Valentine Cary

Valentine Cary (died 1626) (alias Carey, erroneously Carew[1]), was an English clergyman, who became Bishop of Exeter.

He was born in about 1570 and is believed to have been an illegitimate son of Henry Carey, 1st Baron Hunsdon (1526–1596),[2] due to the known fact that he was born at Berwick-upon-Tweed and at about the time when Lord Hunsdon was stationed there in connection with his military duties.

[5] He is known to have used the arms of the Carey family of Cockington and Clovelly in Devon (Argent, on a bend sable three roses of the field), of which the Barons Hunsdon were a junior branch, but added a bordure compony.

[9][10][11] In 1609/10, through the influence of his supposed half-brother John Carey, 3rd Baron Hunsdon (d.1617),[12] he became Master of Christ's College, where he had been a Fellow from 1597 to 1600.

It also led Cary to be suspicious of Joseph Mede, who was to be one of Christ's best-known Fellows.

Effigy of Bishop Valentine Cary, detail from his monument in Exeter Cathedral
Arms of Cary of Cockington, Clovelly and of the Barons Hunsdon, as borne by Bishop Cary: Argent, on a bend sable three roses of the field
Monument to Bishop Valentine Cary, Exeter Cathedral