Thomas Chase

Thomas Chase, or Chace (died 1449) was a 15th-century judge, scholar and cleric who was Chancellor of the University of Oxford, and subsequently held the office of Lord Chancellor of Ireland.

He was Master of Balliol College from 1412 to at least 1416, possibly until 1422, and did much to fund the new college library, donating books and money to it. He took his degree in theology from Balliol. He was Chancellor of St Paul's Cathedral from 1423 till his death.

Chase was Warden of the Hospital of St Bartholomew near Rye in 1420 and was subsequently attached to ee chapel at Jesmond near Newcastle. In politics, he was a supporter of Humphrey, the "Good Duke of Gloucester", and served as one of his chaplains; the Duke however was unable to secure a bishopric for him. He was Chancellor of the University of Oxford from 1426 until 1431, Chase, perhaps intimidated by the Archbishop's formidable personality (Talbot was not above physically assaulting his opponents), seems to have meekly returned to England, until such time as Archbishop Talbot was willing to surrender his office. In the interval he made vigorous but unsuccessful efforts to become Bishop of Meath.

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 full and effectual response under the Privy Seal of England".

200 px|St Mary, High Ongar St Mary, High Ongar- Chace spent his last years as vicar here.