college. Afterwards he returned to England, and was elected dean of the chapter at the general assembly held in November 1657, but he did not take the oath attached to the office until 14 Oct. 1660, although in the meantime he acted in the capacity of dean. By his brethren of the chapter he was highly esteemed, but his position naturally rendered him obnoxious to the Jesuits and Franciscans, who were strongly opposed to the introduction of a bishop. The Abate Claudius Agretti, canon of Bruges and minister-apostolic in Belgium, who was sent by the pope on a special mission to examine into the condition of ecclesiastical affairs in England in 1669, stated in his report that Ellis was extremely anxious for the confirmation of the chapter, and was even willing that his holiness should create a new dean and chapter, omitting all the existing members. Agretti doubted, however, whether they would really assent to this sacrifice. He described Ellis as 'noble, esteemed, learned, and moderate, but withal tinged with Blackloeism.' Ellis died in July 1676.
[Dodd's Church Hist. iii. 295; Sergeant's Account of the Chapter erected by William, bishop of Chaleedon, ed. Turnbull, pp. 83, 98; Gillows Bibl. Dict.; Brady's Episcopal Succession, iii. 110, 126.]
ELLIS, JAMES (1763?–1830), antiquary, son of William Ellis, a glover, of Hexham, was born about January 1763. He practised as a solicitor in Hexham, and then at Newcastle. He was the author of some verses referred to in Richardson's 'Table Book,' and had an extensive knowledge of Border history. He communicated materials on the latter subject to Sir Walter Scott, who was sometimes his guest at Otterburne Hall in Northumberland, a mansion which Ellis had purchased. Scott calls him 'a learned antiquary.' Ellis died 25 (or 26) March 1830.
[M. A. Richardson's Local Historian's Table Book, iv. 52-4.]
ELLIS, JOHN (1599?–1665), divine, born at Llandecwyn, Merionethshire, in or about 1599, entered Hart Hall, Oxford, in 1617, where, 'going through with infinite industry the several classes of logic and philosophy,' he proceeded B.A. 27 Feb. 1621, M.A. 29 April 1625 (Wood, Fasti Oxon., ed. Bliss, i. 397, 422). Three years later, having taken orders, he was elected fellow of Jesus College, and became B.D. 9 May 1632 (ib. i. 466). On going to Scotland soon afterwards he was admitted D.D. in the university of St. Andrews 'on the day before the calends of August' 1634, and on 21 Oct. following was incorporated at Oxford (ib. i. 477). Having before that time married Rebekhah, daughter of John Pettie of Stoke-Talmage, Oxfordshire, he was presented to the rectory of the neighbouring parish of Wheatfield, which he held until 1647, 'or thereabouts,' when he obtained the rectory of Dolgelly, Merionethshire. There he died in 1665, having, says Wood, 'sided with all parties and taken all oaths.' He was buried in the churchyard. His works are: 1. 'Commentarium in Obadiam Prophetam,' 8vo, London, 1641. 2.'Clavis Fidei, seu brevia quædam in Symbolum Apostolicum dictata scholaribus Aulæ Cervinæ in Academia Oxoniensi publicis prælectionibus proposita,' 12mo, Oxford, 1643. It was translated into English by William Fowler, 'a composer in the art of printing,' 8vo, Cambridge, 1669, and by H. Handley, 8vo, London, 1842. 3. 'Defensio Fidei: seu Responsio succincta ad Argumenta quibus impugnari solet Confessio Anglicana, unà cum nova Articulorum Versione,' 12mo, London, 1660 (a 2nd edit, as 'Articulorum xxxix Ecclesiæ Anglicanæ Defensio,' &c., together with the Lambeth Articles, appeared many years after Ellis's death, 12mo, Cambridge, 1694, and was often reprinted. An English version, by J. L. of Sutton Court, was published, 8vo, London, 1700).
[Wood's Athenæ Oxon. (Bliss), iii. 709.]
ELLIS, JOHN (1606?–1681), author of ‘Vindiciæ Catholicæ,’ was probably descended from a younger son of the family which was long seated at Kiddall Hall, Berwick-in-Elmet, West Riding of Yorkshire. He was fellow and B.D. of St. Catharine Hall, Cambridge, university proctor, and chaplain to Archbishop Abbot. At the commencement of the civil war he took sides with the parliament and was appointed to preach the fast sermon on 22 Feb. 1643. It was published as ‘The Sole Path to a Sound Peace, recommended to the Honourable House of Commons in a Sermon [on Mic. v. 5]. … By John Ellis, Jun., Preacher of the Word at Cambridge,’ 4to, London, 1643. His next work was eagerly read and discussed, ‘Vindiciæ Catholicæ, or the Rights of Particular Churches rescued: and asserted against that meer … Notion of one Catholick, Visible, Governing Church: the foundation of the … Presbyterie: wherein … all the Arguments for it, produced by the Rev. Apollonius, M. Hudson, M. Noyes, the London Ministers, and others, are examined and dissolved,’ 4to, London, 1647, dedicated ‘to the Parliament of England and Assembly of Divines.’ Samuel Hudson replied with ‘A Vindication’ in 1650.
