Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Price, Theodore
PRICE, THEODORE (1570?–1631), prebendary of Westminster, was son of Rees ap Tudor, by Marjory, daughter of Edward Stanley, constable of Harleigh Castle. Born about 1570 at Brony-Foel, in the parish of Llanenddwyn-Dyffyn-Ardudwy, Merionethshire, he entered All Souls' College, Oxford, as a chorister, graduated B.A. on 16 Feb. 1587–8, and M.A. on 9 June 1591, and became fellow of Jesus College. He proceeded D.D. from New College on 5 July 1614. For a short time from 18 Oct. 1591 he held the poor rectory of Llanvair, near Harleigh, to which he gave a ‘fair communion chalice’ (cf. Lansdowne MS. 986, f. 104); from 9 Sept. 1596 was prebendary of Winchester, where he is also said to have been master of the hospital of St. Cross; was rector of Llanrhaiadr-in-Mochnant, Denbighshire, from 1601; principal of Hart Hall, Oxford, from 1604 to 1621; rector of Launton, Oxfordshire, from 1609; prebendary of Leighton Buzzard in Lincoln Cathedral from 1621; and prebendary of Westminster from 1623.
Williams, the lord keeper and dean of Westminster, was Price's countryman and kinsman, and by his favour Price also acted as sub-dean of the Westminster chapter. He was for a time a royal chaplain, although, according to Hacket, he never preached at court. By Williams's influence, too, Price was employed as a commissioner to inquire into the political and ecclesiastical condition of Ireland (Rymer, Fœdera, xvii. 358; Hacket, Scrinia Reserata). ‘He came off with praise by his majesty (James I) with promise of advance.’ Both Williams and Laud were credited with futile efforts to secure Price further church preferment. Williams is said to have suggested his name for the bishopric of St. Asaph, and Laud likewise, according to Prynne, urged his claim to a Welsh bishopric. When the archbishopric of Armagh was vacant in 1625, Williams is said to have offended the Duke of Buckingham by his persistence in recommending Price. Price, however, thought Williams lukewarm in the matter, and, after Ussher was chosen, ‘Price did never show Williams love, and the Church of England then or sooner lost the doctor's heart’ (Hacket).
Price held his various benefices till his death on 15 Dec. 1631. He was buried six days later in Westminster Abbey (Chester, Westm. Abbey Reg. p. 130). Prynne, who denounced him as ‘an unpreaching epicure and an Arminian,’ said that he died a papist. Prynne charged Laud with treating Price as a confidential friend despite his apostasy. Laud replied ‘that Price was more inward with another bishop [i. e. Williams] who laboured his preferment more than I,’ and denied the reports of Price's apostasy (Rome's Masterpiece, reprinted in the Troubles and Trials; see also Canterburies Doom, p. 355). Before Price's funeral Williams, as dean of Westminster, doubtless from a wish to embarrass his enemy Laud, called the prebendaries together, and told them that he had been with the sub-dean before his death, that he left him on very doubtful terms about religion, and consequently could not tell in what form to bury him. Dr. Nowell, one of the senior prebendaries, performed the funeral ceremony in the presence of the whole chapter (Heylyn, Exam. Hist. 1651, p. 74).
Price's nephew, William Lewis (1592–1667) [q. v.], master of the hospital of St. Cross, was his general legatee.
[Gale's Antiq. of Winchester, p. 121; Laud's Troubles and Trials; Wood's Fasti, i. 358 sq.; Foster's Alumni; Rymer's Fœdera, xvii. 358; Hacket's Scrinia Reserata; Fuller's Church History, vi. 319; Notes and Queries 8th ser. x. 111.]