Thomas Sampson

was born about the year 1517 educated in Grammar and Academical learning amongst the Oxonian Muses, afterwards studied the municipal Laws in one of the Temples, where being converted to the Protestant Religion, did shortly after, as ’tis said, convert John Bradford the Martyr. Whereupon they both taking Orders from Nich. Ridley Bishop of London, became noted Preachers in the Reign of Ed. 6, and about that time Sampson, as ’tis said, was made Dean of Chichester. In the beginning of Qu. Mary he absconded, at which time being well acquainted with one Rich. Chambers a zealous Protestant, they collected moneys in the City of London from the well affected there, to be distributed among such poor Scholars of each University, that were haters of the Roman Catholick Religion. Which matter being at length discovered, he, with his wife the Neice of Hugh Latimer were forced with Chambers to go beyond the Seas to Strasburge, where wholly applying himself to the study of Divinity, as much advanced in the knowledge thereof by his often associating himself with learned Tremelius. After Queen Elizabeth came to the Crown he returned to his native country, and became a frequent Preacher in London and much followed by the reformed party there, and afterwards in the north parts of England. In 1560. the Queen design’d him to be Bishop of Norwich, but he altogether refused it, for no other reason, as ’twas suppos’d, but that he was much disaffected to the Hierarchy and Ceremonies of the Church of England. In the latter end of the said year (in the beginning of March) he supplicated the venerable congregation of Regents of this University, that whereas he had for the space of 16 years studied Divinity he might be admitted to the reading of Epistles of S. Paul, that is to the degree of Bach. of Divinity which was before the time of Reformation, to the reading of the Book of Sentences. This supplicat was granted by, notwithstanding he had taken no Degree before among, them, as it appears from the publick Registers. In the same congregation he supplicated also that after he was admitted Bach. of Divinity he might have liberty to proceed in the same Faculty; but to that no answer was given. Afterwards he supplicated that he might not only use the habit of Master of Arts in the time of his admission to the Degree of Bach. of Divinity, but afterwards also while he continued in that state. Which request, though granted simpliciter, yet it doth not appear that he was admitted to that Degree. In Michaelmas term, 1561. he was installed Dean of Christ Church in Oxon, in the place of Dr. George Carew, and soon after in the month of November he supplicated the congregation of Regents, that it might be lawful for him to Preach within the limits of the University in a doctoral habit. Which desire, being, as they thought, unreasonable, yet because he was a Dean they granted it only to continue till the Act following. At that time there being a great scarcity of Divines in the University, and but very few Masters, he the said Sampson and Laur. Humphrey of Magd. Coll. another severe Calvinist, preached by turns every Lords day either at St. Maries or elsewhere to the Academians, and soon after got another brother of Allsouls Coll. (as ’tis said) to joyn with them, but who that was, unless Andrew Kingsmyll LL. B. who afterwards out of pure sanctity went to Geneva, I know not. But Sampson being too severe a Calvinist, if not worse, to govern such a noted Coll. as Ch. Ch. (for he was an enemy to Organs, ornaments of the Church, clerical vestments, the square cap, (he always in imitation of Humphrey wearing the round cap) and rather a perswader from, than encourager, to use them) he was at length, after a great many of admonitions from authority to conform, and entreaties from certain Bishops so to do, removed from his Deanery by the sentence of Matthew Archbishop of Canterbury, an. 1564. Afterwards he obtained the Mastership of the Hospital of Will. de Wygston at Leycester, (besides the Penitentiaryship, or the Prebend of St. Pancras in the Cathedral Church of St. Paul) where continuing for some time in teaching, he was by the leave and favour of the Queen permitted to be a Theological Lecturer in Whittingdon Coll. in London: but before he had enjoyed that place 6 years, he was taken with the palsie. Whereupon retiring to his hospital spent the remaining part of his days in preaching and writing. Those works that go under his name are these.

Letter to the professours of Christs Gospel, in the Parish of Allhallows in Bredstreet, Lond. Strasburg 1554 oct.

A warning to take heed of Fowlers Psalter. Lond. 1578. oct. See in John Fowler under the Year 1578.

Brief collection of the Church and Ceremonies thereof. Lond. 1581. oct.

Prayers and meditations Apostolike: gathered and framed out of the Epistles of the Apostles, &c. Lond. 1592. in 16o. He also corrected, and caused to be published Two Sermons, the first of repentance, the other of the Lords Supper. Lond. 1581. oct. written by his friend Joh. Bradford, with other things of that Author. At length Tho. Sampson having lived beyond the age of Man in a perpetual motion (as ’twere) for the carrying on of the holy cause, laid down his head, and gave up the ghost on the 9. Apr. in Fifteen hundred eighty and nine, 1589 whereupon his body was buried in the Chappel of the Hospital of Will. de Wygston before-mention’d. Over his grave was a monument soon after fastned to the South wall thereof, with an inscription on it, erected by his Sons John and Nathaniel Sampson. A copy of which, with other matters of the said Author, which I have not here mention’d, you may see in Hist. & Antiq. Univ. Ox. lib. 2. p. 254. From this Tho. Sampson, is, if I mistake not, descended Tho. Sampson a pretender to Poetry, Author of Fortunes fashion portrayed in the troubles of Lady Elizab. Gray, Wife of Edw. 4. Lond. 1613. qu. a Poem. dedicated to Henr. Pilkington of Gadsby in Leicestershire.