[1] Allegedly the natural son of Sir Edward Stanley, of Hornby Castle, Lancashire,[1] on account of his bastardy, he obtained leave from the Pope to hold his preferments, especially the rectory of Wigan.
[2] After an interval of over a dozen years, he was restored to the see in 1556 then subsequently confirmed in the post by the Catholic Mary I of England and appointed by her Governor of the Isle of Man.
Notoriously absent, however, his neglect of his many responsibilities was commented on in a letter written by James Pilkington, Bishop of Durham, to Matthew Parker, Archbishop of Canterbury, in which he says, "The Bishop of Man, Thomas Stanley, liveth here at his ease as merry as Pope Joan.
In fact, he was only following the example of number of the beneficed clergy of his time who absented themselves from their livings that they might be more free to enjoy themselves.
He appears to have died in office in 1568 but details of his death, or burial place, are unknown and his successor was not appointed until 1569.