Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Baily, Thomas
BAILY, THOMAS, D.D. (d. 1591), catholic divine, was a native of Yorkshire, and studied at Clare Hall, Cambridge, where he proceeded B.A. in 1546. Soon afterwards he became a fellow of that house, and in 1549 he commenced M. A. In 1554 he served the office of proctor, and in the following year subscribed the Roman catholic articles. He was appointed master of Clare Hall probably about November 1557. When Queen Elizabeth succeeded to the throne, he refused to comply with the change in religion; and on being deprived of his mastership he went to Louvain, where he was admitted D.D. He remained there till January 1576, when he removed to Douay on the invitation of Dr. (afterwards Cardinal) Allen, who employed him in the government of the English College, both at Douay and Rheims. In Allen's absence he was usually appointed regent of the college. He had the chief hand in managing the temporalities of the college, while Dr. Bristow regulated the schools, and Dr. Allen himself inspected discipline. Dodd remarks that 'the college was very prosperous under this triumvirate; but as a nation quickly finds the loss of a zealous and able ministry, so it happened to the English College, which, upon their decease, was oppressed with debts and divided by parties.' Dr. Baily, who was succeeded in the vice-presidency of the college by Dr. Worthington, became a prebendary of Cambray when Allen was advanced to the dignity of cardinal in 1587. He died at Douay 7 Oct. 1591.
[Dodd's Church Hist. ii. 46, 58, 382; Diaries of the English College, Douay (index, under 'Bayley'); Letters and Memorials of Cardinal Allen (index, under 'Bayly'); Cooper's Athenæ Cantab, ii. 108, 545; Lamb's Collection of Letters, Statutes, and other Documents, 175; MS. Addit 5863, f. 135 b.]