Background
He was born at Nether Wallop in Hampshire, second son of Richard Reade (died 1555), Lord of the Manor of Wallop, and his wife Margaret.
He was born at Nether Wallop in Hampshire, second son of Richard Reade (died 1555), Lord of the Manor of Wallop, and his wife Margaret.
He was educated at Winchester College and New College, Oxford where he became a fellow in 1528. He took the degrees of Bachelor of Civil Law at Oxford in 1537 and Doctor of Civil Law at the same University in 1540.
He quickly acquired a reputation as "a man of learning and experience". He was made a Master of Chancery and undertook a crucial trade mission to Flanders. He was knighted in 1544.
In 1546 Sir John Alan, the Lord Chancellor of Ireland was removed from office on charges of corruption, and Reade was sent to replace him.
He was granted a house in the precincts of Saint Patrick"s Cathedral and the manor of Moyglare near Maynooth, County Kildare. In 1548 Alan was reinstated as Chancellor.
Reade returned to England where he became Master of Requests. He later purchased the manors of Redbourn near Saint Albans, and Tangley near Andover.
He died in 1575 and was buried at Redbourn parish church.
He left legacies to Winchester College and for the upkeep of the parish of Redbourn. The name of Richard"s wife was Agnes Hamby: they also had a daughter Anne, who married a Mr. Wilgosse.
Ball praises Reade as a man of great learning, though O"Flanagan adds that there was little work in the Chancellor"s Court during his tenure.
