Page:Dictionary of National Biography volume 19.djvu/59

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Fishacre
53
Fisher

came well known in the neighbourhood as a teacher. He died 15 March 1866, a later date than that suggested by the musical dictionaries. Fish's Opus I., a sonata in the Mozartean manner, was followed by a number of less interesting pianoforte pieces, some ballads (words and music by the composer), among which 'The Morning Star' may be singled out, an oboe concerto, and some fantasias for the harp. His unpublished works are said to have included a manuscript cantata to words by Mrs. Opie, and some pieces (presumably for band) played at the Norwich Theatre.

[Grove's Dict. i. 530; Dict. of Musicians, 1827, i. 249; History of Norfolk, 1829, ii. 1283; Notes from Register Office, Norwich; Norfolk News, 17 March 1866; Fish's music in Brit. Mus. Library.]

L. M. M.

FISHACRE, FISSAKRE, FISHAKLE, or FIZACRE, RICHARD de (d. 1248), Dominican divine, is said to have been a native of Devonshire (Fuller, i. 442, iii. 20). Trivet styles him 'natus Oxonia,' where, however, other manuscripts read Exonia (p. 230). Bale makes him study 'the scurrilities of the Sophists' at Oxford and Paris; but the whole story of the latter visit is probably nothing more than the expansion of a very dubious suggestion in Leland's 'Commentaries ' (Bale, p. 294; Leland, ii. 275). Like Robert Bacon [q. v.], Fishacre in his old age became a Dominican; but as the two friends continued to read divinity lectures for several years after entering the order in the schools of St. Edward, his entry can hardly be dated later than 1240, and perhaps like Robert Bacon's should be placed ten or more years earlier (Trivet, pp. 229-30). The two comrades died in the same year, 1248 (Matt. Paris, v. 16). In their own days they were considered to be without superior, or even equal, in theology or other branches of science; nor was their eloquence in popular preaching less remarkable (ib.) Leland calls Fishacre, Robert Bacon's 'comes individuus,' and adds that the two were as fast linked together in friendship as ever Theseus was to Pirithous. He even hints that the former died of grief on hearing of his friend's decease (Leland, ii. 275; Fuller, ubi supra). Fishacre was buried among the Friars Preachers at Oxford. He was the first of his order in England who wrote on the 'Sentences' (Oriel MS. No. 43, quoted in Coxe). Wood makes him a friend and auditor of Edmund Rich (Hist. II. ii. 740).

Fishacre's works are:

  1. Commentaries on Peter Lombard's 'Book of Sentences,' four books (manuscripts at Oriel College, Nos. 31, 43, and Balliol, No. 57, Oxford, and, according to Echard, at the Sorbonne in Paris, &c.)
  2. Treatises on the Psalter (to the seventieth Psalm only according to Trivet).
  3. 'Super Parabolas Salamonis.' To these Bale adds other dissertations: 'De Pœnitate,' 'Postillæ Morales,' 'Commentarii Bibliæ,' 'Quæstiones Variæ,' 'Quodlibeta quoque et alia plura.' Pits says he was the first Englishman to become a doctor in divinity. The same writer states that Thomas Walden, the great anti-Wycliffite theologian of the early part of the fifteenth century, often appeals to Fishacre's authority while Bale adds that William Woodford (d. 1397), the Franciscan, and William Byntre relied on him for the same purpose. Echard assigns him another work, 'De Indulgentiis.'

[Matt. Paris, ed. Luard (Rolls Ser.), vol. v.; Trivet, ed. Hog (Engl. Hist. Soc.); Leland's Commentaries, ed. 1709; Bale's Scriptores, ed. 1559, p. 294; Pits's Commentaries, ed. 1619, p. 317; Fuller's Worthies, ed. 1840, i. 422, iii. 419-20; Anthony à Wood's Hist. and Antiquities of Oxford, ed. Gutch, ii. 740; Echard's Scriptores Ordinis Prædicatorum, i. 118-19; Coxe's Cat. of Oxford MSS.; Tanner's Scriptores.]

T. A. A.


FISHER, CATHERINE MARIA (d. 1767), afterwards Norris, generally known as Kitty Fisher, courtesan, seems to have been of German origin, since her name is frequently spelt Fischer, and once by Sir Joshua Reynolds Fisscher. She became the second wife of John Norris of Hempsted Manor, Benenden, Kent, sometime M.P. for Rye. Her later life, in which she devoted herself to building up her husband's dilapidated fortunes, was in striking contrast with her previous career, which was sufficiently notorious. Ensign (afterwards Lieutenant-general) Anthony George Martin (d. 1800) is said to have introduced her into public life. In London she was known as a daring horsewoman, and also credited with the possession of beauty and wit. A satire in verse, 'Kitty's Stream, or the Noblemen turned Fishermen. A comic Satire addressed to the Gentlemen in the interest of the celebrated Miss K___y F____r. By Rigdum Funnidos,' 1759, 4to, of which a copy, with manuscript notes by the Rev. John Mitford, is in the British Museum, says that her parentage was 'low and mean,' that she was a milliner, and had neither sense nor wit, but only impudence. Other tracts concerning her, mentioned in the 'Gentleman's Magazine,' 1760, are 'An odd Letter on a most interesting subject to Miss K. F__h_r,' 6d., Williams; 'Miss K. F___'s Miscellany,' 1s., Ranger (in verse): and 'Elegy to K. F__h_r.' A further satire on her among the satirical tracts in the king's library at the British Museum is 'Horse and Away to St. James's Park on a Trip for the Noontide Air. Who