I too am 1. researching Thomas Radcliffe,alleged Abbott of Rushen; and 2. confused by it all. I do find your conversations on this thread extremely interesting. All I can offer, in a meagre way, is some information I have found that has not actually been mentioned. If you are already aware of this,which I do suspect,please forgive me .... BUT do help me out with all this please. I have found a good contact in Richard Glanville Brown and his "Peerage.com" which does mention Thomas Radcliffe a few times ... obviously in his own right under his name but also in the text belonging to ..... Deemster William McCrystyn 1527-1568. where Thomas is mentioned as marrying one of the daughters. The citations to this seem to me as being reliable ... 1.Burkes Peerage,2. Richard Glanville Brown's own research and 3.a link to the Christian family(which I myself have proved as a link to my family through the Radcliffe and Callister families. ALSO in Dugdales Monasticon Anglicanum it is made mention of the piece of timber,found in Kirk Arbory,separating Church from Chancel, with Thomas Radcliff as Abbott.(Several mentions have been found regarding the wood,of which I have a copy. ALSO ........ in the full text of "Remains,historical and literary,connected with the Palatine Counties of Lancaster and Chester ... states under 24. Wardens of Manchester that Thomas Radclyffe was Abbott of Rushen and Does link him with the Barons Fitzwalter and Earls of Sussex. So much information though can cloud the truth.We should be open minded and one day we shall learn the truth .................. Maybe !!