John Rycardes

John Rycardes, or Rychard ( died 1527 ) was an English-born cleric and judge in sixteenth-century Ireland. He held the offices of Master of the Rolls in Ireland and Dean of St Patrick's Cathedral, Dublin.[1]

He was born in Yorkshire, possibly at Kirk Sandall. He was a cousin of William Rokeby, Archbishop of Dublin 1515-1521, and probably came to Ireland in Rokeby's entourage in 1507 on his appointment as Bishop of Meath.[2] Rycardes was rector of Trim, County Meath. The Archbishop made him an executor of his will and bequeathed him a ring.[3]

Rycardes became Dean of St Patrick's in 1522 and Master of the Rolls in 1523.[4] In the latter year he was given leave to reside at the English Court for ten years (possibly as a precaution against bubonic plague and sweating sickness, both of which were rampant in Dublin in the 1520s).

Rycardes evidently did go to England but returned to Ireland in 1524; he was still alive at Christmas 1526 but died early the following year.[5]

References

  1. Ball,F. Elrington The Judges in Ireland 1221-1921 John Murray London 1926 Vol.1 p.195
  2. Ball p.195
  3. Ball p.195
  4. Ball p.195
  5. Mason, William Monck History of St. Patrick's Cathedral 1820 p.145