John was the son of Rhys ab Gwilym by Gwenllian, daughter of Howel Madoc, He was educated at
Oxford, practiced in the
Court of Arches and subsequently graduated
BCL at
Cambridge in 1535/6. By 1530 he was a servant of
Thomas Cromwell, to whom he would later be related by marriage. six sons, including: • Richard Prise (c.1538–c.1587), married Elizabeth, daughter of
William Wightman of
Harrow on the Hill,
Middlesex. • John Prise, married Elizabeth, daughter of John Games. • William Prise 3. Thomas Jones (c.1530–1609) of Fountain Gate,
alias Twm Siôn Cati. • Jane Prise Katherine, the 1st wife of James Gomond of
Byford, Herefordshire, who was older than any of the children he had with Joan. In April 1535 he took part in the proceedings against the
Carthusians as to the royal supremacy. He officiated in the same way at the trial of
John Fisher and
Thomas More. He took part in the major visitation of the monasteries of 1535, alongside
Sir Thomas Legh and penned one of the summaries of the visit (cf.
Compendium Compertorum). He was a public notary by 1536. He was elected
knight of the shire for
Breconshire in the same year, and became secretary of the
council for the Welsh marches in 1551. During the reign of
Mary I he was elected
MP for the seat of
Hereford in October 1553, for
Ludlow in April 1554, and for
Ludgershall in November 1554.
Death He died on 15 October 1555 at
St Guthlac's Priory, survived by his widow and ten of their children. In his will, dated 6 October 1555, he bequeathed his soul to God, to ″owre blessede ladie Sainte Marye And to all the blessed cumpanie of heavin″ and requested prayers on its behalf. He made numerous bequests, including sums of money for his daughters′ marriages, and asked to be buried in
Hereford Cathedral. ==Works==