Nicholas Robinson was a native of Aberconwy, in Caernarvonshire, and was educated at Queen’s College, Cambridge, where he obtained a fellowship, and was appointed chaplain to Parker, Archbishop of Canterbury. He was made dean of Bangor in 1556, and obtained the sinecure rectory of Northop, in Flintshire, in 1562, and he was likewise archdeacon of Meirioneth. In 1566 he was raised to the bishopric of Bangor; and he held the living of Whitney, in Oxfordshire, in commendam. He died in 1585.
Henry Rowlands, D.D., was born in Mellteyrn, in Caernarvonshire, in 1551, and was educated at New College, Oxford. He obtained the rectory of his native parish in 1572, and subsequently of Launton, in Oxfordshire. He was advanced to the deanery of Bangor in 1593, and was consecrated bishop of the same diocese in 1598. He was a most munificent benefactor to his cathedral, and bestowed great sums in improving and adorning it. He also founded two fellowships in Jesus College, Oxford; and bequeathed money for the foundation of a school in his native place. He died in 1616.
Henry Rowlands, B.A., the author of the valuable and learned work entitled “Mona Antiqua Restaurata,” was a native of the Isle of Anglesea. Having taken orders, he became vicar of Llanidan. He devoted his leisure time to the examination of the antiquities which abound in his native island; and his researches afford important information concerning the language and manners of the Cymmry. He endeavours to prove that Môn was the metropolitan seat of the Druids; and his work first appeared in 1723, and a second edition was published in London, in 1766. He died in 1722.
Grufydd Roberts, a learned grammarian, distinguished himself by the publication of a valuable “Welsh Grammar,” which was printed at Milan, in 1567. Nothing is known of his history, besides that he was educated at Sienna, in Italy, under the patronage of William Herbert, Earl of Pembroke.
William Salusbury, an eminent antiquary, was a native of Denbighshire, where he was born in the reign of Queen Elizabeth. He was educated at Oxford, and entered the profession of the law. He assisted in translating the New Testament into Welsh, and he published also a Welsh version of the “Epistles and Gospels,” besides a “Dictionary,” and a “Treatise on Rhetoric.” He died in 1570.
George Stepney, whose parents were of old families in Pembrokeshire, was born in 1663. Having been entered on the foundation of Westminster School, he removed in due time to Trinity College, Cambridge, and while there, he acquired the friendship of Mr. Montague, afterwards Earl of Halifax, and through his patronage he was employed by government on several important and confidential missions to the courts of Brandenburgh, Vienna, Dresden, Mentz, and Cologne, and to the congress of Frankfort. He was again employed on an embassy to Holland in 1706; and after completing it successfully, he returned to England in the following year, and a few months after he died in Chelsea, and was buried in Westminster Abbey. He was a very ingenious poet, and ranked high as a political writer; several of his works obtained for him great credit.
Charles Symmons, D.D., was born in Caerdigan, in the year 1749, which borough was represented by his father in three successive parliaments. He was educated at Westminster School, and the University of Glasgow, whence he subsequently removed to Clare Hall, Cambridge, and in 1776 he took the degree of bachelor of divinity at that University. Having given offence by declaring some Whiggish principles in a sermon, which destroyed all his prospects of promotion, and fearing some obstacles when he proceeded to his doctor’s degree, he removed to Jesus College, Oxford, where he took it in 1794. He was presented to the living of Narberth and Lanpeter. As an author, the greater portion of his works consisted of poetry, and he published “Milton’s prose works, with a Biographical Memoir.” He died at Bath, in 1826.
William Thomas was born in Wales, and was educated at Oxford, where he took the degree of bachelor of canon law in 1529. Being obliged for some cause to leave the kingdom, he travelled in Italy; and on his return to England, he published a “History” of that country, in 1549, quarto. He was appointed clerk of the council to King Edward the Sixth, who bestowed upon him, though a layman, a prebend in St. Paul’s Cathedral, and a living in Wales. On the accession of Queen Mary, he was deprived of his office and benefices, which treatment is supposed to have instigated him to join in the rebellion of Sir Thomas Wyatt, for which he was arrested, and being convicted, was executed at Tyburn. He was also author of several less important works.
William Thomas, D.D., was a native of South Wales, where he was born in 1613. He was educated at Jesus College, Oxford, where he proceeded through his degrees. Having taken orders, he became vicar of Penbryn, in the time of the great rebellion. On the Restoration, he was appointed precentor of St. David’s, and rector of Llanbedr, in Pembrokeshire, and subsequently dean of Worcester. He was consecrated bishop of St. David’s in 1677, and in 1683 he was translated to Worcester, where he died in 1689.
Josiah Tucker, D.D., an eminent political writer, was the son of a Welsh gentleman of property, and was born in 1711. He was educated at St. John’s College, Oxford, and entered into holy orders, being appointed to the curacy of All Saints, Bristol; he afterwards became chaplain to Dr. Butler, bishop of that diocese, by whom he was appointed to the rectory of St. Stephen’s, in the same city. He was author of numerous political and controversial essays, some sermons, and a multitude of treatises, and publications on commerce and religion. He obtained a prebend in Bristol Cathedral, and the deanery of Gloucester, in 1758. He died of an attack of paralysis at the advanced age of eighty-eight, in the year 1799.