Christopher Hales

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

Contents 1 Origins 2 Career 3 Death and posterity 4 References

[edit] 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.

[edit] Career

On 14 August 1525, he succeeded Richard Lyster as solicitor-general, and became attorney-general on 3 June 1529. During the seven years that he filled this office, he had to conduct the proceedings against several illustrious persons who had incurred the king's displeasure. He prosecuted Wolsey by an indictment to which the cardinal made no defence; he appeared for the king against Sir Thomas More and Bishop 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; but history charges him with no harshness in performing the delicate duties thus devolving upon him. 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.

[edit] Death and posterity

He died in June 1541, and was buried at Hackington or St. Stephen's, near Canterbury. In that neighbourhood and in other parts of the county he had large possessions, many of which were granted to him by the king on the dissolution of the monasteries. 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.

[edit] References

• This article incorporates text from Foss's Judges of England, a publication now in the public domain.