Richard Benese (died 1546), was a

canon Canon or Canons may refer to: Arts and entertainment * Canon (fiction), the conceptual material accepted as official in a fictional universe by its fan base * Literary canon, an accepted body of works considered as high culture ** Western ca ...

of the

Augustinian Augustinian may refer to: *Augustinians, members of religious orders following the Rule of St Augustine *Augustinianism, the teachings of Augustine of Hippo and his intellectual heirs *Someone who follows Augustine of Hippo * Canons Regular of Sain ...

priory of Merton.

Career

Benese supplicated for the degree of B.C.L. at

Oxford University Oxford () is a city in England. It is the county town and only city of Oxfordshire. In 2020, its population was estimated at 151,584. It is north-west of London, south-east of Birmingham and north-east of Bristol. The city is home to the ...

6 July 1519. He signed the

surrender Surrender may refer to: * Surrender (law), the early relinquishment of a tenancy * Surrender (military), the relinquishment of territory, combatants, facilities, or armaments to another power Film and television * ''Surrender'' (1927 film), an ...

of the Augustinian priory of Merton to

Henry VIII Henry VIII (28 June 149128 January 1547) was King of England from 22 April 1509 until his death in 1547. Henry is best known for his six marriages, and for his efforts to have his first marriage (to Catherine of Aragon) annulled. His disa ...

on 16 April 1538.A. Heales, Records of Merton Priory (Oxford, 1898), p.349 He had previously written a book upon the art and science of

surveying Surveying or land surveying is the technique, profession, art, and science of determining the terrestrial two-dimensional or three-dimensional positions of points and the distances and angles between them. A land surveying professional is ca ...

land. The book was prepared for the press by Thomas Paynell, also a canon of Merton, and was printed by James Nicholson at

Southwark Southwark ( ) is a district of Central London situated on the south bank of the River Thames, forming the north-western part of the wider modern London Borough of Southwark. The district, which is the oldest part of South London, developed ...

. Its probable date is 1537. This first edition is more complete than a later one, which omits the tables for the calculation of dimensions.

Later life

The name Benese occurs as the holder of the following

benefices A benefice () or living is a reward received in exchange for services rendered and as a retainer for future services. The Roman Empire used the Latin term as a benefit to an individual from the Empire for services rendered. Its use was adopted by ...

and dignities, but whether this represents two or more different persons is uncertain. Evidence linking them is circumstantial. #Clerk in the diocese of

Hereford Hereford () is a cathedral city, civil parish and the county town of Herefordshire, England. It lies on the River Wye, approximately east of the border with Wales, south-west of Worcester and north-west of Gloucester. With a population ...

, 1514 #Parson of Woodborough, Sarum diocese 1511 to 1515 #

Precentor A precentor is a person who helps facilitate worship. The details vary depending on the religion, denomination, and era in question. The Latin derivation is ''præcentor'', from cantor, meaning "the one who sings before" (or alternatively, "first ...

of Hereford, 11 Nov. 1538 to end of 1546 #

Prebendary A prebendary is a member of the Roman Catholic or Anglican clergy, a form of canon with a role in the administration of a cathedral or collegiate church. When attending services, prebendaries sit in particular seats, usually at the back of the ...

of Farrendon, Line., 20 April 1542 #Parson of Longlednam, Lincolnshire #Rector of

Long Ditton Long Ditton is a residential suburb in the Borough of Elmbridge, Surrey, England on the boundary with the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames, London. In medieval times it was a village, occupying a narrow strip of land. Neighbouring settlem ...

, Surrey, 11 Feb. 1542 #Rector of

All Hallows, Honey Lane All Hallows, Honey Lane was a parish church in the City of London, England. Of medieval origin, it was destroyed in the Great Fire of London in 1666 and not rebuilt; the site became part of Honey Lane Market, which was in turn partially cleared ...

, 11 Oct. 1540. The church of Long Ditton was in the patronage of

Merton Priory Merton Priory was an English Augustinian priory founded in 1114 by Gilbert Norman, Sheriff of Surrey under King Henry I (1100–1135). It was situated within the manor of Merton in the county of Surrey, in what is today the Colliers Wood area ...

, and that the next rector of All Hallows was Thomas Paynell, the editor of Benese's book, suggesting that these two benefices were held by the same person. The precentor of Hereford also died at the end of 1546, about the same time as the rector of Long Ditton. But the will of the rector of Long Ditton (Alen. 31, 47), dated 3 Nov. 1546, and proved 20 Oct. 1547, says nothing of the

testator A testator () is a person who has written and executed a Will (law), last will and testament that is in effect at the time of their death. It is any "person who makes a will."Gordon Brown, ''Administration of Wills, Trusts, and Estates'', 3d ed. (2 ...

's holding other benefices. A brother, Edward, and a sister, Elizabeth, married to Ric. Skynner, are mentioned in the will.

Publications

* (1547)

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Benese, Richard Year of birth missing 1546 deaths Augustinian canons Alumni of the University of Oxford 16th-century English writers 16th-century male writers