Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Leyson, Thomas
LEYSON, THOMAS (1549–1608?), poet and physician, was born at Neath in Glamorganshire in 1549. He was educated at Winchester, becoming scholar in 1563. In 1567 he was elected scholar of New College, Oxford, where he was fellow from 1569 to 1586. He graduated B.A. about March 1571, and proceeded M.A. 1 Feb. 1575–6, and M.B. 8 July 1583. In 1583 he was proctor of the university, and took part in the contest then proceeding between the proctors and the vice-chancellor as to the appointment of the clerk of the market. At Oxford Leyson was famed for his Latin verses. When Albertus à Lasco, nephew of John Laski [q. v.], visited Oxford in 1583, Leyson disputed before him. Leaving Oxford he settled at Bath and practised physic, and died there some time after 1607. He was buried in St. James's Church, Bath. Leyson was a friend of Sir John Harrington and Sir Edward Stradling. Stradling's house, St. Donats Castle in Glamorganshire, suggested a Latin poem by Leyson, which was turned into Welsh by Dr. John Davydd Rhys, and published, without date as ‘Venustum Poema.’ Reference is made in it to the medical knowledge which Leyson acquired about 1580; the date 1569 which has been assigned to the publication (Notes and Queries, 3rd ser. vii. 35) is consequently too early. Wood says that Leyson wrote much Latin verse, which was printed, but it has never been collected.
[Wood's Athenæ Oxon. ed. Bliss, ii. 27; Wood's Fasti Oxon. i. 187, 199, 223, 224; Reg. Univ. Oxford (Oxf. Hist. Soc.), II. i. 252, ii. 126, iii. 10; Kirby's Winchester Scholars, p. 139; Williams's Eminent Welshmen, p. 272.]