ARUNDEL, Thomas [1353-1414] -- English prelate, Archbishop

He was involved with his brother ¤Richard FitzAlan, Earl of Arundel, in the struggle between ¤Richard II and Parliament. As bishop of Ely (1374-88), he was instrumental in inducing rhe king to submit to Parliament, which set up a council of regency (that included his brother), made Thomas chancellor in 1386, and imposed sentences of treason on the king's advisors. He became archbishop of York in 1388. Declaring himself of age, the king deprived Thomas of the chancellorship in 1389, and later (1397) secured his impeachment and banishment for complicity in the regency of 1386. A year before this happened, Thomas had been made archbishop of Canterbury, but his occupancy of this office was now interrupted. Returning with ¤Henry [Bolingbroke] of Lancaster in 1399, Thomas conspired with him to prevent ¤Richard's escape, crowned him Henry IV, was restored by him to Canterbury and the chancellorship (1399, 1407, 1412). He played a chief role in the execution of Sir John Oldcastle and other Lollards. NCCN