Richard Tillesley
Encyclopedia
Richard Tillesley was an English churchman, known for his book defending tithe
s.
, he was the son of Thomas Tillesley of Eccleshall
in Staffordshire
, by his wife, the daughter of Richard Barker of Shropshire
. Matriculating at Balliol College, Oxford
, on 20 January 1598, Richard was elected a scholar of St. John's College on 5 July 1603. He graduated M.A. on 26 June 1607, B.D. on 22 November 1613, and D.D. on 7 July 1617.
On 25 November 1613 he was licensed to preach, and in that and the following year he received the Kentish rectories of Stone
and Cuxton
from John Buckeridge
, Bishop of Rochester
and former President of St. John's College. On 9 April 1614 he was installed archdeacon of Rochester. Tillesley was buried in the choir of Rochester Cathedral
, leaving a son John.
's book: he and Richard Montagu
were to dealing with the legal part, and Stephen Nettles
with the rabbinical aspect. Like Montagu in his Diatribe upon the first part of the late "History of Tithes," Tillesley discussed the historical aspect of the controversy in depth. Passing over the question of Jewish tithes, which had already been dealt with by Sir James Sempill, he traced their history from the apostolic period, and endeavoured to show that they had been continuously and universally enjoined by divine law. He also attempted to confute Selden's distinction between 'divine natural law' and 'ecclesiastical or positive law,' but showed little appreciation of his adversary's position. A second edition of the work was published in 1621, and contained an additional essay on some philological passages in Selden's book. A reply to Tillesley by Selden is to be found in David Wilkins's edition of Selden's works, 1726.
Tithe
A tithe is a one-tenth part of something, paid as a contribution to a religious organization or compulsory tax to government. Today, tithes are normally voluntary and paid in cash, cheques, or stocks, whereas historically tithes were required and paid in kind, such as agricultural products...
s.
Life
Born at CoventryCoventry
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...
, he was the son of Thomas Tillesley of Eccleshall
Eccleshall
Eccleshall is a town in Staffordshire, England. It is located seven miles north west of Stafford, and six miles west of Stone. Eccleshall is twinned with Sancerre in France.-History:...
in Staffordshire
Staffordshire
Staffordshire is a landlocked county in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes, the county is a NUTS 3 region and is one of four counties or unitary districts that comprise the "Shropshire and Staffordshire" NUTS 2 region. Part of the National Forest lies within its borders...
, by his wife, the daughter of Richard Barker of Shropshire
Shropshire
Shropshire is a county in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes, the county is a NUTS 3 region and is one of four counties or unitary districts that comprise the "Shropshire and Staffordshire" NUTS 2 region. It borders Wales to the west...
. Matriculating at Balliol College, Oxford
Balliol College, Oxford
Balliol College , founded in 1263, is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England but founded by a family with strong Scottish connections....
, on 20 January 1598, Richard was elected a scholar of St. John's College on 5 July 1603. He graduated M.A. on 26 June 1607, B.D. on 22 November 1613, and D.D. on 7 July 1617.
On 25 November 1613 he was licensed to preach, and in that and the following year he received the Kentish rectories of Stone
Stone, Kent
Stone, also known as Stone-next-Dartford, is one of a string of villages lying along the Dartford to Gravesend road on the south bank of the River Thames in Kent, England.-History:...
and Cuxton
Cuxton
Cuxton is a village in the unitary authority of Medway. It lies on left bank of the River Medway in the North Downs. It is served by the A228, and Cuxton railway station on the Medway Valley Line between Strood and Maidstone...
from John Buckeridge
John Buckeridge
John Buckeridge was an English churchman.He was a son of William Buckeridge of Basildon, Berkshire, but was born in Wiltshire. He was educated at the Merchant Taylors' School, Northwood and at St John's College, Oxford, his maternal grandfather being cousin to the founder, Sir Thomas White...
, Bishop of Rochester
Bishop of Rochester
The Bishop of Rochester is the ordinary of the Church of England Diocese of Rochester in the Province of Canterbury.The diocese covers the west of the county of Kent and is centred in the city of Rochester where the bishop's seat is located at the Cathedral Church of Christ and the Blessed Virgin...
and former President of St. John's College. On 9 April 1614 he was installed archdeacon of Rochester. Tillesley was buried in the choir of Rochester Cathedral
Rochester Cathedral
Rochester Cathedral, or the Cathedral Church of Christ and the Blessed Virgin Mary, is a Norman church in Rochester, Kent. The bishopric is second oldest in England after Canterbury...
, leaving a son John.
Works
In 1619 Tillesley published Animadversions upon Mr. Selden's "History of Tithes," London. It is stated by Anthony à Wood that he was one of three who undertook to answer John SeldenJohn Selden
John Selden was an English jurist and a scholar of England's ancient laws and constitution and scholar of Jewish law...
's book: he and Richard Montagu
Richard Montagu
Richard Montagu was an English cleric and prelate.-Early life:He was born during Christmastide 1577 at Dorney, Buckinghamshire, where his father Laurence Mountague was vicar, and was educated at Eton. He was elected from Eton to a scholarship at King's College, Cambridge, and admitted on 24...
were to dealing with the legal part, and Stephen Nettles
Stephen Nettles
Stephen Nettles was an English clergyman and controversialist.-Life:He was a native of Shropshire, was admitted pensioner of Queens' College, Cambridge, on 25 June 1595, graduated B.A. in 1599, and was elected fellow on 11 October 1599. He proceeded M.A. in 1602, and commenced B.D...
with the rabbinical aspect. Like Montagu in his Diatribe upon the first part of the late "History of Tithes," Tillesley discussed the historical aspect of the controversy in depth. Passing over the question of Jewish tithes, which had already been dealt with by Sir James Sempill, he traced their history from the apostolic period, and endeavoured to show that they had been continuously and universally enjoined by divine law. He also attempted to confute Selden's distinction between 'divine natural law' and 'ecclesiastical or positive law,' but showed little appreciation of his adversary's position. A second edition of the work was published in 1621, and contained an additional essay on some philological passages in Selden's book. A reply to Tillesley by Selden is to be found in David Wilkins's edition of Selden's works, 1726.