Bishop of Ely and Lord Chancellor of England. In 1510 he became fellow of Jesus College; 1515, proctor of the University, 1529, syndicus to return answer from the University of Cambridge, concerning the lawfulness of the marriage of Henry VIII with Queen Catherine, and on that occassion recommended himself to royal favor. He was presented to the rectory of St. Peters, Cheapside, London by Cardinal Wosley; made canon of St. Stephen's, Westminster, and chaplain to the King; 1534, bishop of Ely. He was a zealous promoter of the Reformation; 1540, was appointed one of the revisers of the New Testament, the gospel of St. John being assigned to him. He was named commissioner for reforming the ecclesiastical laws by both Henry VIII and Edward VI, as well as the University of Cambridge; engaged with others in compiling the Common Prayer Book; became member of the privy council of Henry VIII and Edward VI, and by them was sent on various embassies and affairs of state; 1551, was made lord chancellor of England. Mention is made of him in the history of Ely Cathedral, in the October number of the "Century," 1887, where he is called a great legal authority. - Case, Lafayette Wallace. The Goodrich family in America : a genealogy... Chicago : Fergus Publishing Co., 1889, pg. 16.