Thomas Goldwell

, was in all probability descended from a family of his name living long before his time at Goldwell in Kent, but whether born in that County, I cannot tell. About the year 1520. he became a Student in this University, particularly, as it seems, in Allsouls college, where one, or more, of his name and kindred had studied before his time. In 1531. he proceeded in Arts, and two years after was admitted to the reading of the Sentences, being then known to be more eminent in Astronomy and Mathematicks, than in Divinity. What were his preferments and imployments 20 years after, I know not. Sure I am, that he being a most zealous person for the R. Catholick Religion, he was by Q. Mary promoted to the Bishoprick of S. Asaph; to which See being elected, he had restitution made (a)(a) Pat. 2. & 3. Phil. & Mar. p. 1. of the temporalities belonging thereunto 22. January 1555. Soon after he procured the Pope to renew the indulgences granted to such that went in Pilgrimage to S. Winefrids well, commonly called Halywell in Flintshire. The original of which place, with an account of many miracles performed there, is largely set down by Robert a Monk of the Order of S. Benedict, afterwards Prior of the Congregation of Cluniaks at Shrewsbury, in a book intitled, Vita mirabilis. S. Winefridae Virginis, Martyris & Abbatissae, lib. 2. written by him about the year 1140. (5. Reg. Steph.) and dedicated to Guarinus Prior of Worcester, the author being then Prior of Shrewsbury before-mentioned. So that how it comes to pass that Silv: Giraldus who lived afterwards in K. Johns time, did not make any mention of the said Well in his Itinerarium Cambriae, which Camden doth take (b)(b) In Britannia, in Ordovic [•] [•] ulgo Flintshire. notice of, I know not. After Q. Elizabeth came to the Crown Bishop Goldwell conveyed himself away beyond the Seas, was present at the Council of Trent under P. Pius 4. an. 1562. and afterwards going to Rome lived very pontificially among the Theatines, was appointed by the Pope to baptize Jews there, and to confer orders on all such English men that fled their Country for Religion’s sake, which he did there and in several places elsewhere in other Countries to the time of his death. He was esteemed among them a most useful person, was had in great veneration for his learning, having, as I have been informed, wrote one, or more books,Ciar. and was living at Rheymes in fifteen hundred and eighty, 1580 being then about 80 years of age. Afterwards going to Rome died there soon after, and was either buried among the Theatines, or else in the chappel belonging to the English college there. See more of him in Rob. Kynge among these Bishops under the year 1557. as also in a book intit. Concertatio Ecclesiae Catholicae in Anglia, &c. among the matters relating to the martyrdom of Ralph Sherwin. Joh. Fox in his book of Acts and Monuments, &c. doth tell us of one Thom. Goldwell a Priest, living at Brussells, mentioned in a letter written to Bishop Rich. Thornden, in June 1554. but whether he be the same with Tho. Goldwell before-mentioned, I cannot tell.