Valentine Cary

Valentine Cary (died 1626) (alias Carey, erroneously Carew), was an English clergyman, who became Bishop of Exeter. Origins His origins are uncertain. He was born in about 1570 and is believed to have been an illegitimate son of Henry Carey, 1st Baron Hunsdon (1526–1596), 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. This supposition therefore makes him an illegitimate brother of George Carey, 2nd Baron Hunsdon and of John Carey, 3rd Baron Hunsdon, whose son Henry Carey, 1st Earl of Dover, (and 1st Viscount Rochefort, 4th Baron Hunsdon) was the Bishop's patron by whose direct influence he was created Bishop of Exeter. In his will he names the 4th Baron's daughter Judith Carey as his god-daughter, and bequeathed to Sir John Carey, the 4th Baron's son and heir apparent, the sum of £10 for a mourning ring. 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. Career He was a graduate of Christ's College, Cambridge, and in 1591 was a Fellow of St John's College, Cambridge. A pluralist, Cary was vicar of East Tilbury in 1603, rector at Great Parndon 1606 to 1616, and was vicar of Epping Upland from 1607 to 1609. He was also rector of Orsett and Toft from 1610.