FISHER, JOHN, Bishop of Rochester, was born at Beverley in 1450. He was educated at the collegiate school of his native place, and after some residence there removed to Michael House College, Cambridge, of which he became master in 1495. The respect in which Margaret countess of Richmond, Henry VII:a mother, held his character, and her high opinion of his learning, induced her to appoint him her chaplain and confessor. Ho was named the first ' Lady 31argaret's Professor of Divinity' in the University of Cambridge, and became Bishop of Rochester in 1504. It was some years after this time that the actions of Bishop Fisher gained him an historical notoriety. When Henry VIII. (1527) was anxious to prove both to himself and to others the illegality of his marriage with Catherine of Arragon, lie applied to the bishops for their opinions in the matter. Of all the bishops Fisher alone refused to sign a declaration that the marriage was unlawful. Other persons indeed affixed his signature to the paper, affirming that they had his pew:dB:don to do so ; but the bishop resolutely denied that ho had given them his consent ; for is his conscience he believed the marriage to ha valid. This refusal, and his continued advocacy of Queen Catherine's cause, made him many powerful and lasting enemies. Not only did he become hateful to the king, who was desirous for the divorce, but the whole parlia ment took umbrage at his conduct Sir Thomas Audley, then speaker, and thirty members of the House of Commons, were sent to complain to the king of certain derogatory words which Fisher was declared to have used respecting the assembled representatives; and it was with difficulty that he could persuade them to receive his explanation. Four years after, when both the parliament and the couvocation were in debate upon the expediency of denying the pope's supremacy (1534), Fisher again stood alone. Ho dissented from all the other bishops, and could not, either by persuasion or argument, be induced to concur with their opinion. An event was now at hand which laid the foundation of his ruin. The imposture of Elizabeth Barton, the nun of Kent, was exposed by the diligence of Creamer and others; and while the principal agents AVOVO condemned to death, it was very properly deemed fit that those who had been privy to the deception should not escape unpuuished. Among these was Fisher, who, knowing this woman and her associates to be impostors, disgraced himself by not exposing the imposition. Ile made many
vain excuses, but was found guilty of misprision of treason. It does not appear that the king proceeded against him upon this charge till he was moved by new provocations. When the oath touching the succession and the king's supremacy was offered to him, the Bishop of Rochester, as Sir Thomas More had done, refused to swear it The king, now more than ever irritated against him, caused him to be indicted upon the statute and committed to the Tower: "his bishoprick was seized," says Burnet (' Hist lit formation,' vol. i.), awl all his goods taken from him; only some old rags were left to cover him ; and he was neither supplied well in diet nor other necessaries, of which he made sad complaints." Books were also denied him lest he should write against the king's marriage or supremacy. These inexcusable severities met with the most bitter censure of the Roman Catholic party ; while many of the Reformers, especially the Lutheran preachers who had frequently been persecuted by Fisher, aru said to have privately rejoiced in his misfortunes. During his impriaeunneut Pope Clement, in spite to the king, and iu kindness to Fisher, scut him a cardinal's hat, When the king heard of this, he desired that the bishop might bo examined about it; but Fisher protested that he had used no endeavours to procure it : nevertheless his new dignity precipitated his ruin. Ilia continued denial of the king's supremacy was no longer passed over : on the 17th of June 1535, lie was called to account for this offence. The Lord Chancellor, the Duke of Suffolk, and some other lords, together with the judges, were appointed commissioners fur his trial; he was found guilty, and condemned to die as a traitor. Ou the 22nd of June he was beheaded.
The character of Fisher is remarkable for firmness. In his steady maintenance of the fallen cause of Queen Catherine, undaunted by the anger of the vindictive king, this quality peculiarly shone forth : and still more with regard to the oath of supremacy, refusal to take which was certain to call forth severe punishment, and in all probability death. Fisher was immovable, not being convinced that he was in the wrong ; his fearless firmness allowed him to maintain au open profession that he was in the right. Ho was a learned and devout mao, and his conduct fully proved his sincerity.