Thomas Cranley

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Thomas Cranley, Archbishop of Dublin, 1397-1417: from his brass at New College, Oxford. Showing the archepiscopal mass-vestments and the cross and pall. Date, about 1400

Thomas Cranley

Archbishop of Dublin and Lord Chancellor of Ireland
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Early career

He was born in England about 1340; little seems to be known about his family. He entered the

Chancellor of the University of Oxford in 1390.[3] He was a Doctor of Divinity and a judge.[4]

Irish career

In 1397, on the death of

Mayor of Dublin 40 marks in 1402.[6] On the other hand there is no doubt that Crown revenue in Ireland was at a very low ebb, which contributed to the weakening of English rule in Ireland through the early fifteenth century.[7]

The pressure of official business, combined with the effects of ill health and old age, made Cranley increasingly unfit to perform his duties, and in his later years the functions of the Chancellor were usually carried out by his deputies, first

Anglo-Irish suffered one of their worst military defeats of the era, when they were crushed by O'Connor Fahy and his army in County Offaly.[7]

He became prebendary of Clonmethan in north County Dublin in 1410: in 1414 he was sued by the Crown for recovery of the profits of the prebend for the previous two years, on the grounds that he had been an absentee prebend, but the lawsuit was dismissed when Cranley produced the King's letters patent authorising his absence.[9]

Death

In 1417 he was asked to present a memorial on the state of Ireland, which was highly critical of Lord Shrewsbury's record as Lord Lieutenant, to the English Crown. He reached England, but he was an old man even by modern standards, and in frail health. The journey proved to be too much for his constitution, and he died at Faringdon in Oxfordshire on 25 May. He was buried in New College, Oxford: his memorial brass survives, and the inscription on his tomb hails him as "the flower of prelates".[3]

Appearance and character

Early historians praised Cranley for both his mental and physical qualities: "thou art fair beyond the children of men, grace is diffused through thy lips because of thine eloquence" wrote one particularly eloquent admirer. He was described as tall and commanding in appearance, with fair hair and a ruddy complexion; his personality was witty, eloquent and learned. As a cleric, he was described as charitable to the poor, a notable preacher and a great builder of churches.[5] The Parliament of Ireland in 1421 praised him as the model of what a good chief governor should be.[10]

References

  1. ISBN 0-333-39917-X
    .
  2. ^ Salter, H. E.; Lobel, Mary D., eds. (1954). "New College". A History of the County of Oxford. Vol. 3: The University of Oxford. Victoria County History. pp. 144–162.
  3. ^ a b Ball, F. Elrington (1926). The Judges in Ireland 1221–1921. London: John Murray.
  4. ^ Wood, Anthony (1790). "Fasti Oxonienses". The History and Antiquities of the Colleges and Halls in the University of Oxford. p. 33 – via Internet Archive.
  5. ^ a b O'Flanagan, J. Roderick (1870). Lives of the Lord Chancellors and Keepers of the Great Seal in Ireland. Vol. Two volumes. London.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  6. ^ Calendar of Irish Chancery letters c.1244-1509 20 November 1402
  7. ^ a b Otway-Ruthven, A.J. History of Medieval Ireland New York Barnes and Noble reissue 1993 pp.343-8
  8. ^ a b Jones, Ranulph Lost and found: a missing Exchequer issue Roll of 1414 rediscovered Published by the Virtual Record Treasury of Ireland
  9. ^ John D'Alton History of the County of Dublin 1838 Hodges and Smith
  10. ^ Beresford, David "Cranley, Thomas" Dictionary of Irish Biography Cambridge University Press
Catholic Church titles
Preceded by
Archbishop of Dublin

1397–1417 		Succeeded by
Academic offices
Preceded by Wardens of New College, Oxford
1389–1396 		Succeeded by
Preceded by
Chancellor of the University of Oxford

1390–1391 		Succeeded by
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