Richard Pace

Richard Pace (c. 1482 – 28 June 1536) was an English diplomat of the Tudor period.

Life

He was probably born in Hampshire; he was educated at Winchester College under Thomas Langton, and later at Padua, at Bologna, and probably at the University of Oxford.^[1] In 1509, he accompanied Cardinal Christopher Bainbridge, Archbishop of York, to Rome, and he remained in the service of the Archbishop until that man's death by poisoning in 1514; he was instrumental in bringing the murderer to justice. In 1515, upon his return to England, he entered the service of Cardinal Wolsey where he was employed in diplomacy and espionage. In 1515, Pace became Wolsey's secretary and in 1516 a secretary of state, although he continued to engage in lengthy correspondence with the Cardinal on his orders. He was also collated Archdeacon of Dorset in 1514. holding the post until 1523.^[2]

In 1515, Wolsey sent Pace to urge the Swiss to attack France. He was engaged in a lengthy negotiation with Emperor Maximillian I regarding Henry's support of the Emperor's activities against the French in northern Italy, but upon Wolsey's instructions, used the 100,000 florins deposited on his behalf in Antwerp to pay for Swiss soldiers. Maximillian wanted use of the funds, which he claimed had been promised to him by Henry, to levy troops in Switzerland and parts of the Austrian territories. Pace refused to act without direct orders from Henry, despite Maximillian's cajolery, demands, and frustration.^[3] Following the Battle of Marignano, Pace was captured by the French and imprisoned for some time, but released in early spring.^[4]

In 1519, Pace returned to Germany to discuss with the Prince-Electors the impending election of Maximillan's grandson Charles V to the imperial throne. He was made dean of St Paul's in 1519, holding the office until 1536. He was present at the Field of the Cloth of Gold in 1520, and in 1521 he went to Venice with the object of winning the support of the republic for Wolsey, who was anxious at this time to become pope. At the end of 1526 he was recalled to England, having been appointed dean of Exeter (1522?–1527) and Dean of Salisbury (1523–1536) in his absence.^[2]

In February 1536, it was reported that Pace's mental imbecillity [sic] for many years past has interfered with the due government of the cathedral^[5] and he died in 1536. During his latter years co-adjutors were appointed to help with his ecclesiastical duties.^[2]

Works

His chief literary work was De Fructu Qui ex Doctrina Precipitur (Basel, 1517).

He is the author of Julius exclusus de coelis ("Julius excluded from Heaven"), a satire on Pope Julius II, which was wrongly credited to Erasmus.^[6]

Fictional portrayals

In the Showtime television series The Tudors (2007), Pace, played by Matt Ryan, is depicted as being accused of spying, and imprisoned in the Tower of London, where is seen to succumb to madness. This did not happen in reality.^[7] ^[8]

Notes

References

^ Luminarium: Encyclopedia Project: Richard Pace Retrieved 23 January 2015.
^ ^a ^b ^c Chisholm, 1911
^ Great Britain, Public Record Office, pp. xiii-xxiii.
^ Great Britain, Public Record, pp. lxxix.
^ Letters and Papers of the Reign of Henry VIII, ed. James Gairdner, vol. X, no. 328
^ Diarmaid MacCulloch, The Reformation, p. 99.
^ Historical Discrepancies in the Showtime Television Series The Tudors, Luminarium.org
^ http://www.imdb.com/character/ch0077677/

Sources

This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Pace, Richard". Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 20 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press.
Lupton, Joseph Hirst (1895). "Pace, Richard" . In Lee, Sidney (ed.). Dictionary of National Biography. Vol. 43. London: Smith, Elder & Co.

Political offices
Preceded by Thomas Routhall	Secretary of State 1516–1526	Succeeded by William Knight

[1] Luminarium: Encyclopedia Project: Richard Pace Retrieved 23 January 2015.

[EB-2] Chisholm, 1911

[3] Great Britain, Public Record Office, pp. xiii-xxiii.

[4] Great Britain, Public Record, pp. lxxix.

[5] Letters and Papers of the Reign of Henry VIII, ed. James Gairdner, vol. X, no. 328

[6] Diarmaid MacCulloch, The Reformation, p. 99.

[7] Historical Discrepancies in the Showtime Television Series The Tudors, Luminarium.org

[8] ttp://www.imdb.com/character/ch0077677/

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v t e Deans of Salisbury
High Medieval	Walter Osbert Robert Serlo Roger Azo Robert of Chichester Henry de Beaumont John of Oxford Jordan Eustace Richard Poore Adam William de Wanda Robert de Hertford Robert Wickhampton Walter Scammel Henry Brandeston Simon de Micham
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Early modern	Thomas Ruthall William Atwater John Longland Cuthbert Tunstall Richard Pace Peter Vannes William Bradbridge Thomas Cole Edmund Freke John Piers John Bridges John Gordon John Williams John Bowle Edmund Mason Richard Baylie Ralph Brideoake Thomas Pierce Robert Woodward Edward Young John Younger John Clarke Thomas Greene Rowney Noel John Ekins
Late modern	Charles Talbot Hugh Pearson Francis Lear Henry Hamilton J. C. Ryle George Boyle Allan Webb William Page Roberts Andrew Burn John Randolph Edward Henderson Henry Robins Robert Moberly Kenneth Haworth Fenton Morley Sydney Evans Hugh Dickinson Derek Watson June Osborne Ed Probert (Acting) Nick Papadopulos

v t e Deans of Exeter
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Early modern	Edward Willoughby Thomas Hobbes John Vesey Richard Pace Reginald Pole Simon Haynes James Haddon Thomas Reynolds Gregory Dodds George Carew Stephen Townesend Matthew Sutcliffe William Peterson Seth Ward Edward Young George Cary Richard Annesley William Wake Lancelot Blackburne Edward Trelawney John Gilbert Alured Clarke William Holmes Charles Lyttleton Jeremiah Milles William Buller Charles Harward
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v t e Diocese of Exeter
Exeter Cathedral The Palace, Exeter The Old Deanery, Exeter
Office holders	Mike Harrison, Bishop of Exeter Jackie Searle, Bishop suffragan of Crediton James Grier, Bishop suffragan of Plymouth AEO: Paul Thomas, Bishop suffragan of Oswestry & Rob Munro, Bishop suffragan of Ebbsfleet Jonathan Greener, Dean of Exeter Douglas Dettmer, Archdeacon of Totnes Andrew Beane, Archdeacon of Exeter Verena Breed, Archdeacon-designate of Barnstaple Jane Bakker, Archdeacon of Plymouth
Selected deaneries	Deanery of Barnstaple Deanery of Cadbury Deanery of Christianity (Exeter) Deanery of Hartland
Historic offices	Archdeacon of Cornwall (11th century – 1876; became the Diocese of Truro)