Ellis Price facts for kids

Ellis Price or Prys (born by 1514 – died 8 October 1594) was an important Welsh administrator and a member of Parliament. He played a big role in Welsh public life during the time of Queen Elizabeth I.

Early Life and Education

Ellis Price was born into a well-known Welsh family. His father, Robert ap Rhys, was from Plas Iolyn near Ysbyty Ifan and worked as a chaplain for Cardinal Wolsey, a very powerful figure in England. Ellis's grandfather, Rhys Fawr ap Maredudd, was a brave fighter who supported Henry VII at the Battle of Bosworth Field. It's even thought that his grandfather carried the famous red dragon flag during that battle!

Ellis went to St Nicholas Hostel, Cambridge, to study. He earned two important degrees: a Bachelor of Civil Law (BCL) in 1533 and a Doctor of Civil Law (DCL) in 1534. Because of the red gown he wore for his doctorate degree, people often called him 'Y Doctor Coch', which means 'The Red Doctor' in Welsh.

Early Career and Public Service

In 1535, Ellis Price was given a job by Thomas Cromwell, a chief minister to King Henry VIII. He was asked to visit monasteries in Wales. He played a part in the changes that happened to these monasteries during that time. Later, in 1538, he became a chancellor for the Diocese of St Asaph. This meant he had an important role in managing church affairs in that area. He also held positions as a rector in several places like Llangwm, Llandrillo-yn-Rhos, and Llanuwchllyn.

Ellis Price was involved in some disagreements during this period. For example, he had a dispute with the vicar of Llanarmon. He also had a conflict with William Salesbury, a Welsh scholar who translated the New Testament into Welsh. Interestingly, William Salesbury was also Ellis Price's brother-in-law.

Roles as Justice of the Peace

Ellis Price held many important local government jobs. He became a Justice of the Peace (JP) in several Welsh counties. A Justice of the Peace was someone who helped keep law and order in their local area.

• For Merioneth: from 1543 until his death.
• For Denbighshire: from 1555 until his death.
• For Caernarvonshire: from 1561 until his death.
• For Anglesey and Montgomeryshire: in 1564.

By 1575, he was a Justice of the Peace in most Welsh counties, showing how widely he was trusted with these duties.

High Sheriff Appointments

Ellis Price also served as a High Sheriff many times. A High Sheriff was a very important official responsible for law enforcement and local administration in a county.

• High Sheriff of Denbighshire: 1548–49, 1556–57, 1568–69, and 1572–73.
• High Sheriff of Merionethshire: 1551–52, 1555–56, 1563–64, 1567–68, 1573–74, 1578–79, and 1583–84.
• High Sheriff of Caernarvonshire: 1558–59.
• High Sheriff of Anglesey: 1577–78 and 1585–86.

Political Career and Influence

Ellis Price was elected as a Member of Parliament (MP) for Merioneth in 1558 and again in 1563. Being an MP meant he represented his local area in the English Parliament, helping to make laws and decisions for the country.

He held other significant positions too:

• He was the Custos Rotulorum of Merionethshire from 1558/59, which meant he was the chief keeper of the county's records.
• He was a member of the Council in the Marches of Wales from 1560 until his death. This council was a special government body that helped rule Wales and the border areas of England.
• He also served as a Master in Chancery extraordinary, a role in the legal system.

Working with Queen Elizabeth I

In 1560, Queen Elizabeth I's government gave Ellis Price the manor of Tir Ifan, which included lands at Ysbyty Ifan and Penmachno. This shows how much the Crown trusted him.

When Queen Elizabeth I gave the lordship of Denbigh to Robert Dudley, who was the Earl of Leicester, in 1564, Ellis Price was the steward of those lands. As steward, he managed the estates, and some people felt that his management caused difficulties for them in the area.

He was also part of a special group chosen by Queen Elizabeth to organize the Eisteddfod at Caerwys in 1567. The Eisteddfod is a famous Welsh festival of music, literature, and performance, and being involved in its organization was a great honor.

Family Life

Ellis Price was married twice. His first wife was Catherine, the daughter of Thomas Conway. They had one son together. His second wife was Ellyw, the daughter of Owain Pool. With Ellyw, he had two more sons and four daughters. One of his sons, Tomos Prys, became a well-known adventurer and poet.