Richard of Armagh

Richard Of Armagh whose real name was Fitz-Ralph, and whose historical name is Armachanus — was born in Devonshire, England, or, according to some, at Dundalk, in Ireland. He was educated at Oxford — first at University and then at Baliol College. He graduated as doctor of divinity, and in 1333 was commissary-general of that university. His first Church promotion was to the chancellorship of the Church of Lincoln, July, 1334; he was next made archdeacon of Chester, in 1336; and dean of Lichfield, April, 1337. At Oxford he opposed the affectation and irregularities of the mendicant friars. In 1347 he was advanced to the archbishopric of Armagh, and still continued his opposition to the friars, who became so incensed at his exposure of them that they had him cited before Innocent VI at Avignon, where he defended his opinions with great firmness, but was decided against by the pope. He died at Avignon, Nov. 16, 1360, not without suspicion of poison. He was unquestionably a man of great talents and sound judgment. Perhaps his best panegyric is his being ranked, by some Catholic writers, among heretics. He is said by Bale to have translated the New Test., by Fox, the whole Bible, into Irish. His published works are, Defensio Curatorum adversus Fratres Mendicantes (Paris, 1496): — Sermones Quatuor ad Crucem (Lond. 1612).