Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Vicars, Thomas
VICARS, THOMAS (fl. 1607–1641), theologian, born in 1590 or 1591, was a native of Carlisle. He matriculated from Queen's College, Oxford, on 19 June 1607, graduating B.A. on 16 Dec. 1611 and M.A. on 17 June 1615. He was elected chaplain on 7 July 1615, and fellow on 20 April 1616, and on 10 May 1622 was licensed to preach, receiving at the same time the degree of B.D. In that year he married Anne, daughter of George Carleton (1559–1628) [q. v.], bishop of Chichester, and was by him preferred to the vicarages of Cowfold and Cuckfield in Sussex. Two years later he received a prebend in the diocese of Chichester. The date of his death is unknown.
He was the author of: 1. ‘Χειραγωγία. Manuductio ad Artem Rhetoricam,’ London, 1621, 8vo; 3rd edit. 1628, 12mo. 2. ‘A Brief Direction how to examine Our-selves before we go to the Lord's Table, how to behave Our-selves there, and how to try Our-selves afterwards,’ London, [1622?], 8vo. 3. ‘Pusillus Grex,’ London, 1627, 4to. 4. ‘Ῥομφαιοφόρος. The Sword-bearer,’ London, 1627, 4to. He also edited ‘Timothies Taske; or a Christian Sea-Card, by Robert Mandevill,’ Oxford, 1619, 4to; and George Carleton's ‘Ἀστρολογμανία: the Madnesse of Astrologers,’ London, 1624, 4to; new edit. London, 1651, 8vo. He translated from the Latin of Bartholomew Keckerman ‘A Manuduction to Theologie’ [London? 1622?], 8vo.
[Wood's Athenæ Oxon. ed. Bliss, ii. 443; Foster's Alumni Oxon. 1500–1714.]