John L'Archers
Encyclopedia
John L'Archers, or Larcher ( died 1349 ) was an English born cleric and judge who had a distinguished career in Ireland, holding the office of Lord Chancellor of Ireland
, but died during the first outbreak of the Black Death
.
, were from Tanworth in Arden, in Warwickshire
where they owned Umberslade Hall
from the time of Henry II
.John was probably the younger brother of Thomas L'Archer ( died 1372 ), and great- nephew of an earlier Thomas L'Archer
who was English Prior of the Order of Hospitallers 1321-1329. This family tradition may have influenced John to join the Hospitallers; he is first recorded as a brother of the order's Nottingham house in 1334.
in 1341 L'Archer was appointed as Prior of the Hospital's principal Irish house at Kilmainham
.He was deputy Justiciar of Ireland in 1347. As often in this period , the exact dates of his term as Lord Chancellor are uncertain, but it was most likely 1342-1344.
O'Flanagan wrote that L'Archer was one of several mediaeval Chancellors of Ireland who leave no record but their name. More recently however Otway-Ruthven described L'Archer as playing an important part in the political events of the early 1340s.The Irish Parliament which met first in Dublin in 1341 and then adjourned to Kilkenny
, denounced the Anglo-Irish government of Ireland in terms of extraordinary severity, and then produced a series of petitions to King Edward III to be presented by a group of leading magnates and officials. These petitions were a comprehensive denunciation of every aspect of government, including charges of corruption, maladministration and military incompetence. The King gave a favourable reception to the petitioners and promised redress. L'Archer was one of them and Otway-Ruthven believed that the fact that the newly appointed Chancellor of Ireland went in person to petition was one of the factors in the good reception it received.
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:...
, but died during the first outbreak of the Black Death
Black Death
The Black Death was one of the most devastating pandemics in human history, peaking in Europe between 1348 and 1350. Of several competing theories, the dominant explanation for the Black Death is the plague theory, which attributes the outbreak to the bacterium Yersinia pestis. Thought to have...
.
Family
The Archer family, who later held the title Baron ArcherBaron Archer
Lord Archer, Baron of Umberslade, in the County of Warwick, was a title in the Peerage of Great Britain. It was created on 14 July 1747 for Thomas Archer, who had previously represented Warwick and Bramber in the House of Commons. He was succeeded by his son, the second Baron. He sat as Member of...
, were from Tanworth in Arden, in Warwickshire
Warwickshire
Warwickshire is a landlocked non-metropolitan county in the West Midlands region of England. The county town is Warwick, although the largest town is Nuneaton. The county is famous for being the birthplace of William Shakespeare...
where they owned Umberslade Hall
Umberslade Hall
Umberslade Hall is a 17th century mansion converted into residential apartments situated near Tanworth in Arden, Warwickshire. It is a Grade II* listed building....
from the time of Henry II
Henry II
- King or Emperor :*Saint Henry II, Holy Roman Emperor , crowned King of Germany in 1002, of Italy in 1004 and Emperor in 1014*Henry II of England , reigned from 1154...
.John was probably the younger brother of Thomas L'Archer ( died 1372 ), and great- nephew of an earlier Thomas L'Archer
Thomas L'Archer
Thomas L'Archer was the English Prior of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem : his incompetence left the order in severe financial difficulty....
who was English Prior of the Order of Hospitallers 1321-1329. This family tradition may have influenced John to join the Hospitallers; he is first recorded as a brother of the order's Nottingham house in 1334.
Career
On the death of Roger UtlaghRoger Utlagh
Roger Utlagh, or Roger Outlawe was a leading Irish statesman of the fourteenth century and held the office of Lord Chancellor of Ireland...
in 1341 L'Archer was appointed as Prior of the Hospital's principal Irish house at Kilmainham
Kilmainham
Kilmainham is a suburb of Dublin south of the River Liffey and west of the city centre, in the Dublin 8 postal district.-History:In the Viking era, the monastery was home to the first Norse base in Ireland....
.He was deputy Justiciar of Ireland in 1347. As often in this period , the exact dates of his term as Lord Chancellor are uncertain, but it was most likely 1342-1344.
O'Flanagan wrote that L'Archer was one of several mediaeval Chancellors of Ireland who leave no record but their name. More recently however Otway-Ruthven described L'Archer as playing an important part in the political events of the early 1340s.The Irish Parliament which met first in Dublin in 1341 and then adjourned to Kilkenny
Kilkenny
Kilkenny is a city and is the county town of the eponymous County Kilkenny in Ireland. It is situated on both banks of the River Nore in the province of Leinster, in the south-east of Ireland...
, denounced the Anglo-Irish government of Ireland in terms of extraordinary severity, and then produced a series of petitions to King Edward III to be presented by a group of leading magnates and officials. These petitions were a comprehensive denunciation of every aspect of government, including charges of corruption, maladministration and military incompetence. The King gave a favourable reception to the petitioners and promised redress. L'Archer was one of them and Otway-Ruthven believed that the fact that the newly appointed Chancellor of Ireland went in person to petition was one of the factors in the good reception it received.