for what reason, I know not; unless it was because he was suffered to keep his Bishoprick to his death; though the Seals were then taken from him. He was esteemed a Patron of Learned Men; and expended large sums in building and embellishing his Palaces, particularly at Ely, where the long Gallery carries tokens of his munificence, his Arms still remaining on the stone-work of the Bow window towards the Green. He died at Somersham, May 10th, 1554; and was buried in the middle of the Presbytery of his Cathedral Church, under a Marble with his Effigies in Brass,6 mitred, in his Pontifical Habit, and the Great Seal as Lord Chancellor in one of his Hands, and Inscription round it, which may be seen below.7
1 Rymer’s Foedera vol. xiv p. 485,486,487,527.
2 Masters Hist. of C.C.C. page 293.
3 Registrum Goodrich. Fo. 3, 25.
4 No. XXXI
5 The same policy made the purchasers of religious houses, in as great an hurry to pull down the Edifices, particularly the Churches and Chapels belonging to them; that they no longer subsisting in the eyes of the people, might be the sooner forgotten by them.
6 Plate XXV.
7 See above
His Coat of Arms:
From Bentham’s Appendix No. 32. p46:
Thomas Goodricke. He has no Arms assigned him in Anglia Sacra: yet his true Coat is happily preserved in two places, though defaced and lost on his Tomb Stone in the Presbytery. The first were in a Window in a large Brick House in St. Radegund’s Lane, opposite the great Gates of Jesus College in Cambridge in 1744, and are thus blazoned, Quarterly, 1st. and 4th. Argent, on a Fesse Gules, inter 2 Lions passant Sable, a Fleur de Lis Argent, inter 2 Cressent Or, for Goodricke: 2d. and 3d. Argent, on a Cheveron ingrailed inter 3 Trefoils slip’d Sable, 3 Crescent Or , for Williamson. These are ensigned with a rich Mitre, and round the Arms is a Garland, in which at the top and two sides are these capital Roman Letters G T E. for Thomas Goodricke Eliensis or Episcopus, with his Motto at bottom. Si Deus nobiscum, quis, contra nos ? The same Arms are engraved on a Stone Shield on the outside wall of the Gallery under the Window of the Bishop’s Palace at Ely; which shew that it was built by him.
(d. 1554)
Bishop of Ely (1534 - 1554) [Fasti] and Lord High Chancellor of England (1552 - 1553) [DNB]. Chaplain to Anne Boleyn. [Fasti]
As a member of the privy council, he signed a letter from the privy council to Mary, dated 9 July 1553, declaring that she was illegitimate and that Lady Jane Grey was Edward VI's true heir (1570, p. 1568; 1576, p. 1337; 1583, pp. 1406-7).
Foxe prints two letters which he claims that Robert Ferrar wrote to Goodryke 1563, pp. 1091-98; 1570, pp. 1725-26; 1576, pp. 1472[recte 1474] -80; 1583, pp. 1552-53 and 1555-56. [NB: See Andrew J. Brown, Robert Ferrar (London, 1997), pp. 166-67, for a persuasive argument that these letters were not written to Ferrar.]
Pygot and Wolsey were visited in prison by a chaplain of Bishop Goodryke, Peter Valentius, who was of French birth and who was almoner there for twenty years prior to his meeting with them. Valentius questioned them on their beliefs. 1570, p. 1893, 1576, p. 1621,1583, p. 1715.
A letter regarding Green's treason was sent to Bonner by privy council on 11 November 1555 but not delivered until 17 November. It was signed by Winchester, Penbroke, Thomas Ely (Goodryke), William Haward, John Bourne, Thomas Wharton. 1563, p. 1460, 1570, p. 2023, 1576, p. 1744, 1583, p. 1852.
Henry VIII appointed Richard Stokesley (bishop of London), Stephen Gardiner (bishop of Winchester), Richard Sampson (bishop of Chichester), William Repps (bishop of Norwich), Thomas Goodryke (bishop of Ely), Hugh Latimer (bishop of Worcester), Nicholas Shaxton (bishop of Salisbury) and William Barlow (bishop of St David's) to compose a book of ecclesiastical institutions called the Bishops' Book. 1563, p. 1472.
Cranmer was examined by Bonner and Ely and condemned on 12 September 1556 (seven days before the condemnation of Ridley and Latimer). 1563, pp. 1491-92, 1570, p. 2046, 1576, p. 1765, 1583, p. 1871.
[Foxe also refers to him as 'Goodricke'.]
Below:-
Incidents in the lives of some of the Goodrickes by Charles Alfred Goodricke
"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."
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"
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 12th.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.