Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Rice, Richard
RICE or PRICE, RICHARD (fl. 1548–1579), author, described by Tanner as ‘Suffolciensis,’ was a brother of Ellis Price [q. v.] (Letters and Papers of Henry VIII, x. 434), and son of Robert ap Rhys ap Maredudd of Foelas and Plas Iolyn, Denbighshire. In 1535, being a monk, he was recommended by Bishop Lee for election to the abbacy of Conway (ib. viii. 448). The abbot was still living and opposed Rice's election, ‘knowing him to be a wilful and misruled person, who would utterly destroy the abbey’ (ib. x. 340). Rice, however, was elected in 1536. In the following year Conway was dissolved, and Rice endeavoured to make good terms for himself and his brethren (ib.)
Rice wrote: 1. ‘The Right Institution of Baptism set forth by the Reverend Father in Christ Herman, Archbishop of Cologne, whereunto is also annexed a Godly Treatys of Matrimonie, compiled by the famous Clerke and faithfull Evangelist Wolfgangus Musculus, no lesse frutefull than necessary for all Godly Ministers of Christes Church, translated by the unproffytable servaunt of Christ, Richard Ryce,’ London, 1548, 8vo, and also by another printer, Anthony Scoloker [q. v.], without place or date, 16mo. 2. ‘An Invective against Vices taken for Virtue, gathered out of the Scriptures by the very unprofitable Servant of Jesus Christ, Richard Rice; also certeine necessary Instructions meet to be taught the younger sort before they come to be partakers of the Holy Communion,’ London, 1579, 16mo (and another imprint by Kyngston, 8vo, black letter).
[Maitland's Cat. of Early Printed Books at Lambeth, p. 245; Hazlitt's Handbook to Early Engl. Lit. p. 503, and Collections, i. 357; Dibdin's Typogr. Antiq. iv. 307; Tanner's Bibl. Brit.-Hib.; Watt's Bibl. Brit.]