Sir Robert Thomas, 2nd Baronet

Sir Robert's political and economic fortunes were intertwined. His Whig/anti-Catholic politics seem to have originated in resentment for the poor treatment his family received as Royalists during the English Civil War and Interregnum.[14] (His father Sir Edward Thomas suffered financial hardship and become indebted, while his father-in-law Judge David Jenkins suffered physical and emotional hardship of being tried for sedition and imprisoned in the Tower of London for 7 years.) A second factor was rivalry between and within gentry families in Wales. Many gentry families, including the Thomases, had Catholics in their extended family.[15] These rivalries and conflicts formed along lines of religion, political power and intrigue, economic power, and personal dislikes. A third factor shaping his politics were friendships and alliances formed with prominent Whigs and anti-Catholics in Wales and in London, including John Arnold, Sir Trevor Williams, Ford, Lord Grey, and, later, Popish Plot conspirator Titus Oates. Though not on any published list, Robert Thomas was probably a member of the Green Ribbon Club. He became an ally (if not trusted friend) of the Whig leader Anthony, Earl of Shaftesbury.[14][15] In Shaftesbury's evaluation of allies and enemies (May 1677), he only rated Thomas as "worthy" rather than "doubly worthy" or "thrice worthy".[16] On top of these factors, Sir Robert's extremism was probably fueled by his dire financial condition in the 1670s and 1680s,[14][9] i.e. such political actions could be used against enemies and to curry favor with powerful friends.

In 1678-81 while a Member of Parliament, Sir Robert Thomas became embroiled in the anti-Catholic Popish Plot as an antagonist and accuser.[3]

Both in his home county of Glamorgan, Wales and in London, Sir Robert Thomas was a controversial person with a mixed reputation. He was described variously as a "royalist sufferer",[15] "unmannerly behaviour" towards King Charles II and the Duke of York,[3] a "dubious ally",[14] a political "extremist" of the Country Party/Whig and anti-Catholic sort,[9] an "isolated adventurer"[9] rather than a Party loyalist, and a wealthy business person with "no sense".[6]

Regarding positive traits, Robert Thomas was friends with prominent literary people in London, including writer and antiquarian John Aubrey, playwright Thomas Shadwell, and poet and satirist Samuel Butler. On 27 Sept. 1680 O.S. Sir Robert was one of 25 friends attending the funeral of Samuel Butler at St. Paul's Covent Garden, and was a pallbearer along with Aubrey and Shadwell.[17] Being a pallbearer is a notable act of friendship, in part because Butler "died in want"[17] (poverty) and was no longer a popular figure.

The following episodes convey some of his negative traits and relationships.

In 1671, his father Sir Edward Thomas, 1st Baronet, filed a petition with the House of Commons, complaining of "Miscarriages, Frauds and Abuses, committed by his said Son". Robert Thomas denied the allegations and claimed he was falsely accused. After a committee investigation, the House took no action.[18][19]

In 1677, Sir Edward Mansel of Margam, also an MP, wrote private notes on the gentry of Glamorgan, and it included the following entry[6] (spelling in original, clarification in square brackets):

A. Sir Robert Thomas of Languchangell, Baronett

B. [Estates] £1700 if cleare

C. Aged 55. A man of great business but no sence

D. [Inclination as to the government] Known in his country as well as abroad

E. [Wife, children] First, Judge Jenkins' daughter 1 sone 1 daughter -- Last, his own whore, 2 children

In c.1684, a poem by an unknown author lampooning the gentry of Glamorgan included the following stanza with Sir Robert Thomas as subject[9]

Sir Robert the ass

I will not let pass

But give the devil his due

He never was good

To the next of his blood

To his wife nor his king never true.

The lines "He never was good / To the next of his blood" apparently referred to the conflict he had with his father, mentioned above.

Jenkins, Phillip (1983), The Making of a Ruling Class: The Glamorgan Gentry 1640-1790, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

Naylor, Leonard (2020), "THOMAS, Robert (c.1622-aft.1684), of Cowbridge and Llanfihangel Plas, Glam.", History of Parliament Online. Retrieved 26 Dec. 2020

Thomas, Helen M. (1997) "Llanmihangel, near Cowbridge: A tale of family fortunes and misfortunes". Morgannwg Transactions of the Glamorgan Local History Society, Vol. 41, p. 8-37. Retrieved 26 Dec. 2020