Richard Tillesley

, Son of Tho. Tillesley of Eccleshall in Staffordshire by Catherine his Wife Daughter of Rich. Barker of Shropshire, was born in the City of Coventry, entred a Commoner in Ball. coll. in Lent-Term 1597. aged 15, elected Scholar of S. Johns coll. two years after, took the degrees in Arts, holy Orders and became Chaplain to Dr. Buckridge Bishop of Rochester, whose Neece he marrying (viz. Elizabeth Daughter of George Buckridge) was thereby a way made for his preferment. In 1613. he was admitted Bach. of Divinity; about which time being Rector of Kuckstone and Stone in Kent, he resigned his Fellowship. Soon after he proceeded in his faculty, and was by the favour of the said Dr. Buckridge made Archdeacon and Prebend (some say Dean but false) of Rochester in the place of Dr. Tho. Sanderson; and higher would he have been promoted had he not unexpectedly been cut off by death. He was a person of great reading and learning, as his writings shew. He was also very devout in the strict observance of all the Church ceremonies, the reasonableness of which, he convinced many that retired to him for satisfaction. He was one of three that undertook to answer Seldens Hist. of Tithes, he and Montague the Law-part and St. Nettles the Rabinical or Judaical. As for that which our author published, it bears this title.

Animadversions on Mr. Seldens History of Tithes, and his review thereof. Lond. 1619. and 21. qu. What else he hath written and published, it appears not, nor any thing besides, only that he dying, to the great reluctancy of all learned men, in the month of Nov. in sixteen hundred twenty and one, was buried in the Choire of the Cath. Church of Rochester, 1621 leaving then behind him a Son named John, who was an Infant in 1619. One Eliseus Burgess whom I shall mention elsewhere, was installed Archdeacon of Rochester in his room, on the 24. of the said month of Nov. in 1621. who continued in that Dignity till the grand rebellion broke out, and after.