John de Welyngton

John de Welyngton (also Wellyngton, Wellynton, Welynton, Wellington) was prior of Llanthony Priory from c. 1395 to c. 1407.^[1]^: 134^[2]^{: 40–41, 103}^[3]^[4]^: 468^[5]^: 413

Electedc. 1395

Termendedc. 1407

PredecessorJohn Yatton

SuccessorWilliam Cromp

Quick facts Elected, Term ended ...

John de Welyngton
Prior of Llanthony Priory
Elected	c. 1395
Term ended	c. 1407
Predecessor	John Yatton
Successor	William Cromp

In his youth he was involved in an attack on Llanthony prior Nicholas de Trinbey. Nicholas was blinded, and his brother killed.^[1]^: 134^[6]^: 26–27 In later life his enemies accused him of being a follower of Welsh rebel Owain Glyndŵr.^[7]^: 455

Early life

A John Welyngton was ordained as an acolyte on 31 May 1371 at Leominster Church in Herefordshire.^[8]^: 53

On 4 August 1373 Nicholas de Trinbey and his brother John were attacked by de Welyngton and two other canons of Llanthony while Nicholas was saying the Office of the Dead. John de Trinbey was killed and Nicholas was thrown to the ground and his eyes torn out.^[1]^: 134^[6]^: 26

John de Welyngton had accused Nicholas of injuring him and having "wasted the goods of the priory". He was excommunicated for the attack, but in 1391 received a papal pardon after travelling to the Holy See, then at Avignon, for absolution. The pardon described the attack as a youthful mistake.^[3]^[4]^: 468^[6]^: 27

Prior of Llanthony

He is first recorded as prior on 15 July 1395, and last in 1407. His successor is first recorded on 19 August 1409, so he must have resigned or died in office before then.^[3]^[4]^{: 468–469}

The priory of Llanthony held lands and possessions in Ireland, and he nominated individuals to serve as his authorised representatives there. In 1396 he nominated Adam Elmeley, his canon, and Hugh de Ewyas for two years.^[9]^: 32 In 1399 he nominated Elmeley and William Hamelyn for three years.^[10]^: 7 In 1400, he again nominated Elmeley and Philip White of Hulleton for two years.^[10]^: 280

In 1400, the royal recognition of Llanthony's rights to two Irish churches, secured by John's predecessor in 1391, was confirmed by Henry IV on payment of five marks.^[11]^: 10^[12]^: 283

With the permission of the king he travelled to Ireland in 1402. In his absence he nominated Hugh Harper, his chaplain, and William Harper to serve as his authorised representatives in England for one year.^[7]^: 38

On 24 October 1402 he was granted permission by Guy Mone, bishop of St Davids, to have ordained three canons of Llanthony, including William Cromp.^[13]^{: 285–287} On the same day Mone charged him and two others with investigating accusations of perjury against two brothers.^[13]^: 289

In 1404 his enemies accused him of being a "rebel and adherent" of Owain Glyndŵr and some of his Irish lands were seized by the king's officers. On 8 November, after he complained of this seizure, the king issued a notice to "all officers in Ireland" that he was considered a loyal subject.^[7]^: 455^[14]^: 88

References

[1]
Cowley, Frederick George (1977). The monastic order in South Wales, 1066-1349. Studies in Welsh history. University of Wales. Cardiff: University of Wales Press [for] the History and Law Committee of the Board of Celtic Studies. ISBN 978-0-7083-0648-2.
[2]
Stanford, Caroline (2019). Llwyn Celyn History Album (PDF). The Landmark Trust.
[3]
"People: Priors of Llanthony Prima". Monastic Wales. Retrieved 2026-07-01.
[4]
Smith, David Michael (2008). The heads of religious houses, England and Wales. Cambridge: Cambridge university press. ISBN 978-0-521-86508-1.
[5]
Smith, David Michael; London, Vera C. M. (2001), Knowles, David (ed.), The heads of religious houses: England and Wales. 2: 1216 - 1377, Cambridge: Cambridge Univ. Press, ISBN 978-0-521-80271-0
[6]
Williams, David H. (2009). "Llanthony Prima Priory". The Monmouthshire Antiquary. 25–26: 13–50.
[7]
Maxwell-Lyte, H. W., ed. (1905). Calendar of the Patent Rolls Preserved in the Public Record Office: Henry IV, Vol. 2 (1401–1405). Henry IV. Vol. 2. Public Record Office.
[8]
Parry, Joseph Henry, ed. (1914). Register of Bishop William Courteney. The Canterbury and York Society.
[9]
Maxwell Lyte, H. C.; Morris, G. J., eds. (1909). The Calendar of the Patent Rolls Preserved in the Public Record Office: Richard II (1396–1399). Vol. 6. Public Record Office.
[10]
Maxwell-Lyte, H. C., ed. (21 May 1903). Calendar of the Patent Rolls Preserved in the Public Record Office: 1399–1401. Henry IV. Vol. 1. Public Record Office.
[11]
Maxwell Lyte, H. C., ed. (19 June 1905). The Calendar of the Patent Rolls Preserved in the Public Record Office: Richard II (1391–1396). Richard II. Vol. 5. Public Record Office.
[12]
Maxwell Lyte, H. C., ed. (21 May 1903). The Calendar of the Patent Rolls Preserved in the Public Record Office: Henry IV (1399–1401). Henry IV. Vol. I. Public Record Office.
[13]
Vincent Evans, E., ed. (1917). The Episcopal registers of the diocese of St. David's 1397 to 1518. Vol. I. London: The Honourable Society of Cymmrodorion.
[14]
Griffiths, Ralph (1964-05-01). "Some Secret Supporters of Owain Glyn Dŵr?". Historical Research. 37 (95): 77–100. doi:10.1111/j.1468-2281.1964.tb02108.x. ISSN 0950-3471.

John de Welyngton

Early life

Prior of Llanthony

References

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