Thomas Williams (speaker) facts for kids
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Thomas Williams (born around 1513 or 1514, died 1566) was an important leader in the English Parliament. He served as the Speaker of the House of Commons. This means he was in charge of leading discussions and keeping order in the main part of Parliament.
Thomas Williams was also a lawyer and a member of a famous law school called the Inner Temple. He was elected as a Member of Parliament (MP) for Exeter during the time of Elizabeth I. He became Speaker on January 12, 1563, and held this role until he sadly passed away in 1566. His family lived at Stowford House in Devon, England.
Before becoming Speaker, Thomas Williams was an MP for other areas too. He represented Bodmin in 1555, Saltash in 1558, and Tavistock in 1559.
Contents
Thomas Williams' Time in Parliament
How Parliament Handled the Speaker's Death
When Thomas Williams, the Speaker, passed away suddenly in 1566, Parliament had to follow special rules. On September 30, 1566, a member called Mr. Comptroller announced the sad news. He suggested that some members of the House of Commons should go to the House of Lords.
Their job was to ask the Lords to speak to Queen Elizabeth I. They wanted the Queen's permission to choose a new Speaker. This was an old tradition that Parliament followed.
The Message to the House of Lords
Right away, Mr. Comptroller and Mr. Secretary, along with other members, went to the House of Lords. They delivered their message. The Lords replied that they would be happy to help. They asked for four important members from the House of Commons to join them. These four members were part of the Queen's special advisory group, the Privy Council.
The important Lords chosen were the Lord Keeper, the Duke of Norfolk, the Lord Treasurer, and the Marquis of Northampton. From the House of Commons, Mr. Comptroller, Mr. Secretary Cecill, Sir Francis Knolles, and Sir Ambrose Cave joined them. They all agreed to meet the next morning to hear the Queen's decision.
Important Laws Discussed by Parliament
During Thomas Williams' time as Speaker, many important new laws were discussed in Parliament. Here are some examples of the types of topics they worked on:
- Returning Property: Bills to give back property to families who had lost it, like the family of Archbishop Cranmer.
- Welsh Language Bible: A law to make sure the Bible and church service books could be printed in the Welsh Tongue for people in Wales.
- Church Records: A bill to create an official office to keep church records. These records would track weddings, christenings (baptisms), and burials.
- Punishing Crimes: Laws to punish serious crimes like witchcraft or using evil spirits. Also, laws against false prophecies and lying under oath.
- Helping the Poor: A bill to help poor people by setting up weekly donations in every local area.
- Dealing with Vagabonds: Laws to further punish people who wandered around without a home, especially those who pretended to be "Egyptians" (a term for Roma people at the time).
- Protecting Wildlife: Bills against illegally catching fish, deer, rabbits, or hawks. Also, a law against using illegal nets to catch fish in the River Thames.
- Controlling Pests: A law for getting rid of birds like crows, choughs, and rooks, which were seen as pests.
- Trade and Work: Laws about buying special wools for making hats. Also, rules about the wages and working conditions for farm workers and craftspeople.
- Queen's Supplies: A law that cattle bought for the Queen's household had to be marked with pitch.
- Inheritance Rules: A law that said if someone gave away a large part of their belongings just before they died, that gift might not be valid.
Thomas Williams' Family Life
Thomas Williams was the son of Adam Williams and Alice Prideaux. In 1545, he married Emeline "Emliss" Crewes in a place called Chimley. They had five children together: Thomasina, Joane, Emlyn, Thomas Jr., and John. It is believed that his son John later sold the family home to another family called the Saverys.
Thomas Williams Sr. was buried in Harford Church in South Devon. His coffin has a special message carved into it.
The Coffin Inscription
The words on his coffin say: Here lies the body of Thomas Williams, Esquire. He was a lawyer who read in court twice. His good heart always aimed for what was right. He served as Speaker of Parliament. He worked hard to protect the common people. And always supported his religion. He served fairly in places of justice. And now he lives in heaven with great love. He died on the first day of July in the year of our Lord 1566. In the fifty-second year of his age.
These old records and the tombstone in St Pedroc's Church, Harford, help us learn about Thomas Williams' life.
