Hugh Inge
Encyclopedia
Hugh Inge or Ynge was an English born judge and prelate in sixteenth century Ireland who held the offices of Bishop of Meath
, Archbishop of Dublin
and Lord Chancellor of Ireland
.
He was born at Shepton Mallet
in Somerset
. His parents are said to have destined him for the Church from an early age. He was educated at Winchester College
and became a fellow of New College
, Oxford in 1484 and a doctor of divinity in 1511. After traveling on the Continent he became attached to the household of the Bishop of Bath and Wells
and went with him to Rome in 1504. He came to the notice of Thomas Wolsey and later admitted that he owed Wolsey everything he enjoyed.
In 1512 through Wolsey's influence he was made Bishop of Meath. There may have been a later estrangement since in 1514 he wrote to Wolsey imploring him not to cast him away. In fact Inge followed the same career path as William Rokeby
and succeeded him both as Archbishop of Dublin and Lord Chancellor of Ireland. He was a popular and respected figure in Ireland and enjoyed the friendship of the Earl of Kildare.
In 1528 the fifth and most severe epidemic of sweating sickness
swept through England and Ireland and Inge was among its victims: he died on 3 August and was buried in St. Patrick's Cathedral.
O'Flanagan praises him as a judge noted for honesty, good sense and justice; though his recorded judgements are few, they carried great weight.
Bishop of Meath
The Bishop of Meath is an episcopal title which takes its name after the ancient Kingdom of Meath. In the Roman Catholic Church it remains as a separate title, but in the Church of Ireland it has been united with another bishopric.-History:...
, Archbishop of Dublin
Archbishop of Dublin
The Archbishop of Dublin may refer to:* Archbishop of Dublin – an article which lists of pre- and post-Reformation archbishops.* Archbishop of Dublin – the title of the senior cleric who presides over the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Dublin....
and Lord Chancellor of Ireland
Lord Chancellor of Ireland
The office of Lord Chancellor of Ireland was the highest judicial office in Ireland until the establishment of the Irish Free State in 1922. From 1721 to 1801 it was also the highest political office of the Irish Parliament.-13th century:...
.
He was born at Shepton Mallet
Shepton Mallet
Shepton Mallet is a small rural town and civil parish in the Mendip district of Somerset in South West England. Situated approximately south of Bristol and east of Wells, the town is estimated to have a population of 9,700. It contains the administrative headquarters of Mendip District Council...
in Somerset
Somerset
The ceremonial and non-metropolitan county of Somerset in South West England borders Bristol and Gloucestershire to the north, Wiltshire to the east, Dorset to the south-east, and Devon to the south-west. It is partly bounded to the north and west by the Bristol Channel and the estuary of the...
. His parents are said to have destined him for the Church from an early age. He was educated at Winchester College
Winchester College
Winchester College is an independent school for boys in the British public school tradition, situated in Winchester, Hampshire, the former capital of England. It has existed in its present location for over 600 years and claims the longest unbroken history of any school in England...
and became a fellow of New College
New College
-United Kingdom:* North East Worcestershire College Redditch and Bromsgrove* New College Durham, County Durham* New College, Edinburgh, Edinburgh* New College London, St John's Wood, London* New College Nottingham, Nottingham...
, Oxford in 1484 and a doctor of divinity in 1511. After traveling on the Continent he became attached to the household of the Bishop of Bath and Wells
Bishop of Bath and Wells
The Bishop of Bath and Wells heads the Church of England Diocese of Bath and Wells in the Province of Canterbury in England.The present diocese covers the vast majority of the county of Somerset and a small area of Dorset. The Episcopal seat is located in the Cathedral Church of Saint Andrew in...
and went with him to Rome in 1504. He came to the notice of Thomas Wolsey and later admitted that he owed Wolsey everything he enjoyed.
In 1512 through Wolsey's influence he was made Bishop of Meath. There may have been a later estrangement since in 1514 he wrote to Wolsey imploring him not to cast him away. In fact Inge followed the same career path as William Rokeby
William Rokeby
William Rokeby was a leading statesman and cleric in early sixteenth-century Ireland, who held the offices of Bishop of Meath, Archbishop of Dublin and Lord Chancellor of Ireland...
and succeeded him both as Archbishop of Dublin and Lord Chancellor of Ireland. He was a popular and respected figure in Ireland and enjoyed the friendship of the Earl of Kildare.
In 1528 the fifth and most severe epidemic of sweating sickness
Sweating sickness
Sweating sickness, also known as "English sweating sickness" or "English sweate" , was a mysterious and highly virulent disease that struck England, and later continental Europe, in a series of epidemics beginning in 1485. The last outbreak occurred in 1551, after which the disease apparently...
swept through England and Ireland and Inge was among its victims: he died on 3 August and was buried in St. Patrick's Cathedral.
O'Flanagan praises him as a judge noted for honesty, good sense and justice; though his recorded judgements are few, they carried great weight.