Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Kymer, Gilbert
KYMER, GILBERT (d. 1463), dean of Salisbury and chancellor of the university of Oxford, was educated at Durham College, on the site of which the present Trinity College stands. He graduated as master of arts and philosophy, bachelor of laws, and doctor of medicine previously to 1420 (Tanner). In 1412–13 he served the office of proctor, and from 1412 to 1414 was principal of Hart Hall. On 16 Dec. 1420, being still a layman, he was presented to the living of Lutterworth, Leicestershire, by William, lord Ferrers of Groby; this preferment he resigned in 1422. In 1427 he became dean of Wimborne Minster; on 28 June of that year was appointed treasurer of Salisbury, and on 28 Feb. 1427–8 was ordained sub-deacon by William, bishop of London, and priest on 29 May following. From 1431 to 1433 he was chancellor of the university. On 12 Feb. 1434 he was presented to St. Martin's Vintry, London (Newcourt, Repertorium, i. 422), and previously to 1447 became prebendary of Wells and Gillingham, and rector of Fordingbridge, Hampshire (Munimenta Acad. ii. 575). In 1446 he once more became chancellor of Oxford, and on this occasion retained his office for seven years, resigning on 11 May 1453. In 1447 he was one of those who became sureties for the carrying out of Cardinal Beaufort's bequest for the building of the new schools at Oxford (ib. ii. 568). In 1451 he is described as of Coventry Hall in St. Martin's parish (Wood, Hist. and Antiq. App. p. 53). On 16 June 1449 he was elected dean of Salisbury, and died in that city on 16 May 1463. He was buried in the cathedral, having made a bequest for the endowment of a chantry. There is an effigy of him, with a Latin inscription, in a window of the south transept.
Kymer was a physician of reputation, and in that capacity attached to the household of Humphrey, duke of Gloucester, whom he probably induced to give his library to Oxford. In June 1455 he was called in to attend Henry VI at Windsor (Fœdera, ix. 366, orig. edit.) Kymer was author of a treatise which he addressed to Duke Humphrey, ‘Diætarium de Sanitatis Custodia.’ Two chapters of the work, together with the titles of the remainder, were published by Hearne in the appendix to his ‘Liber Niger Scaccarii,’ pp. 550–9. It exists in manuscript in Sloane MS. 4, ff. 63–98, in the British Museum. The treatise was written in 1424 in Hainault, whither Kymer had no doubt accompanied Duke Humphrey (Lib. Nig. Scacc. Pref. pp. xxxiv. and 559).
[Tanner's Bibl. Brit.-Hib. p. 461; Le Neve's Fasti Eccl. Angl. ii. 616, 646, iii. 467, 480, 582; Munimenta Academica (Rolls Ser.); Aubrey and Jackson's Wiltshire, p. 386; Maxwell Lyte's Hist. Univ. Oxf. pp. 319, 337.]