Alley, William

Alley, William bishop of Exeter, was born about 1512 at Great Wycomb, Bucks; he was educated at Eton, from whence, in 1528, he went to King's College, Cambridge; after having taken his degree of A.B. in that university, he removed to Oxford. At this time the contest between the Romish and the reforming party in the Church of England was carried on with much violence on both sides. Alley attached himself zealously to the reformers, and, on the accession of Queen Mary, thought it expedient to conceal himself, and earned an honorable maintenance in the north of England by practising physic and educating youth. When Queen Elizabeth came to the throne, he returned to London, and read the divinity lecture in St. Paul's. He is said to have discharged this office with great ability; and he is also distinguished as the translator of the Pentateuch for Archbishop Parker's Bible. On July 14,1560, he was consecrated bishop of Exeter, and discharged his duties faithfully until his death, April 16, 1570. He published an exposition of 1 Peter in The Poor Man's Library (Lond. 1565, fol.).