Thomas Langley

Thomas Langley (c. 1363 – 20 November 1437) was an English prelate who held high ecclesiastical and political offices in the early to mid-15th century. He was Dean of York, Bishop of Durham, twice Lord Chancellor of England to three kings, and a Pseudocardinal. In turn Keeper of the King's signet and Keeper of the Privy Seal before becoming de facto England's first Foreign Secretary. He was the second longest serving Chancellor of the Middle Ages.

Life

Langley was born in Middleton, Lancashire, the third son of Alice and William Langley. In 1375 he was sent to St Mary's Abbey, Thetford, a feeder for Corpus Christi in Cambridge. Langley attended this college until it was ransacked and destroyed by poll tax rioters on 15 June 1381.

Langley returned to Middleton and in 1385 he was appointed rector of Radcliffe and collated as Archdeacon of Norfolk in 1399. In 1401 he was appointed Dean of York, but the appointment was blocked by Pope Boniface IX because of Langley's part in the deposition and murder of Richard II. In 1401 he was given custody of the privy seal, which office he held until 1405.

Thomas Langley (disambiguation)

Thomas Langley (c. 1363–1437) was an English catholic bishop.

Thomas Langley is also the name of:

Thomas Langley (priest)

Thomas Langley (died 1581) was an English churchman and canon of Winchester Cathedral.

Life

Langley was educated at Jesus College, Cambridge, graduating B.A. in 1537–8. He was chaplain to Archbishop Cranmer, and vicar of Headcorn, Kent, in 1548, and may be identical with the Thomas Langley, Protestant reformer and exile, who was admitted into the English church and congregation at Geneva in 1556. Langley was rector of Boughton Malherbe, Kent, from 1557 to 6 October 1559, when Queen Elizabeth presented him to a canonry at Winchester. He was installed on 15 October following. On 7 December 1559 he was presented by the crown to the rectory of Welford, Berkshire.

After twelve years' study he was admitted B.D. at Oxford on 15 July 1560, without having previously taken his master's degree. In 1563 Langley was instituted to the vicarage of Wanborough, Wiltshire, on the presentation of the dean and chapter of Winchester, and held this license until his death, which took place before 31 December 1581. In his will, dated 22 December 1581, and proved 30 January 1582, he expresses a wish to be buried in the chancel of Wanborough Church.