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

​NIX or NYKKE, RICHARD (1447?–1535), bishop of Norwich, son of Richard Nix and his wife Joan Stillington, was born in Somerset; the date of his birth must have been about 1447, if the subsequent estimates of his age can be accepted. He was educated at Trinity Hall, Cambridge, and proceeded LL.D.; he also studied at Oxford and Bologna. In 1473 he was rector of Ashbury, Berkshire; in September 1489 prebendary of Yatton in the cathedral of Wells, with the living of Cheddon, and in 1490 he received by royal patronage the living of Chedzoy. On 3 Feb. 1491–2 he became archdeacon of Exeter, and a year later vicar-general to Richard Foxe [q. v.], then bishop of Bath and Wells. Foxe evidently found Nix a useful official. On 10 July 1494 he became archdeacon of Wells, and on 30 July 1494 prebendary of Friday Thorpe in the cathedral of York. The latter preferment was presumably due to Foxe's influence. On 15 Feb. 1494–5 he was further made vicar-general in spirituals to Foxe at Durham, and 23 Dec. 1495 rector of Bishop Wearmouth. On 29 Nov. 1497 he was appointed canon of Windsor, and soon afterwards registrar of the order of the Garter and dean of the Chapel Royal. On 2 Oct. 1499 he became rector of High Ham, Somerset, and held the living till he became bishop. Finally, in March 1500–1, he was made Bishop of Norwich. In 1501 he was present at the reception of Catherine of Aragon, and in 1505 he had a general pardon granted to him.
Nix was of the old catholic party, and hence his long tenure of his bishopric was adversely criticised by historians of the protestant party. He is stated to have been of irregular life; but, on the other hand, he was clearly a man of independence, and of the greatest activity. Thus in 1509 he turned out the prior of Butley, and his visitations were conducted with regularity and strictness (cf. Jessopp, Visitations of the Diocese of Norwich, Camd. Soc.). He was appointed by bull, 15 Sept. 1514, to receive Wolsey's oath on his translation to York, and, with the Bishop of Winchester, invested him with the pallium. In 1515 he took part in the ceremony attending the reception of Wolsey's cardinal's hat. When the ambassadors went to Rome in 1528 about the divorce, one of them (doubtless Gardiner) gave an account to the pope of the English bishops, and told a ‘merry tale’ about Nix, showing that his age had not affected his spirits.
Nix was naturally opposed to the divorce; but later, in 1533, he voted for Cranmer's propositions in convocation. He was a staunch opponent of the reformers, and especially disliked the introduction of heretical books, which, owing to the situation of his diocese, had caused him much trouble there. (cf. Strype, Cranmer, ii. 694). He is said to have taken a leading part in the execution of Thomas Bilney [q. v.], who belonged to his old college. Froude says, with some justice, that he burnt Bilney on his own authority, without waiting for the royal warrant; but the charge of infringing the Act of Præmunire, for which he was indicted in 1534 before the king's bench by the king's attorney, did not originate in his dealings with Bilney, but in his proceedings at Thetford. He had cited the mayor of Thetford to appear before him in a spiritual case, whereas the town enjoyed an exemption of long standing from the bishop's jurisdiction. This invasion of privilege was proved, and on 7 Feb. 1533–4 he was condemned to forfeit his goods and was at the royal mercy. Some thought that the king wished to find the bishop's ‘nest of crowns,’ and he was fined ten thousand marks. He was committed to the Marshalsea, but on 19 Feb. ​had letters of protection granted to him. Soon afterwards he received the royal pardon, which was ratified by parliament. It is significant that he swore to recognise the royal supremacy on 10 March 1533–4. His diocese was visited by William May [q. v.], afterwards archbishop of York, on behalf of Cranmer, in July 1534. He was now very infirm and almost blind, refused help, and was pronounced contumacious. He began, it is said, a correspondence with the papal court; but, as he was now unable to write, the assertion is probably false. He was summoned to appear before the council in the Star-chamber on 31 Jan. 1534–5, and excused himself on account of a bad leg. He evidently was failing in mind, and Thomas Legh reported to Cromwell that he was, in November 1535, distributing his goods among various dependents. He died before 29 Dec. 1535 (Letters and Papers, Henry VIII, ix. 1032; cf. 1042 and x. 79). He was buried on the south side of his cathedral, under an altar tomb. He founded three fellowships at Trinity Hall, and repaired the roof of his cathedral. A tradition that part of his fine was used to pay for the windows of King's College Chapel at Cambridge has been disputed.
[Letters, &c., Richard III and Hen. VII (Rolls Ser.), i. 251, 412; Materials for Hist. Hen. VII (Rolls Ser.), ii. 50; Weaver's Somerset Incumbents, pp. 101, 331, 404; Letters and Papers Hen. VIII, 1509–36; Cooper's Athenæ Cantab. i. 56, 530; Strype's Memorials I. ii. 84, III. i. 571, Smith, p. 2, Parker, i. p. 23, Cranmer, p. 40 &c.; Froude's Divorce of Catherine of Aragon, p. 255; Friedmann's Anne Boleyn, i. 143, 197; Cal. of State Papers, Venetian, 1509–19, p. 791; Nicolas's Privy Purse Expenses of Eliz. of York, p. 90; Willis and Clarke's Arch. Hist. of the Univ. of Cambr. i. 499; Notes and Queries, 1st ser. v. 276, 308; Wood's Athenæ Oxon. ed. Bliss, ii. 744–5; Gasquet's Henry VIII and the English Monasteries, i. 335; Foxe's Acts and Mon. ed. Townsend.]
W. A. J. A.