Isaac Milles

Isaac Milles or Mills (19 September 1638 – 6 July 1720) was an English cleric, often described as the model parish priest of that day.

Milles was born on 19 September 1638, the youngest son of Thomas Milles, esq., "a plain country gentleman" of Carrington's Farm, Cockfield, near Bury, Suffolk. He was and baptised 30 September 1638. The family were however distinguished enough to bear arms, which were: Argent, a chevron between three millrinds sable, with motto "Pietate et Prudentia". These arms are visible on the engraving of Isaac Milles by George Vertue in the British Museum. Of his elder brothers, Samuel, of Queen’s College, Cambridge, was a vicar of Royston, Hertfordshire, and John ‘a very considerable tradesman’ at Dedham, Essex.

After spending seven years at King Edward VI School. Bury, where Lord-keeper North was among his schoolfellows, Isaac was admitted at St John's College, Cambridge, in 1656, and graduated M.A. in 1663. His tutor at Cambridge was Francis Turner, afterwards the nonjuring bishop of Ely, who was his lifelong friend.

On leaving the university Milles took holy orders, and became curate in sole charge of Barley, Hertfordshire, the rector, Dr. Joseph Beaumont, master of Peterhouse, being non-resident. In 1674, by the influence of his friend Chief Baron Atkins, he obtained the vicarage.

There he made the acquaintance of Henry Dodwell, and became intimate with Dr. Martin Lluelyn, whose epitaph in Wycombe Church he wrote.

While at Cambridge he had met Edward Colman, Titus Oates’s victim, and seems to have read Colman’s letters to Père la Chaise before they were printed. He came to the conclusion that no popish plot existed, and gave offence by expressing his conviction to that effect in his sermons. It was only the reputation which his high character had won for him which save him from prosecution.