Thomas Vane
Encyclopedia
Thomas Vane was an English
priest
who, having been appointed Chaplain Extraordinary
to King Charles I
, later converted to Roman Catholicism.
. He matriculated
at Jesus College, Oxford
on 26 April 1616, aged 16, then transferred to Christ's College, Cambridge
(B.A
1620, M.A. 1623, D.D.
1640). Having taken Anglican orders when he was ordained deacon and priest in Peterborough
in April 1621, he was made chaplain extraordinary to Charles I and rector
of Crayford
in 1626. On becoming a Catholic, he resigned these preferments, and went with his wife to Paris, where he practised as a physician, taking the degree of M.D. there or at some other foreign university. At Paris he wrote an account of his conversion, the preface being dated 4 August 1642, which was published in 1643 under the title, A Lost Sheep returned Home: or the Motives of the Conversion of Thomas Vane. It was dedicated to Charles's Catholic queen, Henrietta Maria
. This book ran through several editions and was answered by the Anglican writer Edward Chisenhall (1653). He also wrote An answer to a libell written by D. Cosens against the great Generall Councell of Laterane under Pope Innocent III (Paris, 1646), and Wisdome and Innocence or Prudence and Simplicity in the examples of the Serpent and the Dove, propounded by our Lord (s.l. 1652).
The date and place of Vane's death are unknown.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
priest
Priest
A priest is a person authorized to perform the sacred rites of a religion, especially as a mediatory agent between humans and deities. They also have the authority or power to administer religious rites; in particular, rites of sacrifice to, and propitiation of, a deity or deities...
who, having been appointed Chaplain Extraordinary
Chaplain Extraordinary
Past holders of the office of Chaplain Extraordinary to the Crown have included Henry Ferne, Thomas Fuller, Thomas Vane and Eric James....
to King Charles I
Charles I of England
Charles I was King of England, King of Scotland, and King of Ireland from 27 March 1625 until his execution in 1649. Charles engaged in a struggle for power with the Parliament of England, attempting to obtain royal revenue whilst Parliament sought to curb his Royal prerogative which Charles...
, later converted to Roman Catholicism.
Life
Vane was born in KentKent
Kent is a county in southeast England, and is one of the home counties. It borders East Sussex, Surrey and Greater London and has a defined boundary with Essex in the middle of the Thames Estuary. The ceremonial county boundaries of Kent include the shire county of Kent and the unitary borough of...
. He matriculated
Matriculation
Matriculation, in the broadest sense, means to be registered or added to a list, from the Latin matricula – little list. In Scottish heraldry, for instance, a matriculation is a registration of armorial bearings...
at Jesus College, Oxford
Jesus College, Oxford
Jesus College is one of the colleges of the University of Oxford in England. It is in the centre of the city, on a site between Turl Street, Ship Street, Cornmarket Street and Market Street...
on 26 April 1616, aged 16, then transferred to Christ's College, Cambridge
Christ's College, Cambridge
Christ's College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge.With a reputation for high academic standards, Christ's College averaged top place in the Tompkins Table from 1980-2000 . In 2011, Christ's was placed sixth.-College history:...
(B.A
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
1620, M.A. 1623, D.D.
Doctor of Divinity
Doctor of Divinity is an advanced academic degree in divinity. Historically, it identified one who had been licensed by a university to teach Christian theology or related religious subjects....
1640). Having taken Anglican orders when he was ordained deacon and priest in Peterborough
Peterborough
Peterborough is a cathedral city and unitary authority area in the East of England, with an estimated population of in June 2007. For ceremonial purposes it is in the county of Cambridgeshire. Situated north of London, the city stands on the River Nene which flows into the North Sea...
in April 1621, he was made chaplain extraordinary to Charles I and rector
Rector
The word rector has a number of different meanings; it is widely used to refer to an academic, religious or political administrator...
of Crayford
Crayford
Crayford is a town and electoral ward in the London Borough of Bexley that was an important bridging point in Roman times across the River Cray, a tributary of the River Darent, which is itself a tributary of the River Thames.-History:...
in 1626. On becoming a Catholic, he resigned these preferments, and went with his wife to Paris, where he practised as a physician, taking the degree of M.D. there or at some other foreign university. At Paris he wrote an account of his conversion, the preface being dated 4 August 1642, which was published in 1643 under the title, A Lost Sheep returned Home: or the Motives of the Conversion of Thomas Vane. It was dedicated to Charles's Catholic queen, Henrietta Maria
Henrietta Maria of France
Henrietta Maria of France ; was the Queen consort of England, Scotland and Ireland as the wife of King Charles I...
. This book ran through several editions and was answered by the Anglican writer Edward Chisenhall (1653). He also wrote An answer to a libell written by D. Cosens against the great Generall Councell of Laterane under Pope Innocent III (Paris, 1646), and Wisdome and Innocence or Prudence and Simplicity in the examples of the Serpent and the Dove, propounded by our Lord (s.l. 1652).
The date and place of Vane's death are unknown.