John Aylmer (bishop) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids The Right Reverend John Aylmer |
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|---|---|
| Bishop of London | |
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| Church | Church of England |
| Province | Canterbury |
| Diocese | London |
| Elected | 12 March 1577 |
| Reign ended | 3 June 1594 |
| Predecessor | Edwin Sandys |
| Successor | Richard Fletcher |
| Orders | |
| Consecration | 24 March 1577 |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1521 Tivetshall St Margaret, Norfolk |
| Died | 3 June 1594 (aged 72-73) Fulham Palace, London |
| Buried | St Paul's Cathedral, London |
| Nationality | English |
| Denomination | Anglican |
| Previous post | Archdeacon of Lincoln 1562–1577 Archdeacon of Stow 1553–1554 & 1559–1562 |
| Alma mater | Queens' College, Cambridge |
John Aylmer (born in 1521, died June 3, 1594) was an important English bishop. He was also a scholar who studied ancient Greek and wrote about how governments should work.
Contents
John Aylmer's Early Life
John Aylmer was born in a place called Aylmer Hall, in Tilney St. Lawrence, Norfolk. Even as a boy, he was very smart. A powerful man named Henry Grey, who was the Duke of Suffolk, noticed John's talent.
The Duke sent John to Cambridge University. There, John became a fellow at Queens' College. Around 1541, he became the Duke's chaplain. He also taught ancient Greek to the Duke's daughter, Lady Jane Grey.
First Church Roles
John Aylmer's first important church job was as an archdeacon in the diocese of Lincoln. An archdeacon is a senior church official who helps the bishop.
However, John disagreed with some church teachings, especially about transubstantiation. This was a belief about how bread and wine become the body and blood of Christ during a church service. Because of his views, he lost his job and had to leave England.
Life in Switzerland
John Aylmer moved to Switzerland for safety. While living there, he wrote an important book. It was called An Harborowe for Faithfull and Trewe Subjects.
This book was a reply to another famous book that criticized women rulers. John Aylmer's book defended the idea of a woman leading a country. He also helped a writer named John Foxe translate a book called Acts of the Martyrs into Latin.
Return to England and New Roles
When Elizabeth I became Queen of England, John Aylmer returned home. In 1558, he famously said, "God is English." He wanted to inspire people with both religious faith and love for their country.
In 1559, he got his old job back as archdeacon of Stow. In 1562, he became the archdeacon of Lincoln as well. He was part of an important meeting in 1563 called the convocation of 1563. This meeting helped to shape the beliefs and rules of the Church of England.
Becoming Bishop of London
In 1577, John Aylmer became the Bishop of London. This was a very powerful position in the church. As bishop, he was very strict with people who had different religious views. This included both Puritans and Roman Catholics.
Some people tried to get him moved to a different church area because of his strictness. He was also criticized in some writings called the Marprelate Tracts. The writer Edmund Spenser even wrote about him in a poem, calling him "Morrell," a bad shepherd.
John Aylmer was known as a scholar, but his time as bishop was difficult. He died in 1594 and was buried in St Paul's Cathedral in London. He had several children, including his eldest son Samuel.
John Aylmer's Writings
John Aylmer's book, An harborowe for faithful and trewe subiectes (1559), was very important. He wrote it to support Queen Elizabeth I's right to rule. He argued that England was not just a monarchy, where one ruler has all the power.
Instead, he described England as a "mixed government." This means it combined elements of different types of rule:
- Monarchy: Represented by the king or queen.
- Aristocracy: Represented by the noble people.
- Democracy: Represented by the common people, like burgesses and knights.
John Aylmer believed that in a mixed government, each part should have similar power. He said that the English Parliament, which included the queen, nobles, and commoners, was a true example of this mixed system. He wrote that the queen could not make laws without Parliament's agreement.
His ideas about England as a mixed monarchy were very important for later thinkers. They helped shape how people understood the English government for many years.
