Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Hericke, William
HERICKE or HERRICK, Sir WILLIAM (1562–1653), goldsmith and moneylender, fifth son of John Hericke or Herrick (the name is also spelt Heyrick and Eyricke) of Leicester, by Mary, daughter of John Bond of Ward End, otherwise Little Bromwich, Warwickshire, was baptised at St. Martin's, Leicester, 9 Dec. 1562. About 1574 he was sent to London, and bound apprentice to his elder brother Nicholas, father of Robert Herrick [q. v.], who carried on the business of a goldsmith in Cheapside. He afterwards set up in the same way of business on his own account in Wood Street, and became one of the most prosperous merchants in the city of London. Elizabeth is said to have employed him on a mission to the Grand Turk; its precise object is not known, but on his return he was probably the bearer of the complimentary letter from the Grand Turk to the queen dated 25 March 1581, and printed in the ‘Gentleman's Magazine’ (1792, pt. ii. 1071). His own portrait in Turkish costume, with that of a Turkish lady whom he brought home with him, was long preserved at Beaumanor Park, Leicestershire, which he purchased in 1594–5 from the Earl of Essex, and which was subsequently confirmed to him by several royal grants. He was returned to parliament for the borough of Leicester on 16 Oct. 1601. After the accession of King James he was appointed (3 May 1603) his principal jeweller (Rymer, Fœdera, ed. Sanderson, xvi. 502), was granted the reversion of the office of one of the four tellers in the exchequer (20 June 1604), and on 2 April 1605 was knighted at Greenwich (Cal. State Papers, Dom. Addenda, 1580–1625, p. 446; Winwood, Mem. ii. 57). On 20 May he was chosen alderman for the ward of Farringdon Without, but being in embarrassed circumstances, by reason of the immense sums he had lent the king, obtained exemption from the obligation of serving the office by payment of a fine of 300l. On 10 June following the common council made an order exempting him for life from liability to serve the office of sheriff. In October he was again returned to parliament for Leicester. The king soon afterwards made him liberal grants of land in various counties and towns. He was re-elected member of parliament for Leicester on 8 Jan. 1620–1. On the accession of Charles I he was replaced in the office of king's jeweller by James Heriot (Cal. State Papers, Dom. 1625–6, p. 52). He was evidently in disfavour at court, and in 1635 he refused either to pay ship-money or to attend the council when summoned to answer for his conduct (ib. 1635 p. 427, 1636 p. 242). He suffered much in estate during the civil wars. He died on 2 March 1652–3, and was buried in St. Martin's Church, Leicester. Hericke married, on 6 May 1596, Joan, daughter of Richard May of Mayfield Place, Sussex. His son Richard Heyrick [q. v.] is noticed separately.
[Authorities quoted; Nichols's Hist. and Antiq. Leicestershire, ii. pt. ii. 615–16, 622–4, iii. pt. i. 150–5.]