He was born at South Hinksey, near Oxford, and was educated at Magdalen College School. He became a demy of Magdalen College in 1542, and graduated B.A. in 1545, M.A. 1549, B.D. 1558, and D.D. 1565–6. He was elected probationer-fellow of Magdalen in 1545, and full fellow in 1546. In the following year he became a senior student of Christ Church, Oxford, on the condition of returning to his old college if at the end of twelve months he desired to do so. This he did, and was re-elected fellow in 1548–9.
He took holy orders, and in 1558 was instituted to the rectory of Quainton, Buckinghamshire. There, according to Anthony à Wood, he fell into the habit of drinking in alehouses, he was weaned of the habit by a clerical friend. He was rector of Langdon in Essex from 1567 to 1573. On his return he took a leading place in the university, and his course of promotion was steady and rapid. In 1570 he was elected Master of Balliol College, holding also the college living of Fillingham in Lincolnshire.
In 1567 he was appointed to the deanery of Chester, to which, in May 1571, he added that of Salisbury. At Salisbury, by command of the Queen, he brought the ritual and statutes of his cathedral into conformity with the spirit of the Reformation, with changes away from Catholic practice. In the same year (1571) he received from the crown the deanery of Christ Church, Oxford, with licence to hold his other deaneries and livings in commendam. Chester he resigned in 1573, and Salisbury in 1578. On the elevation of Edmund Freake to Norwich he was elected bishop of Rochester, and was consecrated 15 April 1576. He held the bishopric of Rochester little more than a year, being translated to Salisbury on Edmund Gheast's death in November 1577.
Elizabeth made him in 1576 lord high almoner In this capacity he had a dispute with the George Talbot, 6th Earl of Shrewsbury respecting deodands, which was settled amicably. In January 1583 he was employed by Elizabeth to signify to Grindal that he should resign his archbishopric on account of failing health and increasing blindness. The archbishop's death in July of that year put an end to the negotiation. In 1585 he was consulted by Elizabeth whether she could legitimately assist the Low Countries in their struggle with Philip II of Spain, and gave a long affirmative reply. In 1585, again, he was one of the prelates before whom Edward Gellibrand, fellow of Magdalen, was cited as being the ringleader of the Presbyterian party in Oxford. Two years later Robert Dudley, 1st Earl of Leicester made an ineffectual attempt to obtain his translation to Durham. On the defeat of the Spanish Armada, he was appointed by Elizabeth to preach at the thanksgiving service at St. Paul's Cathedral on 24 November 1588.
His translation to the archbishopric of York was as Sandys's successor in 1589. His tenure of the primacy was short. He died at Bishopthorpe on 28 September 1594, aged 71. He was unmarried. He was buried at the east end of York Minster, with a long epitaph.
Referencesedit
Claire Cross, ‘Piers, John (1522/3–1594)’, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004
john, piers, anglo, irish, baronet, involved, adultery, scandal, baronet, peirse, 1522, 1594, archbishop, york, between, 1589, 1594, previous, that, been, bishop, rochester, bishop, salisbury, most, reverendarchbishop, yorkinstalled1589term, ended1594predecess. For the Anglo Irish baronet involved in an adultery scandal see Sir John Piers 6th Baronet John Piers Peirse 1522 3 1594 was Archbishop of York between 1589 and 1594 Previous to that he had been Bishop of Rochester and Bishop of Salisbury The Most ReverendJohn PiersArchbishop of YorkInstalled1589Term ended1594PredecessorEdwin SandysSuccessorMatthew HuttonPersonal detailsBorn1522 23South HinkseyDied1594BishopthorpeBuriedYork MinsterNationalityEnglishDenominationChurch of EnglandLife editHe was born at South Hinksey near Oxford and was educated at Magdalen College School He became a demy of Magdalen College in 1542 and graduated B A in 1545 M A 1549 B D 1558 and D D 1565 6 He was elected probationer fellow of Magdalen in 1545 and full fellow in 1546 In the following year he became a senior student of Christ Church Oxford on the condition of returning to his old college if at the end of twelve months he desired to do so This he did and was re elected fellow in 1548 9 He took holy orders and in 1558 was instituted to the rectory of Quainton Buckinghamshire There according to Anthony a Wood he fell into the habit of drinking in alehouses he was weaned of the habit by a clerical friend He was rector of Langdon in Essex from 1567 to 1573 On his return he took a leading place in the university and his course of promotion was steady and rapid In 1570 he was elected Master of Balliol College holding also the college living of Fillingham in Lincolnshire In 1567 he was appointed to the deanery of Chester to which in May 1571 he added that of Salisbury At Salisbury by command of the Queen he brought the ritual and statutes of his cathedral into conformity with the spirit of the Reformation with changes away from Catholic practice In the same year 1571 he received from the crown the deanery of Christ Church Oxford with licence to hold his other deaneries and livings in commendam Chester he resigned in 1573 and Salisbury in 1578 On the elevation of Edmund Freake to Norwich he was elected bishop of Rochester and was consecrated 15 April 1576 He held the bishopric of Rochester little more than a year being translated to Salisbury on Edmund Gheast s death in November 1577 Elizabeth made him in 1576 lord high almoner In this capacity he had a dispute with the George Talbot 6th Earl of Shrewsbury respecting deodands which was settled amicably In January 1583 he was employed by Elizabeth to signify to Grindal that he should resign his archbishopric on account of failing health and increasing blindness The archbishop s death in July of that year put an end to the negotiation In 1585 he was consulted by Elizabeth whether she could legitimately assist the Low Countries in their struggle with Philip II of Spain and gave a long affirmative reply In 1585 again he was one of the prelates before whom Edward Gellibrand fellow of Magdalen was cited as being the ringleader of the Presbyterian party in Oxford Two years later Robert Dudley 1st Earl of Leicester made an ineffectual attempt to obtain his translation to Durham On the defeat of the Spanish Armada he was appointed by Elizabeth to preach at the thanksgiving service at St Paul s Cathedral on 24 November 1588 His translation to the archbishopric of York was as Sandys s successor in 1589 His tenure of the primacy was short He died at Bishopthorpe on 28 September 1594 aged 71 He was unmarried He was buried at the east end of York Minster with a long epitaph References editClaire Cross Piers John 1522 3 1594 Oxford Dictionary of National Biography Oxford University Press 2004 Attribution edit nbsp This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain Piers John Dictionary of National Biography London Smith Elder amp Co 1885 1900 Church of England titles Preceded byEdmund Freke Bishop of Rochester1576 1578 Succeeded byJohn Young Preceded byEdmund Gheast Bishop of Salisbury1577 1589 Succeeded byJohn Coldwell Preceded byEdwin Sandys Archbishop of York1589 1594 Succeeded byMatthew Hutton Academic offices Preceded byRobert Hooper Master of Balliol College Oxford1570 Succeeded byAdam Squier Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title John Piers amp oldid 1167337991, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
