Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 05 October 1683 (Creation)
Level of description
Extent and medium
Manuscript
Context area
Name of creator
Biographical history
Hills came to prominence as a printer for the New Model Army at Oxford. At the request of Lieutenant-General Charles Fleetwood, he was made free of the Stationers' Company, and in 1655 he secured privileges to print English bibles and psalters, previously held by the king's printers and the Stationers' Company respectively. Although briefly imprisoned after the Stuart Restoration of 1660, by 1677 he had regained sufficient official favour to be appointed one of the king's printers alongside Thomas Newcombe. In 1678 he was elected to the Court (executive body) of the Stationers' Company. Hills reached the peak of his success and influence under James II. His conversion to Catholicism and loyalty to the King saw him rewarded with the new position of printer to the royal household and chapel. It was with James’s favour that Hills survived the purges of the livery companies in 1687 and rose to hold the highest Company office of Master. However, the deposition of the Stuarts in the 'Glorious Revolution' of 1688 heralded a reversal of fortune for Hills, who fled to St Omer in December 1688, leaving his premises to be raided and destroyed by an anti-Catholic mob.
Repository
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Content and structure area
Scope and content
Itemised bill of food, drink, services, and other expenses laid out when several members of the Company attended Sir Leoline Jenkins, the Secretary of State. Items include: bread; beer and ale; wine; soup; salt fish; whiting; and cheese. Other expenses include monies given to Secretary Jenkins' man; spent on Mr Snow, his gentleman; monies given to Secretary Jenkins' porter; and spent on coach hire. Verso: "Bill of what spent at Whitehall Octo: 5 1683." Personal names: Leoline Jenkins; Mr Snow; Master Roger Norton; Captain John Baker; Warden Henry Hills; Robert Stephens; Robert Scott. Place names: Whitehall. Torn with partial loss.
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling
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Conditions of access and use area
Conditions governing access
Conditions governing reproduction
Language of material
English
Script of material
Latin
Language and script notes
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Finding aids
Allied materials area
Existence and location of originals
Existence and location of copies
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Notes area
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Open