Bishop John Blythe before he was a bishop was Archdeacon of Richmond. Henry Tudor was Earl of Richmond before he took the throne. Henry VII's title to the throne was pretty shakey to say the least. John Blythe was not directly related to any aristocracy that could be a threat to Henry so a perfect person to be Chaplain to Henry. John Blythe became Bishop of Salisbury in 1493, 8 years after Henry had seized the throne.
John was a well educated man, having first been schooled in Latin at Beauchief Abbey in Norton Derbyshire, then to Eton as a poor scholar and from there to Kings College Cambridge. He became chancellor of Cambridge where he delivered an Oration to Henry VII which must have impressed him as that was when John was offered the job of Chaplain. John also got the jobs of Chancellor of Ireland and Master of the Rolls (a judiciary position) John doesn't seem to have been particularily devout, simply a career churchman. Perhaps if he'd lived longer he may have gone higher but he died in 1499 and was buried in Salisbury Cathedral where his effigy can still be found.
Brother Geoffrey had similar early education to John and caught the eye of Henry VII while still at Cambridge. Geoffrey seems to have been a bit of a smooth talker and Henry was soon sending him on diplomatic missions. He was sent as special ambassador to Hungary to plead with the king to stop harbouring Richard de la Pole. Richard was nearer in line to the throne but had sworn allegiance to Henry VII. However it was Richard who had backed Lambert Simnel and had then fled to Hungary. Richard wasn't moving as his brother had been persuaded back previously and been beheaded. The King of Bohemia and Hungary had taken a pledge to protect Richard, so Geoffreys visit was fruitless as far as we can see. Nevertheless when Geoffrey returned in 1502 Henry gave him the job of Bishop of Lichfield and Coventry. 6 years later Geoffrey found himself in the tower of London accused of swindling the king out of some land, some of the land being in Norton Debyshire. He probably was but nevertheless managed to talk himself out of trouble and was reinstated. His one evil deed was the burning of a Lollard heretic but it would appear he had tried everything in his power to get her off and had been criticised for his lack of enthusiasm in pursuing heretics and created loopholes so most of them got off. Geoffrey managed to get some of his relatives jobs. He found places at Cambridge for his younger brother Thomas and later for Thomas's son Geoffrey as well as a John Blythe from Norton Lees a nephew most probably.
Robert Blythe was cousin to the 2 other Blythes and again had a similar education to his cousins. He however became a monk in a teaching order. Probably by his cousin John recommendation he became bishop of Down and Connor but he never actually set foot on Irish soil. He is remembered for his backing of the theological grounds for Henry VIII's divorce and following the dissolution of the monasteries was given a pension and died at the ripe old age of 77 in Cambridge.
So here we have the Bishops who gave their name to Bishops House.
John was a well educated man, having first been schooled in Latin at Beauchief Abbey in Norton Derbyshire, then to Eton as a poor scholar and from there to Kings College Cambridge. He became chancellor of Cambridge where he delivered an Oration to Henry VII which must have impressed him as that was when John was offered the job of Chaplain. John also got the jobs of Chancellor of Ireland and Master of the Rolls (a judiciary position) John doesn't seem to have been particularily devout, simply a career churchman. Perhaps if he'd lived longer he may have gone higher but he died in 1499 and was buried in Salisbury Cathedral where his effigy can still be found.
Brother Geoffrey had similar early education to John and caught the eye of Henry VII while still at Cambridge. Geoffrey seems to have been a bit of a smooth talker and Henry was soon sending him on diplomatic missions. He was sent as special ambassador to Hungary to plead with the king to stop harbouring Richard de la Pole. Richard was nearer in line to the throne but had sworn allegiance to Henry VII. However it was Richard who had backed Lambert Simnel and had then fled to Hungary. Richard wasn't moving as his brother had been persuaded back previously and been beheaded. The King of Bohemia and Hungary had taken a pledge to protect Richard, so Geoffreys visit was fruitless as far as we can see. Nevertheless when Geoffrey returned in 1502 Henry gave him the job of Bishop of Lichfield and Coventry. 6 years later Geoffrey found himself in the tower of London accused of swindling the king out of some land, some of the land being in Norton Debyshire. He probably was but nevertheless managed to talk himself out of trouble and was reinstated. His one evil deed was the burning of a Lollard heretic but it would appear he had tried everything in his power to get her off and had been criticised for his lack of enthusiasm in pursuing heretics and created loopholes so most of them got off. Geoffrey managed to get some of his relatives jobs. He found places at Cambridge for his younger brother Thomas and later for Thomas's son Geoffrey as well as a John Blythe from Norton Lees a nephew most probably.
Robert Blythe was cousin to the 2 other Blythes and again had a similar education to his cousins. He however became a monk in a teaching order. Probably by his cousin John recommendation he became bishop of Down and Connor but he never actually set foot on Irish soil. He is remembered for his backing of the theological grounds for Henry VIII's divorce and following the dissolution of the monasteries was given a pension and died at the ripe old age of 77 in Cambridge.
So here we have the Bishops who gave their name to Bishops House.
