John Prise facts for kids
Sir John Prise (born around 1501 or 1502, died 1555) was an important Welsh official and scholar. He worked for the King of England during a time of big changes. He was also known for his connection to the very first book ever printed in the Welsh language, called Yn y lhyvyr hwnn. Sir John Prise served as a Member of Parliament (MP) for several areas in England and Wales, including Breconshire, Hereford, and Ludlow.
Contents
The Life of Sir John Prise
Sir John Prise was the son of Rhys ab Gwilym. He studied at All Souls College, Oxford, which is a famous university. After his studies, he became a public notary. This meant he was an official who could witness important documents. He also worked as a receiver for the King, collecting money for the royal family.
Sir John Prise became a trusted agent for Thomas Cromwell, a powerful advisor to King Henry VIII. He helped Cromwell with important tasks, like looking at old manuscripts. In 1534, he became the registrar for Salisbury Cathedral. He also helped with important legal processes, including those related to the King's power over the church.
Royal Service and Public Role
Sir John Prise played a part in the major review of monasteries in 1535. He worked alongside Sir Thomas Legh. When a large rebellion called the Pilgrimage of Grace was stopped, he helped to deal with the people involved. For his hard work, he received land and property, including parts of Carmarthen and Brecon Priory. He also bought the priory of St. Guthlac in Hereford.
He was very involved in public life, especially with the union of England and Wales. He helped to write or suggest the ideas for the laws that brought England and Wales closer together. In 1541, he became the Sheriff of Breconshire. He mostly lived at Brecon Priory.
Sir John Prise was made a knight on February 22, 1547. He served as a knight of the shire (a type of MP) for Breconshire in 1547. In 1551, he became a member of the council that governed the Welsh border regions.
He and his son, Richard, supported a man named Hugh Evans. They are said to have introduced Evans to the famous writer William Shakespeare. Sir John Prise married Joan, the daughter of John Williams. They had five sons and two daughters.
Sir John Prise's Writings
Sir John Prise was a keen scholar and collected many old manuscripts. He was encouraged in his studies by William Herbert, 1st Earl of Pembroke.
Important Books and Works
- Historiae Britannicae Defensio : This book was written around 1553 and published by his son Richard in 1573. In it, Sir John defended the old stories about early British history, like those of Brutus of Troy and King Arthur. He wrote it partly to argue against another historian, Polydore Vergil.
- Description of Cambria : This work was later translated and expanded by Humphrey Lhuyd. It was published as part of the Historie of Cambria by David Powel in 1584. This book described Wales.
- Fides Historian Britannicae : This was another work where he corrected the writings of Polydore Vergil.
- He also wrote about how to fix the value of money in 1553. This was dedicated to Queen Mary.
Sir John Prise is also believed to have translated and published the Lord's Prayer, the Creed, and the Ten Commandments into Welsh for the very first time. These were included in Yn y lhyvyr hwnn in 1546, making it a very important book for the Welsh language.
