Edmund Elys
Encyclopedia
Edmund Elys (c.1633–1708) was an English clergyman, poet and versatile writer. Considered eccentric, he encountered personal troubles before finally losing his living as a non-juror
after the Glorious Revolution
. He was connected both to Quakers and to leading academics such as Henry More
and John Wallis.
, the son of Edmund Elys, rector of East Allington
, by his wife Ursula, daughter of John Carew of Haccombe. After receiving some preliminary instruction from William Hayter at Exeter, he entered Balliol College, Oxford, as a commoner in Lent term 1651, was admitted probationer fellow of that house 29 November 1655, having taken his B.A. degree on 16 October previously, and proceeded M.A. 11 June 1658. He resigned his fellowship 1 November 1659, in which year he succeeded his father in the rectory of East Allington.
He had written royalist poetry, and was taken prisoner by Major John Blackmore
, a Parliamentarian soldier who had been in command of Exeter Castle and sat as MP for East Looe
in Cornwall. Blackmore (on the later account of Elys) regarded him as a potential traitor.
In 1666 other 'prodigious afflictions fell on me', he later wrote. His living was under sequestration in 1677, and he found himself 'forced to abscond about London.' In 1680 he was confined in the King's Bench and other prisons. On the accession of William III
, Elys, for refusing to take the oaths, was deprived of his rectory. He retired to Totnes
.
During the reign of James II
, Elys supported James's moves to extend religious toleration, arguing against anti-Catholicism. Although he does not appear ever to have joined them, he was a warm friend of the Quakers, whose principles he defended in numerous leaflets. He wrote against George Keith
; his own views, as presented for example in a 1697 work, have been called "illuminationist". He defended innate ideas, against John Locke
's Essay Concerning Human Understanding, in another work from 1697.
Non-juror
A non-juror is a person who refuses to swear a particular oath.* In British history, non-jurors refused to swear allegiance to William and Mary; see Nonjuring schism...
after the Glorious Revolution
Glorious Revolution
The Glorious Revolution, also called the Revolution of 1688, is the overthrow of King James II of England by a union of English Parliamentarians with the Dutch stadtholder William III of Orange-Nassau...
. He was connected both to Quakers and to leading academics such as Henry More
Henry More
Henry More FRS was an English philosopher of the Cambridge Platonist school.-Biography:Henry was born at Grantham and was schooled at The King's School, Grantham and at Eton College...
and John Wallis.
Life
He was born at Haccombe, DevonDevon
Devon is a large county in southwestern England. The county is sometimes referred to as Devonshire, although the term is rarely used inside the county itself as the county has never been officially "shired", it often indicates a traditional or historical context.The county shares borders with...
, the son of Edmund Elys, rector of East Allington
East Allington
East Allington is a village in south Devon, England, three miles south of Halwell and just off the A381 road. It lies about three miles from Kingsbridge and about ten miles from Totnes. The coast at Slapton Sands is about five miles to the south-east. East Allington also includes the hamlet of The...
, by his wife Ursula, daughter of John Carew of Haccombe. After receiving some preliminary instruction from William Hayter at Exeter, he entered Balliol College, Oxford, as a commoner in Lent term 1651, was admitted probationer fellow of that house 29 November 1655, having taken his B.A. degree on 16 October previously, and proceeded M.A. 11 June 1658. He resigned his fellowship 1 November 1659, in which year he succeeded his father in the rectory of East Allington.
He had written royalist poetry, and was taken prisoner by Major John Blackmore
John Blackmore
John Blackmore was an English politician who sat in the House of Commons in 1654.Blackmore was the son of John Blackmore of Exeter, Devon. He matriculated at Exeter College, Oxford on 12 December 1634, aged 18...
, a Parliamentarian soldier who had been in command of Exeter Castle and sat as MP for East Looe
East Looe (UK Parliament constituency)
East Looe was a parliamentary borough represented in the House of Commons of England from 1571 to 1707, in the House of Commons of Great Britain from 1797 to 1800, and finally in the House of Commons of the United Kingdom from 1801 until its abolition in 1832. It elected two Members of Parliament ...
in Cornwall. Blackmore (on the later account of Elys) regarded him as a potential traitor.
In 1666 other 'prodigious afflictions fell on me', he later wrote. His living was under sequestration in 1677, and he found himself 'forced to abscond about London.' In 1680 he was confined in the King's Bench and other prisons. On the accession of William III
William III of England
William III & II was a sovereign Prince of Orange of the House of Orange-Nassau by birth. From 1672 he governed as Stadtholder William III of Orange over Holland, Zeeland, Utrecht, Guelders, and Overijssel of the Dutch Republic. From 1689 he reigned as William III over England and Ireland...
, Elys, for refusing to take the oaths, was deprived of his rectory. He retired to Totnes
Totnes
Totnes is a market town and civil parish at the head of the estuary of the River Dart in Devon, England within the South Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty...
.
During the reign of James II
James II of England
James II & VII was King of England and King of Ireland as James II and King of Scotland as James VII, from 6 February 1685. He was the last Catholic monarch to reign over the Kingdoms of England, Scotland, and Ireland...
, Elys supported James's moves to extend religious toleration, arguing against anti-Catholicism. Although he does not appear ever to have joined them, he was a warm friend of the Quakers, whose principles he defended in numerous leaflets. He wrote against George Keith
George Keith
George Keith was a Scottish missionary.-Life:Born in Peterhead, Aberdeenshire, Scotland, to a Presbyterian family, he received an M.A. from the University of Aberdeen...
; his own views, as presented for example in a 1697 work, have been called "illuminationist". He defended innate ideas, against John Locke
John Locke
John Locke FRS , widely known as the Father of Liberalism, was an English philosopher and physician regarded as one of the most influential of Enlightenment thinkers. Considered one of the first of the British empiricists, following the tradition of Francis Bacon, he is equally important to social...
's Essay Concerning Human Understanding, in another work from 1697.
Further reading
- Simmons, Jack. Edmund Elys, rector of East Allington, 1659-1689. Devon & Cornwall Notes & Queries, 22 (1944), 209-12, 219-21, 231-3.