Thomas Morley, 5th Baron Morley (1393–1435) was an English landowner, soldier, administrator and politician.

Origins

Born about 1394, he was the son of Robert Morley (died before 1403) and his wife Isabel, said to be the daughter of Sir William Moleyns (died 1381) and his wife Margaret Bacon (died 1399). His paternal grandparents were Thomas Morley, 4th Baron Morley, and his first wife Joan (died 1384).

Career

Inheriting his grandfather's lands and title as Marshal of Ireland in 1416, he joined the English army of King

Henry V Henry V may refer to: People * Henry V, Duke of Bavaria (died 1026) * Henry V, Holy Roman Emperor (1081/86–1125) * Henry V, Duke of Carinthia (died 1161) * Henry V, Count Palatine of the Rhine (–1227) * Henry V, Count of Luxembourg (1216–1281 ...

that was fighting in

France France, officially the French Republic, is a country located primarily in Western Europe. Overseas France, Its overseas regions and territories include French Guiana in South America, Saint Pierre and Miquelon in the Atlantic Ocean#North Atlan ...

and took part in the battles at

Rouen Rouen (, ; or ) is a city on the River Seine, in northwestern France. It is in the prefecture of Regions of France, region of Normandy (administrative region), Normandy and the Departments of France, department of Seine-Maritime. Formerly one ...

in 1418,

Melun Melun () is a commune in the Seine-et-Marne department in the Île-de-France region, north-central France. It is located on the southeastern outskirts of Paris, about from the centre of the capital. Melun is the prefecture of Seine-et-Marne, ...

in 1420 and

Meaux Meaux () is a Communes of France, commune on the river Marne (river), Marne in the Seine-et-Marne Departments of France, department in the Île-de-France Regions of France, region in the Functional area (France), metropolitan area of Paris, Franc ...

in 1421, commanding a force of ten

men-at-arms A man-at-arms was a soldier of the High Medieval to Renaissance periods who was typically well-versed in the use of arms and served as a fully-armoured heavy cavalryman. A man-at-arms could be a knight, or other nobleman, a member of a kni ...

and thirty

archers Archery is the sport, practice, or skill of using a Bow and arrow, bow to shooting, shoot arrows.Paterson ''Encyclopaedia of Archery'' p. 17 The word comes from the Latin ''arcus'', meaning bow. Historically, archery has been used for hunting ...

. In that year he was appointed to the Privy Council and was with the king at his death in 1422, being one of the banner bearers at his funeral rites at

Paris Paris () is the Capital city, capital and List of communes in France with over 20,000 inhabitants, largest city of France. With an estimated population of 2,048,472 residents in January 2025 in an area of more than , Paris is the List of ci ...

and then at

Westminster Westminster is the main settlement of the City of Westminster in Central London, Central London, England. It extends from the River Thames to Oxford Street and has many famous landmarks, including the Palace of Westminster, Buckingham Palace, ...

. After inheriting the lands of his step-grandmother in 1427, he was summoned to sit as Baron Morley in

Parliament In modern politics and history, a parliament is a legislative body of government. Generally, a modern parliament has three functions: Representation (politics), representing the Election#Suffrage, electorate, making laws, and overseeing ...

for the rest of his life. Returning to the war in France in 1429, he died on 6 December 1435 and was buried at

Hingham, Norfolk Hingham is a market town and civil parish in mid-Norfolk, England. The civil parish covers an area of and had a population of 2,078 in 944 households at the time of the 2001 United Kingdom census, 2001 census, increasing to 2,367 at the 2011 ce ...

Family

On or before 5 February 1403 he was married to Isabel de la Pole, daughter of

Michael de la Pole, 2nd Earl of Suffolk Michael de la Pole, 2nd Earl of Suffolk (1367 – 17 September 1415) was an English nobleman who supported Henry IV (reigned 1399–1413) against Richard II (reigned 1377–1399) during the turmoils of the late 14th century. He died during ...

, and his wife Catherine Stafford, daughter of Hugh Stafford, 2nd Earl of Stafford , and his wife Philippa Beauchamp. Their children included: *Anne Morley (about 1413–1471), who after 21 April 1434 married John Hastings (about 1410 - 1477), constable of

Norwich Castle Norwich Castle is a medieval royal fortification in the city of Norwich, in the English county of Norfolk. William the Conqueror (1066–1087) ordered its construction in the aftermath of the Norman Conquest of England. The castle was used as a ...

in 1441 and sheriff of Norfolk from 1474 to 1475, and had seven children. *

Robert Morley Robert Adolph Wilton Morley (26 May 1908 – 3 June 1992) was an English actor who enjoyed a lengthy career in both Britain and the United States. He was frequently cast as a pompous English gentleman representing the Establishment, often in ...

(1418 – 1443), who succeeded his father as 6th Baron Morley. *Elizabeth Morley, who was the first wife of Sir John Arundell, of Lanherne in

Cornwall Cornwall (; or ) is a Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county in South West England. It is also one of the Celtic nations and the homeland of the Cornish people. The county is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, ...

, and had one daughter. His widow died on 8 February 1467 and her will was proved on 27 February 1467. In it she mentions her daughter Anne, married to John Hastings in whose house in Norwich she was living when she made her will on 3 May 1463. Her accounts for that year mention spending three pounds to have her husband's tomb at Hingham painted.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Morley, Thomas, 5th Baron 1393 births 1435 deaths People of the Hundred Years' War People from Norfolk Barons Morley 15th-century English landowners