Thomas Wood

Priest and confessor, b. about 1499; d. in Wisbech Castle before 1588. After being prebendary of Canterbury (11th stall), rector of High Ongar, Essex, and rector of Harlington, Middlesex, in 1554, he was deprived of all three benefices in 1559. He had been vicar of Walthamstow, Essex, 1537-41, vicar of South Weald, Essex, 1545-58, vicar of Bradwell-by-the-Sea, Essex, 1554-55, rector of Dean, Hampshire, 1555-59, and had held the 10th stall in Westminster Abbey from 1554 till the Benedictines were restored in 1556. He had also been one of Queen Mary's chaplains, and at her death had been nominated to the Bishopric of St. Asaph's , at the same time that Bishop Goldwell of St. Asaph's had been nominated to the vacant See of Oxford.

It does not appear whence he obtained his degree of B.D. On account of his religion he was committed to the Marshalsea 13 May, 1560, and on 22 April, 1561, gave evidence that he had not said or heard Mass since midsummer, 1559. On 20 Nov., 1561, he was transferred to the Fleet. On 28 Nov., 1569, we find him in the Tower of London, threatened with the rack. He was still there in April, 1570. From the Tower he was removed to the Marshalsea again 14 Oct., 1571, and was still there in 1579, then aged 80, and in July, 1580. The Thomas Woods who was in Salford Fleet in 1582 is probably a different person.

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