Richard Rice (poisoner)
Encyclopedia
Richard Rice was a cook to John Fisher
, bishop of Rochester and was executed for poisoning the Bishop's household. He was the first person executed by being boiled to death, after the law had been passed.
John Fisher
Saint John Fisher was an English Roman Catholic scholastic, bishop, cardinal and martyr. He shares his feast day with Saint Thomas More on 22 June in the Roman Catholic calendar of saints and 6 July on the Church of England calendar of saints...
, bishop of Rochester and was executed for poisoning the Bishop's household. He was the first person executed by being boiled to death, after the law had been passed.
From the time that Queen CatharineCatherine of AragonCatherine of Aragon , also known as Katherine or Katharine, was Queen consort of England as the first wife of King Henry VIII of England and Princess of Wales as the wife to Arthur, Prince of Wales...
was defended so stoutly and learnedly by the Bishop of RochesterJohn FisherSaint John Fisher was an English Roman Catholic scholastic, bishop, cardinal and martyr. He shares his feast day with Saint Thomas More on 22 June in the Roman Catholic calendar of saints and 6 July on the Church of England calendar of saints...
she did seek by all means his destruction. One Richard Rice, a cook, was suborned to poison him, and he knew no other way to do it than to poison the common pot, which was fbr the whole household of the bishop. It chanced that that day according to his custom the bishop came not to dine in the parlour, but most of his family that dined there were poisoned and died thereof. Rice the cook being discovered did confess it and was publicly put to death for it.--The Life of Jane Dormer, Duchess of FeriaThe Life of Jane Dormer, Duchess of FeriaThe Life of Jane Dormer, Duchess of Feria was a chronicle written by Jane Dormer, lady-in-waiting to Mary I of England....