Thomas Robertson

was a Yorkshire Man born, (either at, or near, Wakefeild) was originally, I think, of Queens, afterwards Demie or Semicommoner of Magdalen, College, Master of the School joyning to it in the place of Joh. Stanbridge, Master of Arts 1525, at which time he was a great Oppugner (s)(s) Reg. Univ. Ox. H. fol. 138. b. and Vilifier of the Questionists in the University, and at length Fellow of the said House. In 1539, he being about that time Treasurer of the Church of Salisbury in the place of Dr. Rich. Sampson, supplicated the venerab. congreg. of the Regents to be admitted to the reading of the Sentences, being then esteemed Flos & decus Oxonii, but whether he was admitted it appears not; and in 1540, he, by the favour of Longland Bishop of Lincolne, was made Archdeacon of Leycester in the place of Will. More Suffragan Bishop of Colchester deceased, in which dignity being installed 5. March the same Year, enjoyed it to 1560. as I shall anon tell you. In 1546. Jun. 3. he was instituted Vicar of Wakefield before-mention’d, on the death of Dr. Tho. Knolles, by the presentation thereunto of Joh. Chambre M. D. Dean, and the convent, of the Kings Chappel of the Virgin Mary and St. Stephen within the Pallace of Westminster. Whereupon in the beginning of 1548. he gave up the Treasurership of Salibury, in which Dignity Thom. Stevens succeeded, 28. May the same Year. He the said Robertson was an exact Grammarian and Humanitian, and went, as ’twas thought, beyond his two Predecessors in Magd. College School, in the education of Youth. In 1532, he Printed a Comment on the rules which Will. Lilye wrot in verse, and added thereunto Quae Genus, and the versifying rules, dedicating it to Bishop Longland before mention’d, with reference to Henley School, which, some think, was founded, or at least inlarged, by Longland. From whose pains (I mean of Robertson) and also the variety of other mens labours in Grammar, of whom Joh. Stanbridge, Rob. Whittington, Joh. Colet and Lilye were of the number, sprang a great diversity in the course of teaching; which King Hen. 8. intending to reform, caused sundry learned Men (of whom Dr. Rich. Cox Tutor to K. Ed. 6. is supposed to be one) to reduce the former attempts in this kind into one body of Grammar, which they jointly did in 1545, being that now in use, and first authorized by K. Hen. 8. Howbeit soon after it was thought too prolix, for in the Reign of Ed. 6. John Fox of Magd. Coll. did set forth Tables of Grammar, subscribed in Print by eight Lords of the Privy Council; which Tables were quickly laid aside, as being far more too short, than K. Hen. 8. his Grammar was too long. Since which time many learned Men in England, and far more abroad, have spent much profitable study in this Art and the method thereof, as we well know. In the 3. of Ed. 6. Dom. 1549. he the said Thom. Robertson was one of the number appointed by the K. and his Council to compile and frame the Liturgy of the Church, which we now call the Common-Prayers, and in the Year 1557. Jul. 23. he had the Deanery of Durham confer’d on him by the Queen, being then void upon the promotion of Dr. Tho. Watson to the See of Lincoln, (who had been instituted in the said Deanery by Tonstall Bishop of Durham 18. Nov. 1553. upon the deprivation of Dr. Rob. Horne) at which time being greatly in respect for his piety and learning, the Queen would have had him taken a Bishoprick, but he modestly refused it. His works are,

Annotationes in librum Guliel, Lilii de Latinorum nominum generibus, de verborum praeteritis & supinis, &c.

De nominibus heteroclitis opusculum, cum annotationibus.

De verbis defectivis append, interjectis etiam sparsim ubi opus videbatur, annotatiunculis.

Compendium sive de arte versificandi, cum annotationibus additis. All which Books were printed together at Basil 1532. qu. What other things he hath published I know not, nor any thing else of him, only that he was forced first to leave the Deanery of Durham to make room for Dr. Horne, about the latter end of 1559, (who being soon after made Bishop of Winchester, Robertson might, if he would have taken the Oath of Supremacy, have came in again, but he refused it, whereupon Ralph Skynner of Oxon succeeded) and secondly to resign his Archdeaconry of Leycester, to prevent ejection: so that the said Dignity lying void for some time, Rich Barber LL. D. was installed therein 24. Dec. 1560. What afterwards became of Tho. Robertson, Clar. 1560. or where, or when, he died, let others seek, for I am totally ignorant. John Parkhurst B. of Norwich, sometimes his Scholar, hath an Epigram on him in praise of his learning, which may serve instead of his Epitaph, if you think fit.