Thomas Chase
Thomas Chase (died 1449) was a 15th century judge and cleric who was Chancellor of the University of Oxford in England and subsequently held the office of Lord Chancellor of Ireland.
Chase was Warden of the Hospital of St Bartholomew near Rye in 1420 and subsequently attached to the free chapel at Jesmond near Newcastle. In politics he was a supporter of the Duke of Gloucester, and served as one of his chaplains.[1] He was Chancellor of the University of Oxford from 1426 until 1431, and Lord Chancellor of Ireland from 1441 until 1446. Due to the more than usually turbulent conditions in Ireland, which was wracked by the feud between the Butler and Talbot factions, he was urged not to leave the country unless strictly necessary and to hurry back as soon as possible.[2]
Although described as a man of great learning, [3]unlike most holders of high office at the time he never became a bishop, but rather spent his last years as parson of High Ongar in Essex.[4]
As Lord Chancellor he is mainly remembered for his petition to the Privy Council that Irish law students seeking admission to the Inns of Court in London should receive equal treatment with their English colleagues, to which the Council returned a favourable response.[5]
St.Mary, High Ongar
References [edit]
- ^ Griffiths, Ralph A. The Reign of Henry VI- the Exercise of Royal Authority Ernest Benn Ltd. 1981 p.413
- ^ Griffiths p.413
- ^ Griffiths p.413
- ^ Ball F. Elrington, The Judges in Ireland 1221–1921. John Murray, London, 1926.
- ^ Kenny, Colum The King's Inns and the Kingdom of Ireland Irish Academic Press Dublin 1992 p.19
| Academic offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by John Castell |
Chancellor of the University of Oxford 1426–1431 |
Succeeded by Gilbert Kymer |
| Government offices | ||
| Preceded by Richard Talbot |
Lord Chancellor of Ireland 1441–1446 |
Succeeded by Richard Wogan |
