# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Perrinchief, Richard

​PERRINCHIEF, RICHARD (1623?–1673), royalist divine, probably born in Hampshire in 1623, was educated at Magdalene College, Cambridge, where he graduated B.A. 1641, and M.A. 1645, and was elected to a fellowship (Hist. MSS. Comm. 5th Rep. p. 481). He was ejected from his fellowship by the parliamentary commissioners under the ordinance of 13 Feb. 1645-6. On 2 Jan. 1649-50 his name appears for the last time in the college books as owing the society 4l. 10s. 2d. At the Restoration he was admitted to the rectory of St. Mildred's, Poultry, to which that of St. Mary Colechurch was annexed on 1 Feb. 1671 (Newcourt, i. 503; Wood, iv. 241). He proceeded D.D. at Cambridge on 2 July 1663; his theses ('Potestas ecclesiae in censuris est Jure Divino,' and 'Non datur in terris pastor universalis totius ecclesiae') were printed. On 3 Nov. 1664 he was installed prebendary of St. Peter's, Westminster, and on 2 Aug. 1667 prebendary of London (Chiswick stall). On 29 March 1670 he was collated to the archdeaconry of Huntingdon (Chester, Westminster Abbey Reg. p. 174). He was also sub-almoner to Charles II. He died at Westminster on 31 Aug 1673, and was buried on 2 Sept. in the abbey 'within the south monument door' (ib. p. 181). His wife had died on 15 June 1671. His will, dated 26 Aug. 1673, is in the prerogative court, and was proved on 16 Oct. 1673. In accordance with its terms, the executors, William Clark, D.D., dean of Winchester, and Robert Peacock, rector of Long Ditton, Surrey, purchased land, the rents of which were to be given in perpetuity to the vicars of Buckingham.
Perrinchief wrote, besides separately issued sermons: 1. 'The Syracusan Tyrant, or the Life of Agathocles, with some Reflexions on the Practices of our Modern Usurpers,' London, 1661 (dedicated to Thomas, earl of Southampton); republished London, 1676, as 'The Sicilian Tyrant, or the Life of Agathocles.' 2. 'A Discourse of Toleration, in answer to a late book [by John Corbet (1620-1680), q. v.] entituled A Discourse of the Religion of England,' London, 1667; Perrinchief opposed toleration or any modification of the establishment. 3. 'Indulgence not justified: being a continuation of the Discourse of Toleration in answer to the arguments of a late book entituled a Peace Offering or Plea for Indulgence, and to the cavils of another [by John Corbet], called the Second Discourse of the Religion in England,' London, 1668.
Perrinchief also completed the edition prepared by William Fulman [q. v.] of 'Bασιλικά: the Workes of King Charles the Martyr,' with a collection of declaration and treaties, London, 1662, and compiled a life for it from Fulman's notes and some materials of Silas Titus. This life was republished in 1676 as 'The Royal Martyr, or the Life and Death of King Charles I,' anon.; and was included in the 1727 edition of the Εἰκὼν Βασιλική, as 'written by Richard Perencheif, one of his majesties chaplains.'
[Luard's Grad. Cantabr.; Wood's Athenæ Oxon. iv. 241, 625, Fasti, ii. 186, 374; Le Neve's Fasti; Wood's Hist, and Antiq. of Univ. Oxon. 1674, ii.243; State Papers, Dom. Car. Entry Books 19, f. 147; Newcourt's Repertorium; Lansd. MSS. 986 f. 164, 988 f. 2586; Walker's Sufferings of the Clergy, ii. 151; information kindly sent by A. G. Peskett, master of Magdalene College, Cambridge, and Mr. J. W. Clark, registrary of the university, Cambridge.]
W. A. S.