Men of Kent and Kentishmen/Richard Fletcher
Richard Fletcher,
BISHOP,
Father of the well known dramatic poet John Fletcher, the literary partner of Francis Beaumont, was a Kentish man, and a man of reputation in his time. He was educated at Bene't College, Oxford, and after holding several important cures, was promoted in 1589 to the See of Bristol, whence in 1592 he was translated to Worcester, and two years later to London. On the occasion of the condemnation of Mary Queen of Scots, he was appointed to attend her at her execution. He offended Elizabeth by marrying Lady Baker, a woman of great beauty, the great queen being strongly averse to bishops marrying at all. He was consequently suspended. He died suddenly in 1596, his death being hastened probably by his disgrace, though Camden imputes it to tobacco, of which newly-introduced weed he was immoderately fond.
[See Fuller's "Worthies," Masters's "History of Corpus Christi College," Strype's "Life of Whitgift;' and "Biographia Britannica."]