George Lily (???? - 1559) was an English Roman Catholic priest, humanist, writer, and cartographer. He was born in London, although the date is not known. His father was the grammarian William Lily, who was also master of St. Paul's School; George likely attended school there. He is thought to have gone to Magdalen College, Oxford, in 1528. He entered the service of Reginald Pole, following him into exile in France and Italy. By 1535, he was at the University of Padua; by 1538 he was living in Rome. His association with the Roman Catholic Pole led to his being outlawed in England for treason in 1543. While in Italy, he contributed to Giovio's history of the British Isles as well as producing some of his own histories and biographies. His works included a history of the Wars of the Roses and a genealogy of the Kings of England. Probably intending the work to accompany Giovo's history, Lily drew a the first detailed, printed map of the British Isles from an English source; this would be printed in Rome in 1546. Based in some respects upon the 14th century Gough map, Lily's map improved sharply on its medieval precursor, particularly with respect to the Scottish coast. He would not return to Engand until 1555, when England returned to Catholicism under Queen Mary I. Pole became Archbishop of Canterbury in March 1556, while Lily became his domestic chaplain.He was made first prebend of Canterbury Cathedral in 1558. It has been suggested that he took part in the production of the large-scale 1559 'Copperplate Map' of London prior to his death that year.