William Thomas

, a Welsh Man born, or at least of Welsh extract, was educated in all kind of learning fit for a Gentleman, but what Degree he took I know not. One of both his names was admitted Bach. of the Canon Law, in the beginning of Dec. 1529. but whether the same, I dare not yet affirm. In 1544, he was constrained by some misfortune to abandon the place of his nativity, and in Feb. 1546. when the news of the death of King Hen. 8. came into Italy, he was at Bologna la Grassa, where being in the company of several Gentlemen, he entred into discourse in defence of the said King, whose honor there had been wrongfully touched. Which discourse he afterwards drew up by way of Dialogue, directing it to Pietro Aretino the well known Thuscan Poet, as famous for his Satyrical wit, as infamous for his life and death. Afterwards, if not before, he lived at Padöua, where he gathered many materials for his Italian Dictionary and Grammar, and in 1549, I meet with him returned to London, where he wrot his short, but methodical History of Italy. About that time his name being highly fam’d for his travels through France and Italy, his knowledge in several of the modern tongues, and in other sorts of learning, he was made Clerk of the Council to K. Ed. 6. but upon his death, falling into the displeasure of Qu. Mary, and so consequently depriv’d of his place, and all hopes of other employment in the Court, he thereupon designed her murther, (one saith (p)(p) Ibid. in Ba [•] p. 110. inter cent. 12. & 13. that the design was against Steph. Gardiner Bishop of Winchester) for which he was sent Prisoner to the Tower of London, on the 20. Feb. 1553. in the company of Will. Winter, and Sir Nich. Throckmorton committed to that place also. On the 26. of the same Month, being much conscious to himself that he should suffer a shameful death, he endeavour’d to make away with himself, by thrusting a knife into his body under his paps, but the wound did not prove mortal. On the 9. of May 1554. he was arraigned and condemned at the Guild hall in Lond. and on the 18. of the same Month, he was drawn from the Tower to Tyburn; where after he had made a Speech in defence of himself, he told the company that he died for his Country. He was a Man of a hot fiery spirit, had suck’d in damnable principles, by his frequent conversation with Christoph. Goodman, that violent enemy to the rule of Women, and one of more misguided zeal, than true Religion and Wisdom. This Will. Thomas hath written,

The History of Italy; a Book exceeding profitable to be read, because it intreateth of the estate of many and divers Common-wealths, how they have been, and now be governed, Lond. 1561. qu. Dedic. to John Earl of Warwick, by an Epistle dated 20. Sept. 1549.

Principle rules of the Italian Grammar, with a Dictionary for the better understanding of Boccace, Petrarcha, and Dante. Lond. 1550. 1567. qu.

Le peregrynne—written at Bologn la Grassa. ’Tis a MS. in Bod. Lib. qu. D. 23. Th. fol. 71. The beginning of it is, Constrained by misfortune to habandon the place of my nativity, &c. In the title page are these Verses.

He that dyeth with honor, lyveth for ever.

And the defamed dead, recovereth never.

This Book called Le perigrynne is about to be translated into Lat. with a design to be remitted in the third Tome of Fasciculus, collected by Edw. Brown of Christ’s College in Cambridge.

Common place of state—Written for the use of King Ed. 6. wherein ’tis discoursed whether it be expedient to vary with the time; with some others writings, which I once saw in the Cottonian Library under Vespasians head D. 18 The title of this Book with other matters relating to Will. Thomas, I did formerly communicate to H. Foulis when he was gathering materials for an History of the Romish treasons, not dreaming then that I should afterwards make use of them as I have done now. I am verily perswaded, that there are in being other Books of this W. Thomas, either publick, or in MS. in private hands, which time, may hereafter produce. So that now I shall only say, that he suffer’d death at Tybourne before-mentioned by hanging, drawing, and quartering, 18. May in Fifteen hundred fifty and four, 1554 leaving then behind him the character by some, of a Person of good parts. What became of his quarters I know not.