Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Hill, Adam
HILL, ADAM (d. 1595), divine, probably born at Westbury, Wiltshire, was, according to his own account, educated under Bishop Jewel. He was fellow of Balliol College from 1568 to January 1572–3; graduated B.A. 1569, M.A. 1572, and B.D. and D.D. in 1591 (Oxf. Univ. Reg., Oxf. Hist. Soc., i. 269, II. iii. 21); and secured a reputation as a practical preacher. He was successively vicar of Westbury, Wiltshire, and Gussage, Dorsetshire. On 23 June 1586 he was installed as prebendary and succentor of Salisbury Cathedral. He died at Salisbury in February 1594–5, and was buried in the cathedral on the 19th.
A sermon which he preached at Chippenham, Wiltshire (28 Feb. 1589–90), on Christ's descent into hell, led Hill into a sharp controversy with one Alexander Hume, who republished a reply to it. Hill retorted with ‘A Defence of the Article, Christ descended into Hell,’ London, 1592, 4to, dedicated to John Whitgift, archbishop of Canterbury. Here Hill prints his original sermon, with an appendix containing Hume's objections in full, and Hill's answers to them paragraph by paragraph. Hume is said to have issued a rejoinder. Hill also published: 1. ‘Godly Sermon, shewing the Fruits of Peace and War,’ London, 1588, 8vo. 2. ‘The Crie of England,’ a sermon on Gen. xviii. 21, 22, London, 1593, 8vo (Brit. Mus.).
[Wood's Athenæ Oxon., ed. Bliss, i. 623–4; Brit. Mus. Cat.]