Tomos Prys facts for kids

Tomos Prys

Tomos Prys (around 1564–1634) was a brave Welsh soldier, a skilled sailor, and a talented poet. He was the oldest son of Ellis Price, who was a Member of Parliament, from Plas Iolyn in Pentrefoelas, Denbighshire.

Tomos Prys's Life and Adventures

Tomos Prys spent many years at sea. He joined exciting trips led by famous explorers like Sir Walter Raleigh and Sir Francis Drake. In one of his poems, he wrote that he, Captain William Myddelton, and Captain Thomas Koet were the first to smoke tobacco in the streets of London.

He also fought in wars. Between 1585 and 1587, he was part of a military campaign in the Netherlands. He served under Robert Dudley, 1st Earl of Leicester. Tomos was also with the Earl at Tilbury in 1588. This was when an army protected London from the Spanish Armada, a large fleet of Spanish ships.

Tomos was also involved in sailing on the seas, sometimes exploring routes used by Spanish ships. In the late 1500s, he bought his own ship. He sailed from the Llŷn Peninsula coast. He even built a home on Bardsey Island using parts of an old monastery.

Tomos Prys passed away and was buried at Ysbyty Ifan on August 23, 1634.

Tomos Prys's Poems and Writings

Manuscript by Prys

We know a lot about Tomos Prys's life because he wrote it down in his poems. More than 200 of his poems still exist today! Many of these poems tell stories about his adventures as a soldier. He wrote about facing the Spanish Armada and fighting in the French Wars of Religion.

Here is a poem Tomos wrote later in his life at Plas Iolyn:

Tomos Prys's Family

Tomos Prys was married two times. His first wife was Margaret, the daughter of William Griffith from Caernarvon. They had three children together. His second wife was Jane, the daughter of Hugh Gwynn. With Jane, he had ten children.