John Hales (d.1571)
Encyclopedia
John Hales (ca. 1516 - 28 December 1571) was an English
writer, administrator and politician.
, Kent
, Hales was brought up by Christopher Hales
, who was an uncle or else a more distant relation. Without a university education, he learned Latin, Greek, French, and German. He was lamed by an accident in youth and was often called ‘Club-foot’ Hales. Dissatisfied with working under Christopher Hales, he wrote in 1534 to Thomas Cromwell, asking for employment. Taken on in some capacity by 1535, he struck up a lasting friendship with Ralph Sadler
and in 1537 became secretary to Sir John Gostwick
. He may have been Clerk of the Hanaper
for Henry VIII, and was deputy to Ralph Sadler
, as Master of the Great Wardrobe in 1545.
He was the founder of a free grammar school at Coventry
, based on the grant in 1545 of St. John's Hospital, Coventry and its property; it is now King Henry VIII School, Coventry. In political life Hales, who was member of parliament for Preston
, was specially concerned with opposing the enclosure of land
, being the most active of the commissioners appointed in 1548 to redress this evil; but he failed to carry several remedial measures through parliament.
When the protector, Edward Seymour, 1st Duke of Somerset
, was deprived of his authority in 1550, Hales left England and lived for some time at Strassburg
and Frankfort, returning to his own country on the accession of Elizabeth I
. However he soon lost the royal favour by writing a pamphlet, A Declaration of the Succession of the Crowne Imperiall of Inglande, which declared that the recent marriage between Lady Catherine Grey
and Edward Seymour, earl of Hertford, was legitimate, and asserted that, failing direct heirs to Elizabeth, the English crown should come to Lady Catherine as the descendant of Mary, daughter of Henry VII of England
.
Hales was imprisoned, but was quickly released. He was the Member of Parliament for Lancaster
from 1563 to 1567.
) for his newly-founded school.
Kingdom of England
The Kingdom of England was, from 927 to 1707, a sovereign state to the northwest of continental Europe. At its height, the Kingdom of England spanned the southern two-thirds of the island of Great Britain and several smaller outlying islands; what today comprises the legal jurisdiction of England...
writer, administrator and politician.
Life
A son of Thomas Hales of Hales Place, HaldenHigh Halden
High Halden is a village and civil parish in the Ashford District of Kent, England. The village is located on the A28 road between Ashford town and Tenterden, 3miles north of the latter.-History:...
, Kent
Kent
Kent is a county in southeast England, and is one of the home counties. It borders East Sussex, Surrey and Greater London and has a defined boundary with Essex in the middle of the Thames Estuary. The ceremonial county boundaries of Kent include the shire county of Kent and the unitary borough of...
, Hales was brought up by Christopher Hales
Christopher Hales
-Origins:The family of Hales was a most ancient one, deriving its name from Hales in Norfolk, where Roger de Hales possessed property in the reign of Henry II. Before the close of Edward III's reign, it had removed into Kent and was settled at Halden near Tenterden. The unfortunate Robert de Hales...
, who was an uncle or else a more distant relation. Without a university education, he learned Latin, Greek, French, and German. He was lamed by an accident in youth and was often called ‘Club-foot’ Hales. Dissatisfied with working under Christopher Hales, he wrote in 1534 to Thomas Cromwell, asking for employment. Taken on in some capacity by 1535, he struck up a lasting friendship with Ralph Sadler
Ralph Sadler
Sir Ralph Sadler, PC, Knight banneret was an English statesman of the 16th century, and served as a Secretary of State for King Henry VIII.-Background:...
and in 1537 became secretary to Sir John Gostwick
John Gostwick
-Life:He was born the son of John Gostwick in Willington, Bedfordshire, and educated in Potton. Around 1510 he entered the service of Cardinal Wolsey and became a Gentleman Usher to Henry VII. He was also a merchant importing caps and hats from the continent of Europe. By 1517 he was a wax chandler...
. He may have been Clerk of the Hanaper
Hanaper
Hanaper, properly a case or basket to contain a "hanap " , a drinking vessel, a goblet with a foot or stem; the term which is still used by antiquaries for medieval stemmed cups. The famous Royal Gold Cup in the British Museum is called a "hanap" in the inventory of Charles VI of France of...
for Henry VIII, and was deputy to Ralph Sadler
Ralph Sadler
Sir Ralph Sadler, PC, Knight banneret was an English statesman of the 16th century, and served as a Secretary of State for King Henry VIII.-Background:...
, as Master of the Great Wardrobe in 1545.
He was the founder of a free grammar school at Coventry
Coventry
Coventry is a city and metropolitan borough in the county of West Midlands in England. Coventry is the 9th largest city in England and the 11th largest in the United Kingdom. It is also the second largest city in the English Midlands, after Birmingham, with a population of 300,848, although...
, based on the grant in 1545 of St. John's Hospital, Coventry and its property; it is now King Henry VIII School, Coventry. In political life Hales, who was member of parliament for Preston
Preston (UK Parliament constituency)
Preston is a borough constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elects one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election.-Boundaries:...
, was specially concerned with opposing the enclosure of land
Enclosure
Enclosure or inclosure is the process which ends traditional rights such as mowing meadows for hay, or grazing livestock on common land. Once enclosed, these uses of the land become restricted to the owner, and it ceases to be common land. In England and Wales the term is also used for the...
, being the most active of the commissioners appointed in 1548 to redress this evil; but he failed to carry several remedial measures through parliament.
When the protector, Edward Seymour, 1st Duke of Somerset
Edward Seymour, 1st Duke of Somerset
Edward Seymour, 1st Duke of Somerset, 1st Earl of Hertford, 1st Viscount Beauchamp of Hache, KG, Earl Marshal was Lord Protector of England in the period between the death of Henry VIII in 1547 and his own indictment in 1549....
, was deprived of his authority in 1550, Hales left England and lived for some time at Strassburg
Strasbourg
Strasbourg is the capital and principal city of the Alsace region in eastern France and is the official seat of the European Parliament. Located close to the border with Germany, it is the capital of the Bas-Rhin département. The city and the region of Alsace are historically German-speaking,...
and Frankfort, returning to his own country on the accession of Elizabeth I
Elizabeth I of England
Elizabeth I was queen regnant of England and Ireland from 17 November 1558 until her death. Sometimes called The Virgin Queen, Gloriana, or Good Queen Bess, Elizabeth was the fifth and last monarch of the Tudor dynasty...
. However he soon lost the royal favour by writing a pamphlet, A Declaration of the Succession of the Crowne Imperiall of Inglande, which declared that the recent marriage between Lady Catherine Grey
Lady Catherine Grey
Lady Catherine Grey , Countess of Hertford, was the younger sister of Lady Jane Grey. A granddaughter of Henry VIII's sister Mary, she was a potential successor to her cousin, Queen Elizabeth I of England, but incurred Elizabeth's wrath by her secret marriage to Edward Seymour, 1st Earl of Hertford...
and Edward Seymour, earl of Hertford, was legitimate, and asserted that, failing direct heirs to Elizabeth, the English crown should come to Lady Catherine as the descendant of Mary, daughter of Henry VII of England
Henry VII of England
Henry VII was King of England and Lord of Ireland from his seizing the crown on 22 August 1485 until his death on 21 April 1509, as the first monarch of the House of Tudor....
.
Hales was imprisoned, but was quickly released. He was the Member of Parliament for Lancaster
Lancaster (UK Parliament constituency)
Lancaster was a constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of England then of the Parliament of Great Britain from 1707 to 1800 and of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1801 to 1867, centred on the historic city of Lancaster in north-west England...
from 1563 to 1567.
Works
He wrote his Highway to Nobility about 1543. He wrote Introductiones ad grammaticam (in LatinLatin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
) for his newly-founded school.