Nicholas Upton
Encyclopedia
Nicholas Upton was an English cleric, precentor of Salisbury, and writer on heraldry
and the art of war.
, by his wife Elizabeth, daughter of John Barley of Chencombe in the same county. Nicholas entered as scholar of Winchester College
in 1408 under the name ‘Helyer alias Upton, Nicholas,’ and was elected Fellow of New College, Oxford
, in 1415, graduating bachelor of civil law. He was ordained subdeacon
on 8 March 1421; but he entered the service of Thomas de Montacute, 4th Earl of Salisbury, and fought against the French in Normandy. He also served under William de la Pole, Earl of Suffolk, and John Talbot
, later Earl of Shrewsbury. He was with Salisbury at Orleans
in October-November 1428, when it was relieved by Joan of Arc
and Salisbury was killed. Upton was appointed one of the executors of his will.
Soon afterwards Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester
persuaded him to continue his clerical career. On 6 April 1431 he was admitted to the prebend of Dyme in Wells Cathedral
, and before 2 October 1434 was rector of Chedsey, which he exchanged on that date for the rectory of Stapylford; he was also rector of Farleigh
. In 1438 he graduated bachelor of canon law from Broadgates Hall, Oxford, and on 11 April 1443 was collated to the prebend of Wildland in St Paul's Cathedral
. He resigned his prebend on his election on 14 May 1446 as precentor of Salisbury Cathedral
.
In 1452 he went on a mission to Rome to obtain the canonisation of Osmund
], the founder of Salisbury. He reached Rome on 27 June, returning in May 1453 without accomplishing his object. He died in 1457 before 15 July, and was buried in Salisbury Cathedral.
, and was therefore written before 1446. It consists of four parts:
Upton quotes liberally from Bartolus of Sassoferrato and other jurists.
The book circulated in manuscript for two centuries. Parts were incorporated in the Book of St. Albans; it was transcribed by Robert Glover
and was largely used by Francis Thynne
. It was edited by Sir Edward Bysshe from Sir Robert Cotton
's manuscript, and another belonging to Matthew Hale
, both procured for Bysshe by John Selden
; it was entitled Nicholai Vptoni de Studio Militari (London, 1654).
Heraldry
Heraldry is the profession, study, or art of creating, granting, and blazoning arms and ruling on questions of rank or protocol, as exercised by an officer of arms. Heraldry comes from Anglo-Norman herald, from the Germanic compound harja-waldaz, "army commander"...
and the art of war.
Life
He is said to have been the second son of John Upton of Portlinch, DevonDevon
Devon is a large county in southwestern England. The county is sometimes referred to as Devonshire, although the term is rarely used inside the county itself as the county has never been officially "shired", it often indicates a traditional or historical context.The county shares borders with...
, by his wife Elizabeth, daughter of John Barley of Chencombe in the same county. Nicholas entered as scholar of Winchester College
Winchester College
Winchester College is an independent school for boys in the British public school tradition, situated in Winchester, Hampshire, the former capital of England. It has existed in its present location for over 600 years and claims the longest unbroken history of any school in England...
in 1408 under the name ‘Helyer alias Upton, Nicholas,’ and was elected Fellow of New College, Oxford
New College, Oxford
New College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom.- Overview :The College's official name, College of St Mary, is the same as that of the older Oriel College; hence, it has been referred to as the "New College of St Mary", and is now almost always...
, in 1415, graduating bachelor of civil law. He was ordained subdeacon
Subdeacon
-Subdeacons in the Orthodox Church:A subdeacon or hypodeacon is the highest of the minor orders of clergy in the Orthodox Church. This order is higher than the reader and lower than the deacon.-Canonical Discipline:...
on 8 March 1421; but he entered the service of Thomas de Montacute, 4th Earl of Salisbury, and fought against the French in Normandy. He also served under William de la Pole, Earl of Suffolk, and John Talbot
John Talbot, 1st Earl of Shrewsbury
John Talbot, 1st Earl of Shrewsbury and 1st Earl of Waterford KG , known as "Old Talbot" was an important English military commander during the Hundred Years' War, as well as the only Lancastrian Constable of France.-Origins:He was descended from Richard Talbot, a tenant in 1086 of Walter Giffard...
, later Earl of Shrewsbury. He was with Salisbury at Orleans
Orléans
-Prehistory and Roman:Cenabum was a Gallic stronghold, one of the principal towns of the Carnutes tribe where the Druids held their annual assembly. It was conquered and destroyed by Julius Caesar in 52 BC, then rebuilt under the Roman Empire...
in October-November 1428, when it was relieved by Joan of Arc
Joan of Arc
Saint Joan of Arc, nicknamed "The Maid of Orléans" , is a national heroine of France and a Roman Catholic saint. A peasant girl born in eastern France who claimed divine guidance, she led the French army to several important victories during the Hundred Years' War, which paved the way for the...
and Salisbury was killed. Upton was appointed one of the executors of his will.
Soon afterwards Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester
Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester
Humphrey of Lancaster, 1st Duke of Gloucester, 1st Earl of Pembroke, KG , also known as Humphrey Plantagenet, was "son, brother and uncle of kings", being the fourth and youngest son of king Henry IV of England by his first wife, Mary de Bohun, brother to king Henry V of England, and uncle to the...
persuaded him to continue his clerical career. On 6 April 1431 he was admitted to the prebend of Dyme in Wells Cathedral
Wells Cathedral
Wells Cathedral is a Church of England cathedral in Wells, Somerset, England. It is the seat of the Bishop of Bath and Wells, who lives at the adjacent Bishop's Palace....
, and before 2 October 1434 was rector of Chedsey, which he exchanged on that date for the rectory of Stapylford; he was also rector of Farleigh
Farleigh
Farleigh may mean, in the United Kingdom:* Farleigh, Somerset* Farleigh, SurreySee also:* Farleigh Wallop, Hampshire* Farleigh School, Hampshire* Farleigh Hungerford, Somerset** Farleigh Castle at Farleigh Hungerford...
. In 1438 he graduated bachelor of canon law from Broadgates Hall, Oxford, and on 11 April 1443 was collated to the prebend of Wildland in St Paul's Cathedral
St Paul's Cathedral
St Paul's Cathedral, London, is a Church of England cathedral and seat of the Bishop of London. Its dedication to Paul the Apostle dates back to the original church on this site, founded in AD 604. St Paul's sits at the top of Ludgate Hill, the highest point in the City of London, and is the mother...
. He resigned his prebend on his election on 14 May 1446 as precentor of Salisbury Cathedral
Salisbury Cathedral
Salisbury Cathedral, formally known as the Cathedral Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary, is an Anglican cathedral in Salisbury, England, considered one of the leading examples of Early English architecture....
.
In 1452 he went on a mission to Rome to obtain the canonisation of Osmund
Osmund
Osmund , Count of Sées was an early Norman nobleman and member of the English clergy; he eventually served as Lord Chancellor and Bishop of Salisbury.-Life:...
], the founder of Salisbury. He reached Rome on 27 June, returning in May 1453 without accomplishing his object. He died in 1457 before 15 July, and was buried in Salisbury Cathedral.
Works
Upton was the author of Libellus de Officio Militari; it was dedicated to Humphrey, Duke of GloucesterHumphrey, Duke of Gloucester
Humphrey of Lancaster, 1st Duke of Gloucester, 1st Earl of Pembroke, KG , also known as Humphrey Plantagenet, was "son, brother and uncle of kings", being the fourth and youngest son of king Henry IV of England by his first wife, Mary de Bohun, brother to king Henry V of England, and uncle to the...
, and was therefore written before 1446. It consists of four parts:
- ‘De Coloribus in Armis et eorum Nobilitate ac Differentia;’
- ‘De Regulis et de Signis;’
- ‘De Animalibus et de Avibus in Armis portatis;’
- ‘De Militia et eorum [sic] Nobilitate.’
Upton quotes liberally from Bartolus of Sassoferrato and other jurists.
The book circulated in manuscript for two centuries. Parts were incorporated in the Book of St. Albans; it was transcribed by Robert Glover
Robert Glover (officer of arms)
Robert Glover was an English Officer of Arms, genealogist and antiquarian in the reign of Elizabeth I. In the College of Arms, he rose to the rank of Somerset Herald of Arms, serving in that capacity from 1571 until his death in 1588...
and was largely used by Francis Thynne
Francis Thynne
Francis Thynne was an officer of arms at the College of Arms in London. Thynne was born in Kent, the son of William Thynne, who was Master of the Household of King Henry VIII. He attended Tonbridge School. Francis Thynne was an antiquary before being admitted to the College of Arms after several...
. It was edited by Sir Edward Bysshe from Sir Robert Cotton
Robert Bruce Cotton
Sir Robert Bruce Cotton, 1st Baronet was an English antiquarian and Member of Parliament, founder of the important Cotton library....
's manuscript, and another belonging to Matthew Hale
Matthew Hale
Matthew Hale may refer to:* Matthew Hale , English jurist* Matthew Hale , Anglican bishop in Australia; Bishop of Perth; Bishop of Brisbane...
, both procured for Bysshe by John Selden
John Selden
John Selden was an English jurist and a scholar of England's ancient laws and constitution and scholar of Jewish law...
; it was entitled Nicholai Vptoni de Studio Militari (London, 1654).