Rowland Hill (MP)

Hodnet church in which Hill was baptised

Rowland Hill was born of an ancient Shropshire family, at Hodnet, Shropshire about 1495. He was the eldest son of Thomas Hill and Margaret Wilbraham, daughter of Thomas Wilbraham of Woodhey, Cheshire.[5][6] He had a younger brother, William, and four sisters, Agnes, Joan, Jane and Elizabeth.[7][8]

Hill was born around the same time as George Vernon of Hodnet (d. 1555)[9] whose grand daughter Elizabeth married Henry Wriothesley, 3rd Earl of Southampton,[10] who have both been suggested as muses for the Shakespeare's sonnets.[11][12]

He was apprenticed to a London mercer, Thomas Kitson, obtaining his freedom of the Company in 1519.[5]

In 1538, Hill, along with Sir Ralph Waryn and a Mr. Lock invested in cargo in the George Mody; she never reached her port of destination, because Norwegian pirates pillaged her, with correspondence between Thomas Thacker to Cromwell recording:

One Mody's ship, with goods of merchants of London, "from the mart," is taken by pirates of Norway, to the loss to Sir Ralph Waryn, good Mr. Lock, Rowland Hyll, and others, of 10,000l.[13]

Complaint was made to Thomas Cromwell was invoked to obtain letters from Henry VIII to the kings of Denmark, France and Scotland that search might be made. The loss to Hill and his coventurers was £10,000.[14] The ship was recovered but not the cargo.[15]

Hill was prominent in the affairs of the Mercers' Company. He was warden between 1535–6, and between 1543–4 and 1550–51 and 1555–6. His membership of the Mercers overlapped with Francis Wren, grandfather of Christopher Wren.[16]

Frontispiece of the 1560 Geneva Bible, bearing Hill's name: the coordination and publication was the work of Sir Rowland Hill

The 1560 Geneva Bible was a project he coordinated[17][18][19] and published.[20][21][22][23][24][25] This was the first mechanically printed Bible.[26] This is the bible that was used by William Shakespeare, Oliver Cromwell, John Knox, John Donne, and others. It was also one of the Bibles taken to America on the Mayflower.[27]

The project of preparing this Bible during the reign of Mary was extremely dangerous, and the forward highlights the perils attaching to those engaged in the project:

"for God knoweth with what fear and trembling we have been now, for the space of two years and more day and night occupied herein,,, the time persecution sharp and furious."[28]

Royal permission was obtained from Queen Elizabeth for its printing in England. In the eighty-four years of its publication, some 140 editions of the Geneva Bible or New Testament were produced.[29]

It has been speculated that Rowland Hill is the inspiration for Rowland de Bois in "As You Like It"

Hill was involved, with his friend and fellow lord mayor Sir Thomas Gresham, in revival of the Marching Watch or Mid Summer Watches in London. In these pageants 15,000 citizens all in bright harness, with coats of white Silk or Cloath, and Chains of Gold, passed through London to Westminster, and round St. James's Park, and on to Holborn.[30]

The long daylight of June caused the civic government to fear disorder; the Watch was originally a show of the city's policing force with armed men marching in the streets., but it evolved into an annual festival of street pageantry which reached its spectacular peak in Hill's time and evolved into the Lord Mayor's Show.[31][32]

Hill's involvement is recorded in Lady Long's household-book at Hengrave, Suffolk, which notes that Henry VIII watched these marches from Mercers Hall with Jane Seymour; "the presence of more than 300 demi lunces and light horsemen" were a particular highlight.[33]

He was a friend of Thomas Lodge, who witnessed his purchase of the manor of Soulton in 1556. It is possible that "To Rowland"[34] (an alias also used by Michael Drayton) in Lodge's A fig for Momus (Eclogue 3) is addressed to Hill. It has also been speculated that Rowland Hill is inspiration for Rowland de Bois in As You Like It.[35]

Hill's Coat of Arms

In 1541–42, he was elected sheriff of the City of London, and is recorded as being hosted by the incumbent Lord Mayor and provided with "a great stagge and tow fatt buckes".[36] by the king as he entered this office. From 28–30 March 1542, he was imprisoned in the Tower of London on the orders of the House of Commons,[36] as a result of his 'abuse' of the Sergeant of Parliament sent to secure the release of George Ferrers, a member of parliament imprisoned for debt in the Bread Street Counter. King Henry VIII, took the side of the House of Commons in this case of member's privilege; however, he showed favour to Hill shortly after the affair by knighting him on 18 May 1542.[36]

In the wake of the coup d'état against Protector Somerset, Hill took over as Lord Mayor for the year beginning in November 1549. This was a period of substantial religious uncertainty, but he oversaw some of the critical changes in the direction of godly Protestantism, including the removal of altars. He was a close friend of Sir Thomas Bromley (a member of the Regency Council appointed for the minority or Edward VI) and was given a token under the will of that statesman.[37] Of his conduct in office as Lord Mayor it was said "this mayor was a good minister of justice".[38]

His mayoralty witnessed a determined campaign against moral offences, the wardmote inquests being required in April 1550 to make fresh presentments of ill rule, 'upon which indictments the lord mayor sat many times'.[39]

Queen Mary I. Despite coordinating the Geneva Bile, which was ready as soon as Mary I had died, Hill managed to be included on the Commission Against Heretics conveniently changed with seizing books convenient for the bible translation project.

He was one of the City's representatives in the first parliament of Queen Mary's reign (October–December 1553), temporarily replacing Sir Martin Bowe (a Catholic); with Hill being regraded as a Protestant by many, this made Sir Robert Broke SL the only Catholic MP from London.[40]

He endured a short spell of disfavour under Mary and was dropped from the commissions of the peace for Middlesex and Shropshire in 1554. I received, from Queen Mary two bucks of the season out of the great park at Nonesuch, on behalf of the city of London, in 1557.[41]

He recovered the regime's confidence, however, such that in March 1556, when the Henry Dudley conspiracy to depose Mary was discovered (leading to a series of trials for high treason at the Guildhall) he was commissioned as a justices for oyer and terminer[42] (an assize judge), along with Sir William Garrard, (that year's Lord Lord Mayor, presiding), along with Sir Roger Cholmeley, and Mr Recorder Sir Ralph Cholmley.[43] In June Sir John Gresham of Titsey took the place of Hill on the bench for the indictment of Silvestra Butler, in the same matter.[44]

In 1557, when he was appointed a Commissioner[45] Against Heretics the command for which gave:

full power and authority unto you, and three of you, to inquire... of all and singular heretical opinions...heretical and seditious book... against us, or either of us, or against the quiet governance and rule of our people and subjects, by books, lies, tales, or otherwise, in any county... [and] to search out and take into your hands and possessions, all manner of heretical and seditious books, letters, and writings, wheresoever they or any of them shall be found, as well in printers' houses and shops, as elsewhere, willing you and every of you to search for the same in all places, according to your discretions.

Intriguingly, this commission to collect such materials overlaps with the Geneva Bible project in which Hill was also involved. Nevertheless, later in the same year hearing the indictment of Sir Ralph Bagnall for treason.[46]

Nevertheless, after the accession of Elizabeth he helped put into execution the Act of Supremacy and the Act of Uniformity.[46]

It is remarkable and unique that Hill had commissions to seize prohibited books under both the Protestant and Catholic phases of the Counter-Reformation and the Reformation.

Archbishop Matthew Parker, who served on the 1559 Commission for Ecclesiastical Causes along with Hill

Rowland Hill's protegee, Thomas Leigh, led the coronation procession and escorted the newly crowned Queen Elizabeth I through the streets of London on the day of her coronation, and he continued as a Privy Councillor to the young Elizabeth I in the early years of the reign, to the extent he was appointed a Commissioner for Ecclesiastical Cases in 1559, alongside Mathew Parker,[47] newly appointed Archbishop of Canterbury. The warrant established the commission stated;

having especial trust and confidence in your wisdoms and discretions, [We] have authorized, assigned, and appointed you to be our commissioners;^[2] and by these presents do give our full power... from time to time hereafter during our pleasure to inquire,... for all offences, misdoers, and misdemeanours done and committed and hereafter to be committed or done contrary to the tenor and effect of the said several acts and statutes and either of them, and also of all and singular heretical opinions, seditious books,

A curious account survives of a rent payment ritual in London for the Merchant Taylors School in which Hill presided shortly before he died

The xxx day of September my lord mayre and the althermen and the new shreyffes took ther barges at the iij cranes in the Vintre and so to Westmynster, and so into the Cheker, and ther took ther hoythe; and ser Rowland Hyll whent up, and master Hoggys toke ser Rowland Hyll a choppyng kneyf, and one dyd hold a whyt rod, and he with the kneyf cute the rod in sunder a-for all the pepull; and after to London to ther plases to dener, my lord mayre and all the althermen and mony worshiphulle men.[48]

Sir John Gresham, friend of Sir Rowland Hill

Thomas Seymore friend of Sir Rowland Hill

Hill's roots in Hodnet put him in the orbit of the Vernon family and the Stanley family[49] which included Elizabeth Vernon who married Shakespeare's patron Henry Wriothesley, 3rd Earl of Southampton.[50]

Hill was a close friend of Sir John Gresham, who provided him with black gown to attend his funeral[51] and whose executor he was.[52][53]

Hill was a "trusty friend" of Thomas Seymore of Sudley Castle, and was given land at Hoxten for life under his will.[54] He was said to " ‘knew much of the intent and purpose’ of Sir Thomas Seymour,[55]

Bishop Ridley refers to Hill in his farewell his friendes in generall before his execution.[56]

Rowland Hill was a guest of the family at the burial of youth actor, secret diplomat, Regency Councillor, Privy Councillor, Lord Chancellor Sir Thomas Wriothesley.[57]

He was left a piece of gold in the 1552 will of Chief Justice Sir Thomas Bromley (died 1555) ‘for a token of a remembrance for the old love and amity between him and me now by this my decease ended’.[58] Hill was chief overseer to the Will of William Lok (ancestor of the philosopher John Locke).[59]

He was an overseer for the will of Sir George Barne, who was Lord Mayor at the death of Edward VI.[60]

Edward VI grants a charter in 1553 to Bridewell Hospital, Hill was its first president

Hill had a reputation for charitable virtue. In 1555 he established a school at Market Drayton in Shropshire. He was also closely involved with the establishment of the London hospitals. He was the first president of Bridewell and Bethlehem Hospitals from 1557 to 1558 and again between 1559 and 1561, and he held the post of surveyor-general of the London hospitals from 1559 until his death. Along with Sir Martin Bowes, he prepared, in 1557, The Order of the Hospitals of King Henry the viijth, and King Edward the vjth, viz. St. Bartholomew, Christ's, Bridewell, St. Thomas's. By the Maior, Commonaltie, and Citizens of LONDON; Governours of the Possessions, Revenues, and Goods of the sayd Hospitals, Anno 1557."[61]

Among Sir Rowland's civic/charitable works are to be found, with a focus in Shropshire in particular:[62]

• the building in Atcham on the River Tern a new bridge in stone, along with two further timber bridges;
• annually clothing 300 of the poor;
• repairing Stoke church;
• a dole to the poor of London

He also supported schools, the Bethlem asylum and the new Bridewell hospital.[63] In 1557 the administration of Bethlem Royal Hospital became the responsibility of the Bridewell Governors. The post of President was established, with first occupant being Hill.[64]

Hill shared his prominent role in the establishment of hospitals with Richard Grafton, who also had Shropshire heritage,[65] and who was instrumental in printing the Great Bible.[66]

Hill's arms (left) at All Souls College Oxford

Hill was also involved in the establishment of early labour exchanges and poverty relief.[67]

He was founded exhibitions, and educated many students at both Oxford and Cambridge Universities, and supported scholars at the Inns of Court.[68]

View of Soulton Hall, a property of Hill's in Shropshire

A contemporary said of Sir Rowland:

“Wheresoever a good dede was to be done for the common weal of his countrymen, he was ready to further the cause.’[69]

Thomas Fuller recorded that on his death he "Forg[ave] his Tenants a years Rent. Also enjoyning his Heirs, to make them new Leases of one and twenty years, for two years Rent" and concluded of him:

I have heard the natives of this County confess and complain of a comparative dearth (in proportion to other Shires) of Benefactors to the publick. But sure, Shropshire is like to the Mulberry, which putteth forth his leaves last of all Trees, but then maketh such speed, (as sensible of his slowness with an ingenious shame) that it over∣taketh those trees in Fruit, which in Leaves started long before it. As this Shire of late hath done affording two of the same surname still surviving, who have dipp'd their hands so deep in charitable morter.[70]

Hill's charity had a stern edge, with the epitaph on his monument stating that he also enjoyed a reputation as 'a foe to vice and a vehement corrector',

A friend to virtue, a lover of learning,

A foe to vice and vehement corrector,

A prudent person, all truth supporting,

A citizen sage, and worthy counsellor,

A love of wisdom, of justice a furtherer,

Lo here his corps lieth, Sir Rowland Hill by name,

Of London late Lord Mayor and Alderman of same.[8]

Archer credits Rowland Hill among a series of mid-century mayors who were "stern moralists,"[71] Hill's credentials as an "anti-corruption campaigner" themes which were noted in the 2021 North Shropshire by-election, on account of his manor being used extensively during that campaign.[72]

He died 28 October 1561 of strangury, according to the diary of Henry Machyn, and was buried at St Stephen Walbrook on 5 November.[5] An at least life size stature of him was put up in the church with him holding Magna Carta .[73]

St Stephen Walbrook, burial place of Sir Rowland Hill

A contemporary account of his funeral was as follows:

The v day of November was bered in sant Stephen's in Walbroke ser Rowland Hylle, latt mare and altherman and mercer and knyght, with a standard and v pennons of armes, and a cott armur and a helmet, a crest, sword, and mantyll, and xj dosen of skochyons of armes; and he gayff a c. gownes and cottes to men and women; and ther wher ij haroldes of armes, master Clarenshux and master Somersett, and my lord mayre morner, the cheyff morner; ser Recherd Lee, master Corbett, with dyvers odur morners, ser Wylliam Cordell, ser Thomas Offeley, ser Martens Bowes and master Chamburlan althermen, and the ij shreyffes, and master Chambur . . and master Blakewell, with mony mo morners, and a 1. pore men in good blake gownes, besyd women; and the dene of Powlles mad the sermon; and after all done my lord mayre and mony and althermen whent to the Mercers' (fn. 48) hall and the craft to dener, and the resedu to ys plase to dener, and grett mon mad (fn. 49) for ys deth, and he gayff myche to the pore.[74]

Sir Rowland Hill Bust in the school at Market Drayton: the variation in the spelling of his name is notable, as is the style of the monument which may show the approach of his lost funerary monument in London;. The style, which would become popular from the early- to the mid-17th centuryg,[75][76] was most commonly used to memorialize divines, academics, and those professions with pretensions of learning. it shows some resonance with the funerary monument of Shakespeare.

Rowland Hill Monument on Hawkstone Hill. In this monument he is looking at Soulton and holding a copy of Magna Carter. [77]

There is a sixteenth century bust of him in the building occupied by the school he founded in Market Drayton.[78] There is a statue of him on a pillar in Hawkstone Park in Shropshire.[79] This monument, known as "The Obelisk" is on a column of 110 feet,[80] and was :

a copy from an ancient monument, which before the fire of London stood in the church of St. Stephens Walbrook[81]

The text originally on the Hawkstone pillar read as follows:

THE RIGHTEOUS SHALL BE HAD IN EVERLASTING REMEMBRANCE.-Psalm cxi. 6.

The first stone of this Pillar was laid by Sir Richard Hill, Bart. Member in several Parliaments for this County, on the 1st day of October, in the year 1795; who caused it to be erected, not only for the various uses of an Observatory, and to feast the eye, by presenting to it at one view, a most luxuriant and ex-tensive prospect, which takes in not less than twelve (or, as some assert, fifteen) counties; but from mo-tives of justice, respect, and gratitude to the memory of a truly great and good man, viz. Sir Rowland Hill, Knt. who was born at the family mansion of Hawkstone, in the reign of King Henry the Seventh, and being bred to trade, and free of the city of London, became one of the most considerable and opulent merchants of his time, and was Lord Mayor of the same, in the second and third years of Edward the Sixth, anno 1549 and 1550, and was the first Protestant who filled that high office. Having embraced the principles of the Reformation, he zealously exerted himself in behalf of the Protestant cause, and having been diligent in the use of all religious exercises, prayerful, conscientious, and watchful (as a writer of his character expresses it), yet trusting only in the merits of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, he exchanged his life for a better, a short while after the death of that pious young monarch, being aged nearly seventy years. For a considerable time previous to his decease, he gave up his mercantile occupations, that he might with more devotedness of heart attend to the great concerns of another world. His lands, possessions, and church patronage, were im- mense; particularly in the counties of Salop and Chester; the number of his tenants (none of whom he ever raised or fined) amounting to one thousand one hundred and eighty-one, as appears from his own handwriting. But his private virtues, good deeds, and munificent spirit, were quite unlimited, and extended-like the prospect before us, East, West, North, and South, far surpassing all bounds. "Being sensible," saith Fuller (speaking of him in his "Worthies of England"), "that "his great estate was given him of God," it was his desire to devote it to his glory. He built a spacious church in his own parish of Hodnet, and likewise the neighbouring church of Stoke, at his own expense. He built Tern and Atcham Bridges in this county, both of hewn stone, and containing several arches each. He also built other large bridges of timber. He built and endowed several Free Schools, particularly that of Drayton. He made and paved divers highways for the public utility. He founded exhibitions, and educated many students at both Universities, and supported at the Inns of Court others who were brought up to the Law. He was the unwearied friend of the widow and the fatherless. He clothed annually three hundred poor people in his own neighbourhood, both with shirts and coats; and in the city of London he gave £500 (an immense sum in those days) to St. Bartholomew's hospital, besides (saith Fuller) £600 to Christ Church hospital. He also gave most liberally to all other hospitals, and at his death bequeathed £150 to the poor of all the Wards in London. He had no children, but his relations and kinsfolk were numerous, who all partook largely of his bounty, both in his lifetime and at his death. He constantly kept up a great family household, where hi maintained good hospitality. Many resorted to him for his wise and salutary advice; and none who came to him were ever sent empty or dissatisfied away.

Go and do thou likewise, as far as thy ability will permit,without injury to thy own relations.

To suffer such a character to sink into oblivion, would be in the highest degree ungrateful, as well as injurious to posterity, for whose imitation it is held up.[68]

The identity of Hill's wife, whom he had married by 1542, is unknown. She died during the year of his mayoralty, and since there were no children of the marriage, his heir was his brother, William, parson of Stoke on Tern; however he left property to the children of his four sisters:[7][8]

• Agnes Hill, who married John Cowper, esquire.[8]
• Joan Hill, who married George Dormayne, esquire.[8]
• Jane Hill, who married John Gratewood (died 8 August 1570), esquire, of Wollerton, Shropshire, the son of William Gratwood by Mary Newport, daughter of Thomas Newport of High Ercall, Shropshire, by whom she had a son, William Gratwood, who married Mary Newport, the daughter of Sir Richard Newport (died 1570) of High Ercall; Alice Gratewood (died 1603), who married the justice Reginald Corbet; and Margaret Gratwood, who married Thomas Jones (born 1550) of Chilton.[8][82][83][5][84]
• Elizabeth Hill, who married John Barker of Haughtmond in Shropshire, esquire.[8]

Another of his heiress being Alice Baker alias Coverdale wife of Sir Thomas Leigh (who had been Hill's business junior and was also Lord Mayor of London), decedents of whom are Dukes of Marlborough, Viscount Melbourne (the Premier) and later Dukes of Leeds.[85] Arrangements were made to grant Hill's coat of arms to Alice.[86]

Within All Souls, Oxford University the arms of Robert Boyle appear in the colonnade of the Great Quadrangle, opposite the arms of Hill.[87]

There are 16th-century portraits of Hill in the Museum of London and in the Mercers' Hall in Ironmongers' Lane, as well as at Attingham Park[88] and Tatton Park.[89] The last of these was exhibited in 1897 at Manchester City Art Gallery in a show called "The royal house of Tudor".[90]

These portraits have French texts Inscribed as follows, at the top:

ADIEU MONDE PUIS QUE TV DESCORS TOUT INFAMS…TOUT CHASTES TOUT A LA FIN ORLIVES TOUT.

and are inscribed below in Latin:

ROVLANDVS HILL . Miles Salopienfis vir bonus & fapiens quondam Maior Civilitatis Londini ac digniffimus Confull cruidem exiftens Qui auctoritatem opibu… / temporibus Regum Henrici octavi & Edwardi fexti florens diuerfas terras praedia ac poffessiones per qui fiuit eaq omnia falua conscientia abiq omni aliorum iniuria v… / damno Qualam fenescate ac in vltima aetatem vergente a rebus acquiredis prari abfinuit ac fuaforta contet fibi quieti vixit neq plura optabat. Multa preferia preclara / magna u..bat fanillia Bona que acquifiuifs et Liberaliter impendil Pauperib dedii, Scotafticis in vtrag academia exhibuit Leguleos aluit atq inalios pios vfus erogaui… / liberos fufcepit nullos ideog terras poffesionefq fuas inter cognates ac confang vinios diuifet Breuiter tanta pictate claruit quod fama faeta extendebat / reliquamq vitam fuani vigiliis timare ac contemplatione contenuit, ad honorem fummi dei ac in perpetuam lui nomins gloriam.

• Archer, Ian (2004). "Hill, Sir Rowland (c.1495–1561)". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/13296. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
• Baker, J.H. (2004). "Bromley, Sir Thomas (d. 1555)". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/3512. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
• Betham, William (1803). The Baronetage of England. Vol. III. p. 208. Retrieved 19 November 2013.
• Burke, John Bernard (1852). A Genealogical and Heraldic Dictionary of the Peerage and Baronetage of the British Empire (14th ed.). p. 514. Retrieved 19 November 2013.
• Keen, Alan; Lubbock, Roger (1954). The Annotator. London: Putnam. p. 217.
• Vaughan, H.F.J. (1881). "The Family of Jones of Chilton and Carreghova". Collections Historical & Archaeological Relating to Montgomeryshire and Its Borders: 43–70. Retrieved 19 November 2013.

• A full scan of Hill's original 1560 Geneva Bible
• Portrait of Sir Rowland Hill, Museum of London. Retrieved 19 November 2013.
• Portrait of Sir Rowland Hill, National Trust Collection at Tatton Park.