Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Marham, Ralph

by Charles Lethbridge Kingsford

MARHAM, RALPH (fl. 1380), historian, was a scholar at Cambridge, where he graduated D.D. He became an Austin friar at King's Lynn, and eventually rose to be prior of his house, in which capacity he appears in 1378 and 1389. He wrote 'Manipulus Chronicorum,' inc. 'Fratribus religionis animo.' This work is a history in seven books, from the Creation to the writer's own time. The first letters of the opening words spell, 'Frater Radulphus Marham.' There is a copy of it in the Bibliotheque Nationale at Paris (cf. Ossinger). Some sermons are also ascribed to him.

[Bale, vi. 59; Tanner's Bibl. Brit.-Hib. p. 510; Ossinger's Bibliotheca Augustiniana, p. 546; Blomefield's Norfolk, viii. 495.]

C. L. K.