FISHER, :roux ( y.1-159-1535). .;11) English Churchman. lle was born about 1459 at Beverley, Yorkshire, was educated at Michaelhouse, now ineorporated with Trinity College, Cambridge, where he took his master's degree in 1491, and became master of the college in 1497. The same year Margaret, Countess of Richmond. mother of Henry V11.. made him her chaplain and con ics,or. In 1501 he was elected viee-chaneellor of the university, and in 1503 became the first Lady Margaret, professor of divinity. in 1504 he was chosen chancellor of the university. and the same year he was appointed Bishop of Roch ester. He labored diligently for the welfare of both the Church and the universities. The Refor mation of Luther found in him a strenuous op ponent. He refused to declare the marriage between Henry V111. and Catharine of Aragon— whose confessor lie was—illegal, and thereby won the King's hostility. He opposed the suppression of the lesser monasteries in 1529, and the ac knowledgment of the King as head of the Church in 1531. Be was imprisoned, and refusing to take
the oath affirming the legality of Henry's marriage with Anne Boleyn, he was committed to the Tower, February 16, 1534. He was treated with great rigor, and his bishopric was taken from him. While thus situated the Pope, Paul M., as a recognition of faithful services and just. merit, sent Fisher a cardinal's hat, in entire ignorance of his rupture with the King. The result was Fisher's complete ruin. He was accused of high treason, and, after a brief trial, was condemned and executed June 27, 1535. Fisher's Latin works were published at Wiirzburg in 1597; an edition of his English works by J. E. B. Mayor has been begun (vol. i., 1876). Consult his Life, by Lewis, edited by Turner (London, 1855), and by Bridgett (London, 1890) ; also Mason, Lec tures on Colet, Fisher, and Jlore (London, 1895).