John Hilsey facts for kids

John Hilsey (who also went by Hildesley or Hildesleigh) was an important English church leader. He was a member of the Dominican Order, a group of Catholic priests. Later, he worked closely with Henry VIII during a big change in England's church history called the English Reformation. He eventually became the Bishop of Rochester. He passed away on August 4, 1539.

Early Life and Studies

John Hilsey was likely from the Hildesley family in East Ilsley, Berkshire. He joined the Dominican Order in Bristol. This order is also known as the Order of Preachers.

He later moved to the Dominican house in Oxford. There, he studied and earned his B.D. degree in 1527. He then received his D.D. degree in 1532. It's also possible he studied at Cambridge University.

Working for King Henry VIII

In May 1533, Hilsey was the head of the Dominican house in Bristol. He wrote to Thomas Cromwell, a powerful advisor to King Henry VIII. Hilsey explained his actions after preaching against Hugh Latimer. Latimer was a preacher who spoke against some old religious traditions. Hilsey realized Latimer was against the misuse of traditions, not the traditions themselves.

Visiting Friaries Across England

In April 1534, Cromwell gave Hilsey an important job. He made him the leader of the Dominican order in England. Hilsey also became a commissioner, working with George Browne. Their task was to visit friaries, which are homes for friars, all over England.

They had to make the friars swear loyalty to King Henry VIII. This oath included loyalty to his wife, Anne Boleyn, and their future children. The friars also had to agree that the King was the head of the English church. Hilsey and Browne also made lists of all the property the friaries owned.

They visited friaries in London from April 17-20. In May, they went to other friaries near London. Then, they traveled west. By June 21, Hilsey was in Exeter, reporting to Cromwell. In July, he reached Cardiff, chasing two friars who were trying to leave the country.

Bishop of Rochester

In 1535, John Hilsey became the Bishop of Rochester. He took over after John Fisher, who had been executed. Archbishop Thomas Cranmer officially made him bishop on September 18 in Winchester.

Hilsey was not wealthy. He asked Cromwell if he could have the previous bishop's special hat, staff, and seal. He said he was too poor to buy new ones.

Important Sermons and Actions

In January 1536, Hilsey gave a sermon at the funeral of Catherine of Aragon. She was King Henry VIII's first wife. Hilsey claimed that Catherine had said she was never truly the Queen of England before she died.

In March, Hilsey was allowed to remain the head of the London Dominicans. When their house was later closed down, he received a regular payment from the King.

In 1536, Hilsey also worked as a censor for the King. This meant he checked books and writings before they were published.

On February 12, 1538, Hilsey spoke out against a famous religious item called the Rood of Grace. This item was at Boxley Abbey in Kent. Hilsey showed that it was a trick, revealing its hidden machinery. He then broke it into pieces.

Later, on November 24, 1538, he preached at St Paul's Cross in London. He spoke about another religious item, the "blood of Hailes Abbey" in Gloucestershire. He said it was not real blood but a mixture of honey and saffron.

In November 1538, Hilsey officially handed over the Dominican house in London to the King. He died on August 4, 1539, and was buried in Rochester Cathedral.

His Writings

In his final years, Hilsey worked on an important project for Cromwell. He put together a prayer book in English. This book was published in 1539, after his death, and was called the Prymer.

Hilsey's Prymer included a special message from him to Cromwell. It also had a detailed explanation of the sacrament. This book was less extreme than another prayer book from 1535. However, Hilsey's Prymer was very influential. It mixed religious teachings with strong arguments against the Catholic Church.

The way Hilsey arranged the Epistles and Gospels in his book was very similar to how they appeared in later prayer books. A large part of his book was re-published in 1540 as The Prymer both in Englyshe and Latin. It was also included in a collection of prayer books by Edward Burton in 1834.

Hilsey also created a simpler version of his prayer book for younger people. He wrote a book called De veri Corporis Esu in Sacramento. This book was about the Catholic idea of the Eucharist. It was dedicated to Cromwell. Hilsey also helped put together other important documents, like The Institution of a Christian Man.