John Rycardes facts for kids
John Rycardes (also spelled Rychard) was an important English church leader and judge in Ireland during the 1500s. He held two big jobs: the Master of the Rolls in Ireland and the Dean of St Patrick's Cathedral in Dublin.
Contents
Early Life and Important Connections
John Rycardes was born in Yorkshire, England, possibly in a place called Kirk Sandall. He was related to a very important person named William Rokeby. William Rokeby later became the Archbishop of Dublin, which is a top leader in the church.
It's thought that John Rycardes came to Ireland in 1507 with his cousin, William Rokeby. At that time, Rokeby was starting his job as the Bishop of Meath. A bishop is another important church leader. When Rycardes arrived, he became the rector of Trim, County Meath. A rector is like the main priest in a church parish.
William Rokeby trusted John Rycardes a lot. When the Archbishop wrote his will (a document saying what should happen to his belongings after he dies), he chose Rycardes to be his executor. This meant Rycardes was in charge of making sure Rokeby's wishes were followed. Rokeby even gave Rycardes a special ring in his will.
Big Jobs in Ireland
John Rycardes continued to rise in his career. In 1522, he became the Dean of St Patrick's Cathedral. The Dean is the head of the group of priests who run a large church like a cathedral.
The very next year, in 1523, he got another major role: the Master of the Rolls. This was a powerful job in the legal system. The Master of the Rolls was a senior judge and also in charge of keeping important government records.
Escaping the Plague
In 1523, John Rycardes was given permission to live in England for ten years. This was probably a safety measure. During the 1520s, serious diseases like the bubonic plague and the sweating sickness were spreading quickly in Dublin. These illnesses were very dangerous.
Interestingly, the person who took over as Dean after Rycardes, Robert Sutton, was also very worried about getting sick. He was so worried that he never actually visited Dublin or his cathedral during his time as Dean!
Return to Ireland and Final Years
John Rycardes did go to England for a while, but he came back to Ireland in 1524. He was still alive at Christmas in 1526, but he passed away early the next year, in 1527.
