Education
Exeter College.
Exeter College.
The ejected minister Richard Byfield was his half-brother. Nicholas entered Exeter College, Oxford, in the Lent term 1596, and was four years at university, but did not graduate. Taking orders, he intended to exercise his ministry in Ireland.
But on his way there he preached at Chester, and was prevailed upon to remain as one of the city preachers, without cure.
He lectured at Saint Peter"s church, and was extremely popular. On 31 March 1615 Byfield was admitted to the vicarage of Isleworth, in succession to Thomas Hawkes.
At this point he was chaplain to Edward Russell, 3rd Earl of Bedford. At Isleworth he preached twice every Sunday, and gave expository lectures every Wednesday and Friday.
He kept up until five weeks before his death, from the stone.
He died on Sunday, 8 September 1622. The following day a surgeon removed from his body a stone which weighed 35 ounces. William Gouge was present at the autopsy.