Christopher Hales

Sir Christopher Hales (died 1541) was an English judge and Master of the Rolls.

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 was of this family.

Christopher Hales was the son of Thomas Hales. His mother was Alicia, one of the four daughters and co-heirs of Humphrey Eveas. Receiving his legal education at Gray's Inn, he rose to be an ancient in 1516, and Autumn Reader in 1524.

Career

On 14 August 1525, he succeeded Richard Lyster as solicitor-general, and became attorney-general on 3 June 1529. During his seven years in this office, he conducted the proceedings against several illustrious persons who had incurred the king's displeasure. He prosecuted Thomas Wolsey by an indictment to which the cardinal made no defence; he appeared for the king against Sir Thomas More and John Fisher on their last arraignment; and the trials of Queen Anne Boleyn and those charged with being implicated with her occurred during the last few months of his official tenure.

On the elevation of Thomas Cromwell to the office of Lord Privy Seal, Hales succeeded him as Master of the Rolls on 10 July 1536, and retained the place for the five remaining years of his life, having received the honour of knighthood soon after his appointment.

In 1540 he was associated with Thomas Cranmer, Lord-chancellor Rich, and other commissioners in the work of remodelling the foundation of Canterbury Cathedral, ousting the monks and supplying their place with secular clergy. He profited largely by the dissolution of the monasteries, obtaining many grants of land which had belonged to them in Kent.^[1]

Death and posterity

He died in June 1541, and was buried at Hackington or St. Stephen's, near Canterbury. His property was divided at his death among the three daughters he had by his wife Elizabeth, the daughter of John Caunton, an alderman of London.

References

1. ^ Dictionary of National Biography, Hales, Sir Christopher (d 1541), master of the rolls, by J. M. Rigg. Published 1890.

Attribution

This article incorporates text from Foss's Judges of England, a publication now in the public domain.  This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain:  Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co. 1885–1900. 

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Name	Hales, Christopher
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Date of death	1541
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