John Sheppard (c.1514–1558/59) at Oxford and the Chapel Royal: exculpation and clarification

Abstract

The received biography available for the English composer John Sheppard (c.1514 – late 1558 or early 1559) is amenable to clarification at a number of points. He was employed as Master of the Choristers at Magdalen College, Oxford, for just a single spell, September 1543 to early 1548. The available evidence suggests that he proceeded thence directly to admission to the Chapel Royal. He had no further contact with Magdalen College; an instance of kidnap and confinement perpetrated in 1555 that is commonly attributed to him was instead committed by one Richard Sheparde/Sheper/Sheprey, a fellow of the college. Despite being only an imperfect draft, his ‘will’ of 1 December 1558 reveals much about his family circumstances at Westminster. He died between 1 December 1558 and 31 January 1559; the actual date must be reconcilable with expectation of his attendance at Queen Elizabeth’s coronation on 15 January 1559, as recorded on a list compiled not earlier than 15 December 1558.