Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Hyde, Alexander
HYDE, ALEXANDER (1598–1667), bishop of Salisbury, born at Salisbury in 1598, was the fourth son of Sir Lawrence Hyde, knt. (the second son of Lawrence Hyde of Gussage St. Michael, Dorsetshire, who was third son of Robert Hyde of Norbury, Cheshire). His mother was Barbara Castilion of Benham, Berkshire. He was thus first cousin of Edward Hyde (1607-1659) [q. v.], of Sir Robert Hyde [q.v.], and of Henry Hyde,who accompanied Charles II to the continent and was beheaded in London in 1650. At the age of twelve (1610) Alexander entered Winchester College as a scholar, and matriculated 17 Nov. 1615 at New College, Oxford, where, in 1617, he was admitted perpetual fellow, and afterwards graduated B.C.L. 24 April 1623, and D.C.L. 4 July 1632. In 1634 he was made rector of Wylye and Little Langford, Wiltshire. In May 1637 Hyde became subdean and prebendary of Salisbury Cathedral, stall of South Grantham (4 March 1638-9). Like other members of his family he was a staunch royalist, and was sequestered from his livings under the Commonwealth, but reoccupied them at the Restoration. According to tradition, supported by his epitaph (see Hatcher, History of Sarum, ed. 1843, p. 459), he contributed bountifully to the repairs of the cathedral after its desecration by the soldiers of the parliament. By Clarendon's influence he was at the Restoration rewarded by the deanery of Winchester (installed 8 Aug. 1660), and on the death of John Earle [q. v.] in 1665 was promoted to the bishopric of Salisbury. He resigned the subdeanery of Salisbury in 1661, and his prebend there in 1665. His consecration took place 31 Dec. 1665 in New College Chapel, Oxford. Hyde died in London, 22 Aug. 1667, aged 69, and was buried in the south aisle of the nave of Salisbury Cathedral, beneath a black marble slab bearing a Latin inscription. His will, dated 17 July 1667, is at Doctors' Commons. His portrait in his episcopal robes is in the bishop's palace, Salisbury. By his wife, Mary, daughter of Bishop Tounson, and niece of John Davenant, bishop of Salisbury, Hyde had, besides three daughters, a son, Robert, who ultimately succeeded to the family estates.
[Lansd. MS. 986, f. 61; Wood's Athen. Ox. ed. Bliss, iv. 832; Wood's Fasti Ox. ed. Bliss, i. 411, 466; Le Neve's Fasti, 1854, ii. 509, 656, iii. 22; Dodsworth's Salisbury, p. 70; Hoare's Wiltshire, Branch and Dole, pp. 179, 182, Underditch, p. 145; Cassan's History of Bishops of Sherborne and Salisbury, pt. iii. 25; Hist. and Antiq. of Salisbury Cathedral, ed. 1723, pp. 31, 161-277, 307, 325; private information from Mr. Clifford Holgate.]