William Thomas

son of John Thomas, was born on the bridge in the Parish of S. Nicholas in the City of Bristow, on the second day of Feb. 1613, educated in Grammar learning at Caermethen in Wales, by the care of his Grandfather Recorder of that Town, became a Student in S. Johns Coll. in Mich. term 1629, thence translated to that of Jesus, (of which he was made Fellow when Bach. of Arts) proceeded in that faculty, took holy Orders, and before the Civil War began, he became Vicar of Penbryn in Cardiganshire. Afterwards being sequestred for his loyalty, he taught School at Laughern in Caermerthenshire, where, after a while, he read the common prayer and preached, yet not without some disturbance occasioned by Olivers Itinerant preachers. After his Majesties restauration in 1660, he became Chauntor of the Cathedral Church of St. David, in the place of Dr. Griff. Higges deceased, was actually created Doct. of Divinity, made Chaplain to James Duke of York, and about that time had the Living of Llanbedder in the Valley, in Pembrokshire confer’d upon him. In 1665, Nov. 25. he was installed Dean of Worcester in the place of Dr. Tho. Warmestry deceased, and about that time he gave up Llanbedder for the Rectory of Hampton Lovet, six miles distant from Worcester. On the 27. of January 1677 he was consecrated (with Dr. Sancroft to the See of Cant.) Bishop of S. David, at which time liberty was given him to keep his Deanery in commendam with it, and in the middle of Aug. 1683 he was translated to the See of Worcester in the place of Dr. James Fleetwood deceased, where he sate to the time of his death in good respect from the Clergy and Laity. He hath written

Several Sermons, as (1) Serm. at the Assize at Caermerthen, on Exod. 20.16. Lond. 1657. qu. (2) Serm. before the right honorable the Lords assembled in Parliament, in the Abbey Ch. of S. Pet. Westm. upon the Fast-day appointed, 10. Apr. 1678. on Luke 13.3. Lond. 1678. qu. (3) The mammon of unrighteousness detected and purified, preached in the Cathedral of Worcester 19 Aug. 1688, on Luke 16.9. Lond. 1689. qu.

Apology for the Church of England in point of separation from it. Lond. 1678. 9 oct. Written in the time of Usurpation.

A pastoral letter to his Clergy of Worcester Dioc. about catechising—Printed, with many things expung’d, since his death. It was, as ’tis said, written in answer to Dr. G. Burnet Bishop of Salisbury his Pastoral letters about Oathes, an. 1689.

Roman Oracles silenced: or the prime testimonies of antiquity produced by Hen. Turbervil in his Manual of controversies. Lond. 1691. Published in the beginning of Mar. 1690. This worthy Bishop Dr. Thomas died on the 25 of June, 1689. in sixteen hundred eighty and nine, and was buried according to his desire in the north east corner of the Cloyster belonging to the Cathedral Church of Worcester, at the foot of the steps, in the way from the Deanery to the Cathedral. Soon after was a plain stone laid over his grave with this inscription thereon. Depositum Gulielmi Thomas S. T. P. olim Decani Wigorniensis indigni, postea Episcopi Menevensis indignioris, tandem Episcopi Wigorniensis indignissimi, meritis tamen Christi, ad vitam aeternam resurrectionis candidati.—Sanctissimus & doctiss. Praesul, pietatis erga Deum, erga Regem fidelitatis, charitatis erga Proximos illustre exemplum expiravit. An. redemptionis MDCLXXXIX, Aetatis LXXVI, Junii XXV, & moribundus hoc quicquid supra est epitaphii pro modestia sua tumulo inscribi jussit.