History of Italy
Thomas was a shrewd observer of men and affairs, but, according to Wood, had a "hot fiery spirit", which was probably the cause of most of his troubles. He was certainly "one of the most learned of his time". His Italian grammar and dictionary were the first works of the kind published in English, while his "History of Italy" was formerly held in the highest esteem for its comprehensive account of the chief Italian states. All his works are remarkable for their methodical arrangement, his style is always lucid, and his English shows "much better orthography than that current at a later period".