Background
He was born around 1583, eighth son of John Ryves of Damory Court, near Blandford, Dorset and Elizabeth Mervyn.
He was born around 1583, eighth son of John Ryves of Damory Court, near Blandford, Dorset and Elizabeth Mervyn.
He took his degree of Bachelor of Common Law in 1605 and his doctorate in 1610. He is also said to have studied for a time in France.
Ryves entered Winchester College in 1590 and became a fellow of New College, Oxford in 1598. In 1612 he became an advocate of Doctors" Commons. In 1612 Thomas accompanied Davies on his return to Ireland and did "good service" in helping him manage the Irish Parliament of 1613-1615, where after a fierce struggle Davies was elected Speaker of the House of Commons.
In 1617 Thomas became judge of the Irish Court of Faculties, but became embroiled in a long dispute with James Ussher, Archbishop of Armagh, and other leading clerics who argued that only a minister in holy orders should hold the office.
Although Thomas is said to have been greatly respected in Ireland for his legal ability, he eventually resigned the office and returned to England in 1621. Ryves built up a large practice in the English Admiralty Court, and was made King"s Advocate in 1625.
In 1626 he became a master of the Court of Requests. In 1636 he became the Admiralty judge for Dover, and later judge for the Cinque Ports.
On the outbreak of the English Civil War he joined the King, and despite his age is said to have fought with great courage in several battles and been wounded.
In 1648 the King chose him as one of his commissioners to negotiate with Parliament. He died in London early in 1652 and was buried in Saint Clement Danes. Ryves was renowned for his knowledge of both civil law and common law, his wider learning and his skill in Latin.
He enjoyed the trust and confidence of King Charles I, and displayed courage and loyalty to the Crown in his later years.
Although Archbishop Ussher apparently disliked and distrusted him.
He was a member of a Dorsetshire gentry family, who became a specialist in ecclesiastical law and Admiralty law.