Bilson, Thomas

Bilson, Thomas, Bishop of Winchester, was of German descent, but was born at Winchester about 1536. He was educated at Winchester, and was elected in 1565 to New College, of which he afterward became warden. In 1585 he published his True Difference between Christian Subjection and unchristian Rebellion; and in 1593, his Perpetual Government of Christ his -Church (reprinted Oxford, 1842, 8vo). He was elevated to the see of Worcester in 1596, and transferred to that of Winchester May 13th, 1597, when he was made a privy councillor. His most celebrated work is his Survey of the Sufferings of Christ for the Redemption of Man, and of his Descent into Hell for our Deliverance (Lond. 1604, fol.), which is a learned work against Calvin and the Puritans. To him, in conjunction with Dr. Miles Smith, was intrusted the care of revising the new translation of the Bible made in the reign of James I. He attended the Hampton Court conference, and was one of the most zealous advocates -of the prerogatives of the Church. He was a person of great learning, and specially well read in the fa-thers and schoolmen. He died June 18, 1616. His Perpetual Government is considered by High Churchmen as one of the ablest defences of apostolical succession ever published.-Hook, Eccl. Biog. ii, 422.