John Colton (archbishop)
Encyclopedia
John Colton was a leading statesman and cleric in fourteenth century Ireland, who held the offices of Treasurer of Ireland, Lord Chancellor of Ireland
and Archbishop of Armagh
. He is chiefly remembered today for his book The Visitation of Derry ( 1397 ) .
. He took a degree in divinity at the University of Cambridge
in 1348 and the following year became Master of Gonville Hall, now Gonville and Caius College whose founder Edmund Gonville
was a neighbour of Colton in Terrington. He also held the living of St. Mary's Wood Street, London.
,on an expedition to Cork
in 1381; March died on the expedition and Colton briefly replaced him as Justiciar.He was held in high regard by the English Crown and was sent by Richard II
on a special mission to Rome
in 1398; he later received a grant of money as tribute to his fidelity.
LIke most Crown officials, even clerics, at the time, Colton was required to perform military as well as administrative tasks, and seems to have been a competent soldier : in 1373 at his own cost he raised a troop for the defence of Dublin.
.The see happened to be vacant, and Colton took the opportunity to assert his metropolitan authority over the diocese in all matters of religion and morals.That the visitation took place at all is remarkable: Archbishops of Armagh in the middle ages were usually Englishmen ( including Colton ), to whom Ulster was a foreign and possibly hostile country. As a rule they lived in Dundalk or Drogheda and rarely even visited Armagh, let alone further afield. The work has been called a propaganda exercise, demonstrating the power Colton had even in potentially hostile territory : it may perhaps more fairly be seen as an exercise in public relations, showing the good relations which existed between the English Archbishop and the Gaelic rulers of Ulster. The book, published with extensive notes by the Rev. William Reeves in 1850, is regarded as an especially valuable source of information on life in late fourteenth century Ulster.
Colton , with a sizeable retinue, entered the diocese at Cappagh
, and proceeded to Derry and Banagher
. The only potential trouble was the refusal of the Archdeacon of Derry and cathedral chapter to recognise Colton's authority, but under threat of excommunication they quickly submitted. Colton conducted a wide variety of business, reconsecrating churches and graveyards, settling a bitter property dispute and hearing matrimonial causes. Most colourful was the injunction to the Abbot of Derry to refrain from cohabitation with his mistress" or any other woman."
and was buried in St. Peters Church. He was described as "a man of great talent and activity, of high reputation for virtue and learning , dear to all ranks of people for his affabilty and sweetness of temper".
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:...
and Archbishop of Armagh
Archbishop of Armagh
The Archbishop of Armagh is the title of the presiding ecclesiastical figure of each of the Roman Catholic Church and the Church of Ireland in the region around Armagh in Northern Ireland...
. He is chiefly remembered today for his book The Visitation of Derry ( 1397 ) .
Early career
He was born at Terrington St. Clement in Norfolk.He was in the service of the Bishop of Norwich, William BatemanWilliam Bateman
William Bateman was a medieval Bishop of Norwich.Bateman was the son of William Bateman, a Norwich citizen and bailiff who was an M.P.. He graduated at Cambridge University in Civil and Canon Law. He was appointed Archdeacon of Norwich in 1328...
. He took a degree in divinity at the University of Cambridge
University of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest university in both the United Kingdom and the English-speaking world , and the seventh-oldest globally...
in 1348 and the following year became Master of Gonville Hall, now Gonville and Caius College whose founder Edmund Gonville
Edmund Gonville
Edmund Gonville founded Gonville Hall in 1348, which later was re-founded by John Caius to become Gonville and Caius College. Gonville Hall was his third foundation. Before this he had founded two religious houses, a College at Rushworth, Norfolk, 1342 and the Hospital of St John at Lynn, Norfolk...
was a neighbour of Colton in Terrington. He also held the living of St. Mary's Wood Street, London.
Irish career
Colton first came to Ireland as Treasurer, in 1373, and became Dean of St. Patrick's Cathedral the following year. He was Lord Chancellor from 1379 to 1382, and became Archbishop of Armagh in 1383. He accompanied the Justiciar,Edmund Mortimer, Earl of MarchEarl of March
The title The Earl of March has been created several times in the Peerage of Scotland and the Peerage of England. The title derived from the "marches" or boundaries between England and either Wales or Scotland , and was held by several great feudal families which owned lands in those border...
,on an expedition to Cork
Cork (city)
Cork is the second largest city in the Republic of Ireland and the island of Ireland's third most populous city. It is the principal city and administrative centre of County Cork and the largest city in the province of Munster. Cork has a population of 119,418, while the addition of the suburban...
in 1381; March died on the expedition and Colton briefly replaced him as Justiciar.He was held in high regard by the English Crown and was sent by Richard II
Richard II
-People:*Richard II of England , King of England.*Richard II of Normandy , Duke of Normandy*Richard II of Aquila *Richard II of Capua *A nickname for Richard M...
on a special mission to Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
in 1398; he later received a grant of money as tribute to his fidelity.
LIke most Crown officials, even clerics, at the time, Colton was required to perform military as well as administrative tasks, and seems to have been a competent soldier : in 1373 at his own cost he raised a troop for the defence of Dublin.
Visitation of Derry
Colton is best remembered for writing or commissioning the Visitation of Derry( the actual author was probably his secretary Richard Kenmore ) an account of his ten day tour of the diocese of DerryDerry
Derry or Londonderry is the second-biggest city in Northern Ireland and the fourth-biggest city on the island of Ireland. The name Derry is an anglicisation of the Irish name Doire or Doire Cholmcille meaning "oak-wood of Colmcille"...
.The see happened to be vacant, and Colton took the opportunity to assert his metropolitan authority over the diocese in all matters of religion and morals.That the visitation took place at all is remarkable: Archbishops of Armagh in the middle ages were usually Englishmen ( including Colton ), to whom Ulster was a foreign and possibly hostile country. As a rule they lived in Dundalk or Drogheda and rarely even visited Armagh, let alone further afield. The work has been called a propaganda exercise, demonstrating the power Colton had even in potentially hostile territory : it may perhaps more fairly be seen as an exercise in public relations, showing the good relations which existed between the English Archbishop and the Gaelic rulers of Ulster. The book, published with extensive notes by the Rev. William Reeves in 1850, is regarded as an especially valuable source of information on life in late fourteenth century Ulster.
Colton , with a sizeable retinue, entered the diocese at Cappagh
Cappagh
Cappagh is a small village in County Tyrone, Northern Ireland. It is between Pomeroy, Ballygawley, Galbally and Carrickmore, with the hamlet of Galbally about one mile to the east...
, and proceeded to Derry and Banagher
Banagher
Banagher is a town in Ireland, located in the midlands on the western edge of County Offaly in the province of Leinster, on the banks of the River Shannon. The name Banagher comes from its Irish name which translates to English as "the place of the pointed rocks on the Shannon"...
. The only potential trouble was the refusal of the Archdeacon of Derry and cathedral chapter to recognise Colton's authority, but under threat of excommunication they quickly submitted. Colton conducted a wide variety of business, reconsecrating churches and graveyards, settling a bitter property dispute and hearing matrimonial causes. Most colourful was the injunction to the Abbot of Derry to refrain from cohabitation with his mistress" or any other woman."
Character
Colton died on 27 April 1404 in DroghedaDrogheda
Drogheda is an industrial and port town in County Louth on the east coast of Ireland, 56 km north of Dublin. It is the last bridging point on the River Boyne before it enters the Irish Sea....
and was buried in St. Peters Church. He was described as "a man of great talent and activity, of high reputation for virtue and learning , dear to all ranks of people for his affabilty and sweetness of temper".