Thomas Gascoigne

1403-1458. English theologian. Son of the lord of the manor of Hunslet, he was educated at Oriel College, Oxford, where he spent the rest of his life, refusing outside appointments and often appearing as either the chancellor or vice-chancellor of the university. Wealthy and somewhat conceited, Gascoigne was a strong defender of the established order in church and state, and a foe of Lollardy. He was, however, very concerned about current abuses in the church, especially pluralism and monastic decline, and his Dictionarium Theologicum (written between 1431 and 1457) is, theological interest apart, a highly personal guide to the affairs of the English Church and government and to the Oxford of his day.