ARUNDEL, Thomas, archbishop of Canterbury, born in 1353, was the second son of Robert, Earl of Arundel and Warren. At 22 years of age he was raised to the bishopric of Ely, to the church and palace of which he was a great benefactor. In 1386 he was appointed lord chancellor of England; two years after he was translated to the see of York, and in 1396 was advanced to the primacy of Canterbury, when he resigned the chancellorship. This was the first instance of the translation of an archbishop of York to the see of Canterbury. Scarcely was he fixed in this see, when he had a contest with the university of Oxford about the right of visitation. The affair was referred to the king, Richard II, who determined it in favour of the archbishop. At his visitation in London, he revived an old constitution, by which the inhabitants of the respective parishes were obliged to pay to their rector one halfpenny in the pound out of the rent of their houses. In 1398, in the parliament held at London, the Commons, with the king's leave, impeached the archbishop, together with his brother Richard Earl of Arundel, and the Duke of Gloucester, of high treason. He was sentenced to be banished, and within forty days to depart the kingdom on pain of death. He retired, first to France, and then to the Court of Rome, where Pope Boniface IX. gave him a kind reception, and nominated him to the Scottish archbishopric of St Andrews. He was engaged in the plot to depose Richard, and place the Duke of Lancaster on the throne; and returning to England along with him, he was restored to his see on Henry's accession. Two years after, the Commons moved that the revenues of the church might be applied to the public service; but Arundel opposed the measure with such vigour that it was thrown aside. In the year 1408 his zeal for the suppression of heresy was directed against the followers of Wickliffe. The most eminent victim of his persecution was Sir John Oldcastle, Lord Cobham. He also procured a synodical constitution, which prohibited the translation of the Scriptures into the vulgar tongue. This prelate died at Canterbury on the 20th February 1413, of an inflammation in his throat, with which he was seized, as affirmed by the Lollards, while pronouncing sentence upon Lord Cobham.