ARUNDEL, THOMAS (1353-1414). Arch bishop of Canterbury in the reigns of Richard II.. Henry IV., and Henry V. He was horn in Arundel Castle, Sussex, the present seat of the Dukes of Norfolk,and was the third son of Robert Fitz-Alan, Earl of Arundel and Warren. Ile be came Archdeacon of Taunton 1373) by the Pope's appointment, and Bishop of Ely, in August of the same year. In 138S, he was, by the same authority, transferred to the archiepiscopal see of York. Ile was Lord High Chancellor of Eng land from 1386 to t389, and from 1391 to 1396. In 1396 he was promoted by a Papal bull to the archiepiscopal see of Canterbury. Having been banished the kingdom (1397) for taking a lead ing part in the first attempt which was made to deliver the nation from the oppression of Richard 11., he was honorably received at Rome, and at first favored by the Pope, Bonifaee IX. (1389-1404), but prejudiced by the representa tions of Richard 11., he deprived him of his see and transferred him to Saint. Andrews in Scot land. He did not return till 1399, and then was
reinstated at Canterbury. lie crowned Henry 1V. October, 1399, and served as his lord chan cello• for a few days, again in 1407 and 1412. He was conscientiously a bitter persecutor of the Lollards, the followers of Wiclif, and a ehief instrument in procuring the horrible act for the burning of heretics (dr herrtieo eondotrendn). passed in the reign of Henry 1V. (14011. He even carried his bigotry so far as to solicit from the Pope a hull for digging up Wiclies hones, which, however, was wisely refused him. He also procured a synodal constitution, which .forbade the translation of the Scriptures into the vulgar tongue. Among others whom he caused to be convicted of heresy was Lord Cobham, one of the principal patrons of the new sect, at the com mencement of the reign of Henry V.. whose exe eution, however• did not take place till 1417. He died at Canterbury, February 19, 1414.