Biography

(1500-1532)

"A diary of his early life is also preserved at the Abbey and shows he was born on 10 June 1464. His birthplace was seemingly Islip in Oxfordshire, which was also the birthplace of King Edward the Confessor and of Simon Islip, archbishop of Canterbury. He had a sister called Agnes. His family surname could have been Giles as a shield on the Islip Mortuary Roll shows the arms of this family and St Giles features. On entering the Westminster monastery as a novice on 21 March 1480 he assumed the name of his home village not that of his family, as was the usual custom. He held various posts within the monastery such as domestic chaplain to the abbot, sacrist and prior. When he was 36 years old he was made abbot on 27 October 1500 and was a friend of both Henry VII and Henry VIII, becoming a Privy Councillor. The former king used to dine with Islip and was given his favourite marrowbone puddings."