Thomas, Bishop of Dromore, editor of the well-known Reliques of Ancient English Poetry, was born of humble parents at Bridgenorth in Shropshire on the 13th of April 1728. He had his elementary education at the free school of his native town, and entered Christ Church, Oxford, as an exhibitioner in July 1746. On being presented to the vicarage of Easton-Mauduit in Northamptonshire, and to the rectory of Wilby in 1756, he commenced a career of faithful pastoral labour, relieved as often as leisure would permit by the cultivation of literature. In 1761 he came before the public with a translation from the Portuguese of a Chinese story in four volumes, entitled Han Kiong Choan. This performance was followed up by Chinese Proverbs, and a new version of Solomon's Song. In 1763 he published a translation into Latin prose of five pieces of Runic poetry, and the year following a Key to the New Testament. Percy had by this time formed an intimacy with the most eminent men of letters then in England. Samuel Johnson visited him at his vicarage in 1764, and spent three very happy months in the society of the learned ecclesiastic, then in eager pursuit of old heroic ballads and songs. It does not appear, however, that Johnson showed a very lively sympathy with those relics of ancient minstrelsy. Men of letters and professed antiquarians gave him their aid or encouragement; and "the last male descendant of the ancient house of Percy" gave "Otterbourne" and "Chevy Chase," and the rest of the famous Reliques, to the world in 1765. The greater part of this collection was taken from an ancient folio manuscript in the editor's possession, containing nearly 200 compositions of all times and dates, from the ages prior to Chaucer to the conclusion of the reign of Charles I. The Pepysian Library at Magdalen College, Cambridge, likewise furnished some valuable pieces. (See Pierts.) The reception given to these immortal ballads was at first by no means enthusiastic. Percy received 100 guineas for the first edition; and what was more substantial, was made chaplain in ordinary to the king in 1769, dean of Carlisle in 1778, and bishop of Dromore in 1782. In this Irish retreat, where a century before Jeremy Taylor had nursed his fine genius to a ripe maturity, Percy continued to prosecute his literary studies, to administer comfort to the poor, and spiritual consolation to all. In addition to the works of this elegant scholar already specified, he in 1770 printed the Northumberland Household Book, and a poem connected with the history of the family of Percy, written in imitation of the old ballad, and entitled The Hermit of Warwick. It was during the same year that his translation of Mallet's Northern Antiquities was given to the public. Interesting remains of Bishop Percy are still to be found in The Percy Correspondence, published by John Bowyer Nichols. His assiduous application to study, and especially to old manuscripts, cost Percy his eyesight. He had become quite blind before his death, which took place on the 30th of September 1811, in the 83rd year of his age.