Source Text:

Name: Sir Richard Berkeley
Birth Date: 18 Apr 1531
Birth Location:
Death Date: 26 Apr 1604 (aged 73)
Death Location:
Burial: St. Mark's Church
City: Bristol
County: Bristol Unitary Authority
State: Bristol
Country: England
Memorial ID: 91656220

Sir Richard Berkeley was the eldest son of Sir John Berkeley of Stoke Gifford, Gloucestershire and Isabel Denys. When Richard was 14 years old, his father died from splinter wounds while on board a ship at Portsmouth. By an addition to his father's will Richard was given in wardship to King Henry VIII. Just after He came out of wardship in 1553, when he was 22 years old, he gained possession of his inheritance, and rebuilt the manor house at Stoke Gifford in the late-Tudor style, which was called Stoke Park. He served as Sheriff of Gloucestershire in 1564, and also as Deputy Lieutenant of Gloucestershire. He was knighted by Queen Elizabeth I in 1568. In 1595 he was appointed Lieutenant of the Tower of London. In 1599 he was appointed custodian of Robert Devereux, 2nd Earl of Essex (who died in 1601), who was kept under house arrest at Essex House in London. Sir Richard Berkley died in 1604, while serving as MP, and was buried in The Gaunts Chapel, Bristol. The chapel had been founded in 1220 by Maurice de Gaunt (d. 1230). He was member of the Berkeley family. Sir Richard was replaced on 30 May 1604 by John Throckmorton (1572-1623). Sir Richard died on 26 April 1604, as his monument in The Gaunt's Chapel, Bristol, records. The effigy of Sir Richard Berkeley is situated to the immediate right hand side on entering The Gaunt's Chapel. He is dressed in plate-armour, with his hands placed together in prayer pointed heavenwards. The effigy probably had originally an elaborate sculpted canopy above it, which has now been lost, following the repositioning of the effigy to its current location against a wall. On a table against the wall behind the effigy, is the arms of Berkeley of Stoke Gifford (Gules, a chevron ermine between ten crosses pattee argent), is the following Latin inscription: Domini : Rich : Berkelaei : Militis : in : suam : mortem : carmen : monitorium : Cum genus et nomen capiunt cognoscere cuncti mentem nemo : si quis qui sim inquirere pergat nescio responde : verum hunc se nosse moneto.....Translated into English: "...Of the lord Richard de Berkeley, knight, in his death, a song of those admonishing: Though all men may desire to know my name and race, yet no man may desire to know my mind. If any one should take up the enquiry as to who I am, reply I know not, but let that man be advised to know himself" His epitaph follows: Whom youth could not corrupt, nor change of dayes Add anything but years, he, full of them As they of knowledge, what need this stone prayse Whose epitaph is writt in the heartes of men That did this world and her child Fame despise His soule w.th (with) God, loe here his coffin lyes Obiit : Aprilis : xxvi : Ano. Domini : 1604 Aetatis suae 71 (Trans.: "He died the 26th of April in the year of Our Lord 1604, 71 (years) of age")

(With love and respect, this research and bio is by the 13th great granddaughter of Sir Richard Berkeley, Audrey DeCamp Hoffman)