Thomas Cranley

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Thomas Cranley DD (aka Craule; c.1337–1417) was a leading statesman and cleric in early 15th-century Ireland, who held the offices of Chancellor of Oxford University,^[1] Archbishop of Dublin and Lord Chancellor of Ireland.

Early career

He was born in England about 1337, entered the Carmelite order, is recorded as a Fellow of Merton College, Oxford, in 1366, became Warden of New College in 1389^[2] and Chancellor of the University of Oxford in 1390.^[3] He was a Doctor of Divinity and judge.^[4]

Irish career

In 1397, on the death of Richard Northalis, he was made Archbishop of Dublin and arrived in Ireland the following year. After the accession of King Henry IV, he undertook a mission on his behalf to Rome before being made Lord Chancellor of Ireland in 1401. When Henry's son Thomas, Duke of Clarence, was made Lord Deputy Cranley was appointed to his council. A letter he sent to the King around the end of 1402 paints a grim picture of English rule in Ireland. Cranley assures the King of his absolute loyalty and duty to both the King and his son, but implores the King to send money and aid since "your son is so destitute of money that he has not a penny in the world ... and his soldiers have departed from him, and the people of his household are on the point of leaving."^[5] The King, who was generally short of money, is not known to have responded.

Pressure of business, ill health and old age made Cranley increasingly unable to perform his duties, and the office of Chancellor was carried out by deputies, first Thomas de Everdon, then Laurence Merbury. Cranley resigned in 1410, but in 1413 the new King Henry V reappointed him Chancellor. This is a tribute to the high regard in which the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, the Earl of Shrewsbury, held him; he also acted as Justiciar of Ireland. In 1417 he was asked to present a memorial on the state of Ireland to the Crown; he reached England, but died at Faringdon in Berkshire on 25 May. He was buried in New College, Oxford: the inscription on his tomb hails him as "the flower of prelates".^[3]

Appearance and character

Early historians praised Cranley for both mental and physical qualities: "thou art fair beyond the children of men, grace is diffused through thy lips because of thine eloquence". He is described as tall and commanding in appearance with fair hair and a ruddy complexion, witty, eloquent and learned. As a cleric, he was described as charitable, a notable preacher and a great builder of churches.^[5]

References

↑ Hibbert, Christopher, ed. (1988). "Appendix 5: Chancellors of the University". The Encyclopaedia of Oxford. Macmillan. pp. 521–522. ISBN 0-333-39917-X.
↑ Salter, H. E. and Lobel, Mary D., ed. (1954). "New College". A History of the County of Oxford. Volume 3: The University of Oxford. Victoria County History. pp. 144–162.
↑ 3.0 3.1 Ball, F. Elrington (1926). The Judges in Ireland 1221–1921. London: John Murray.
↑ Wood, Anthony (1790). "Fasti Oxonienses". The History and Antiquities of the Colleges and Halls in the University of Oxford. Google Books. p. 33.
↑ 5.0 5.1 O'Flanagan, J. Roderick (1870). Lives of the Lord Chancellors and Keepers of the Great Seal in Ireland. Two volumes. London.

v t e Pre-Reformation Bishops and Archbishops of Dublin

Bishops	Dúnán Gilla Pátraic Donngus Ua hAingliu Samuel Ua hAingliu Gréne

Archbishops	Gréne Lorcán Ua Tuathail John Comyn Henry de Loundres Luke Fulk Basset John de Derlington John de Sandford William Houghton Richard de Ferings John de Leche Alexander de Bicknor John de St Paul Thomas Minot Robert Wikeford Robert Waldby Richard Northalis Thomas Cranley Richard Talbot Michael Tregury John Walton Walter Fitzsimon William Rokeby Hugh Inge John Alen

Academic offices
Preceded by Nicholas Wykeham	Wardens of New College, Oxford 1389–1396	Succeeded by Richard Malford
Preceded by Thomas Brightwell	Chancellor of the University of Oxford 1390-1391	Succeeded by Robert Rygge

Persondata
Name	Cranley, Thomas
Alternative names	Craule, Thomas
Short description	Academic administrator, archbishop
Date of birth	c.1337
Place of birth	England
Date of death	25 May 1417
Place of death	Faringdon, Berkshire, England

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