November, 1667, and graduated in the university of Erfurt, in April 1691. He was appointed professor extraordinary in the faculty of Erfurt in 1695, and professor of logic in the Evangelical college in 1699; but he relinquished both these appointments in 1718, in order to assume the duties of the professorship of pathology and of the practice of medicine, to which he had been nominated three years before. Fischer acquired considerable reputation at Erfurt, and in the courts in the vicinity of that city, and had been ten years physician to the court of Mentz, when he died on the 13th of February, 1729. He has left several essays in the form of inaugural theses; which were published between the year 1718 and that of his death; but he was also author of some more important works: viz. 1. "Consilia Medica, quæ in usum practicum et forensem, pro scopo curandi et renunciandi adornata sunt." Three volumes of this work were published successively at Francfort, in 1704, 1706, and 1712. 2. "Ilias in nuce, seu Medicina Synoptica," Erfurt, 1716. 3. "Responsa Practica," Leipsic, 1719.1

FISH (SIMON), a man who deserves some notice on account of his, zeal for the reformation, was born in Kent, and, after an education at Oxford, went about 1525 to Gray's-Inn, to study the law. A play was then written by one Roo, or Roe, in which cardinal Wolsey was severely reflected on; and Fish undertook to act the part in which he was ridiculed, after every body else had refused to venture upon it. The cardinal issued his orders against him the same night, but he escaped, and went into Germany, where he found out, and associated himself with, William Tyndale. The year following he wrote a little piece, called, "The Supplication of Beggars;" a satire upon bishops, abbots, priors, monks, friars, and indeed the popish clergy in general. About 1527 or 1528, after it had been printed, a copy was sent to Anne Boleyne, and by her given to the king, who was not displeased with it, and Wolsey being now disgraced, Fish was recalled home, and graciously countenanced by the king for what he had done. Sir Thomas More, who, when chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, had answered Fish's pamphlet, in another, entitled "The Supplication of Souls in Purgatory," being advanced to the rank of chancellor in the

1 Dict. Hist.-Rees's Cyclopædia from Eloy.

room of Wolsey, the king ordered sir Thomas not to meddle with Fish, and sent a message to this purpose, with his signet, by the hands of Fish. On his delivering the message, sir Thomas told him, all this was sufficient for himself, but not for his wife, against whom it was complained that she had refused to let the friars say their gospels in Latin at her house. The chancellor appears to have made some attempt to prosecute the wife, but how far he succeeded is not known. Fish himself died about half a year after this of the plague, about 1531, and was buried in the church of St. Dunstan in the West. In one of the lives of sir Thomas More, it is reported that he turned papist before his death, but this circumstance is not mentioned by Fox. The "Supplication" was one of the publications afterwards prohibited by Cuthbert Tonstall, when bishop of London. Tanner ascribes to Fish two works called "The Boke of merchants rightly necessary to all folkes, newly made by the lord Pantapole;" and "The Spiritual Nosegay." He also published about 1530, "The Summ of the Scriptures," translated from the Dutch. His widow married James Bainham, afterwards one of the martyrs.'

FISHACRE, or FIZACRE (RICHARD), a learned scholar in the thirteenth century, was, if not of the city of Exeter, at least a Devonshire man, and a Dominican friar. He studied at Oxford, first in the college of the great hall of the university, but afterwards taking the cowl, he removed to the Dominican convent, and was the first of the order that was honoured with the theological doctorate. His learning is reported to have been general and extensive, and he made so great a proficiency in every branch, that he was esteemed one of the most learned. Aristotle was his principal favourite, whom he read and admired, and carried about with him. But from these philosophical exercises he passed on to the study of divinity, and became as eminent in this as before he had been in arts, which so endeared him to Robert Bacon (see his article), that the two friends were scarce ever asunder. And for this reason Leland thinks he studied at Paris along with Bacon, and there considerably improved his knowledge; but this may be doubted. Leland observes, that writers generally mention the two Dominican friends together, both in respect of their friendship and learning; and indeed the two. Mat1 Fox's Acts and Mon-Ath. Ox. new edit. by Bliss. VOL. XIV.

Y

thews, Paris and Westminster, have joined them, and, therefore, it is probable that Fishacre, as well as Bacon, enjoyed the friendship of bishop Grosseteste. They both died in one year, 1248, and were interred among the Dominicans at Oxford. Bale is severe on the memory of Fishacre for no reason that can be discovered; but Leland speaks very highly of him in point of personal worth as well as learning. Both Leland and Bale have given a list of his works, consisting of theological questions, postils, and commentaries, some of which may yet be found in the public libraries. '

FISHER (EDWARD), supposed by Wood to be the son of sir Edward Fisher, of Mickleton in Gloucestershire, knt. was probably born in that county, and educated at Oxford, where he became a gentleman commoner of Brasen-nose college in August 1627, took one degree in arts, and soon after left college, being called home, as Wood thinks, by his relations, who were then in decayed circumstances. At home, however, he improved that learning which he had acquired at the university so much, that he became a noted person among the learned for his extensive acquaintance with ecclesiastical history, and the writings of the Fathers, and for his skill in the Greek and Hebrew languages. Sharing in the misfortunes of his family, and being involved in debt, he retired to Caermarthen in Wales, where he taught school, but afterwards was obliged to go to Ireland, where he died, but at what time is not mentioned. He published, 1. "An Appeal to thy Conscience," Oxford, 1644, 4to. 2. A Christian caveat to the Old and New Sabbatarians, or, a Vindication of our old Gospel Festival," &c. London, 1650, 4to. This tract, of which there were four editions, was answered by one Giles Collier, and by Dr. Collings. 3. "An Answer to Sixteen Queries, touching the rise and observation of Christmas, propounded by Mr. John Hemming of Uttoxeter, in Staffordshire;" printed with the "Christian Caveat," in 1655. But the most noted of his writings was entitled "The Marrow of Modern Divinity," 1646, 8vo. This treatise is memorable for having occasioned a controversy of much warmth, in the church of Scotland, about eighty years after its publication. In 1720 it was reprinted in Scotland by the rev. James Hogg, and excited the at

1 Pegge's Life of Grosseteste.-Wood's Hist.-Prince's Worthies.-Leland.Dale.-Tanner.

tention of the general assembly, or supreme ecclesiastical court of Scotland, by which many passages in it were condemned, and the clergy were ordered to warn their people against reading it; but it was on the other hand defended by Boston, and the Erskines, who soon after seceded from the church (see ERSKINE), upon account of what they considered as her departure from her primitive doctrines. Fisher's sentiments are highly Calvinistical:'

FISHER (JOHN), bishop of Rochester, and a great benefactor to learning, was born at Beverley, in Yorkshire, 1459. His father, a merchant, left him an orphan very young; but, by the care of his mother, he was taught classical learning at Beverley, and afterwards admitted in Cambridge, of Michael-house, since incorporated into Trinity-college. He took the degrees in arts in 1488, and 1491; and, being elected fellow of his house, was a proctor of the university in 1495. The same year, he was elected master of Michael-house; and having for some time applied himself to divinity, he took holy orders, and became eminent. The fame of his learning and virtues reaching the ears of Margaret countess of Richmond, mother of Henry VII. she chose him her chaplain and confessor; in which high station he behaved himself with so much wisdom and goodness, that she committed herself entirely to his government and direction. It was by his counsel, that she undertook those inagnificent foundations of St. John's and Christ's colleges at Cambridge; established the divinity professorships in both universities; and did many other acts of generosity for the propagation of learning and piety.

In 1501, he took the degree of D.D. and the same year was chosen chancellor of the university; during the exercise of which office he encouraged learning and good manners, and is said by some to have had prince Henry under his tuition in that university. In 1502 he was appointed by charter the lady Margaret's first divinity-professor in Cambridge; and in 1504, made bishop of Rochester, at the recommendation of Fox, bishop of Winchester, and never would exchange this bishopric, though then the least in England; for he called his church his wife, and was used to say," he would not change his little old wife, to whom he had been so long wedded, for a wealthier.". In 1505 he accepted the headship of Queen's college, in

1 Ath. Ox. vol. II.

Cambridge, which he held for little more than three years, The foundation of Christ's-college was completed under his care and superintendence in 1506; and himself was appointed by the statutes visitor for life, after the death of the munificent foundress. The king's licence for founding St. John's, was obtained soon after; but, before, it was passed in due form, the king died, April 1, 1509, and the lady Margaret herself, the 29th of June following. The care of the new foundation now devolved upon her executors, of whom the most faithful and most active, and indeed the sole and principal agent, was Fisher; and he carried it on with the utmost vigour. In 1512 he was appointed to the council of Lateran, at Rome, but never went, as appears from procuratorial powers, and letters recommending him to great men there, still extant in the archives of St. John's college. This college being finished in 1516, he went to Cambridge, and opened it with due solemnity; and was also commissioned to make statutes for it. He became afterwards a great benefactor to that college.

Upon Luther's appearance and opposition to popery, in 1517, Fisher, a zealous champion for the church of Rome, was one of the first to enter the lists against him. He not only endeavoured to prevent the propagation of his doctrine in his own diocese, and in the university of Cambridge, over which as chancellor he had a very great influence, but also preached and wrote with great earnestness against him. He had even resolved to go to Rome, but was diverted by Wolsey's calling together a synod of the whole clergy, in which the bishop delivered himself with great freedom, on occasion of the cardinal's stateliness and pride. Hitherto he had continued in great favour with Henry; but in the business of the divorce, in 1527, he adhered so firmly to the queen's cause and the pope's supremacy, that it brought him into great trouble, and in the end proved his ruin. For the king, who greatly esteemed him for his honesty and learning, having desired his opinion upon his marriage with Catherine of Arragon, the bishop declared, that there was no reason at all to question the validity of it; and from this opinion nothing afterwards could ever make him recede.

In the parliament which met Nov. 1529, a motion being made for suppressing the lesser monasteries, Fisher opposed it in a very warm speech, at which some lords were