Both Trinity Hall and Gonville Hall were institutions founded by William Bateman, the Bishop of Norwich, although Gonville only fell into his lap when its original founder died. Gonville’s first Master was John Colton of Terrington, although records indicate that he spent little, if any, time in Cambridge. He was one of Bateman’s chaplains, and was probably at the papal court in Avignon on 6 January 1355 when Bateman died. There were rumours that Bateman was poisoned, although these were never authenticated.
Gonville’s second Master was Richard de Pulham, and the third William de Rougham. Rougham and Pulham presided over what was probably a struggling, impoverished institution at first, and there is some evidence that they were obliged to sell their precious books in order to raise funds for their slowly emerging chapel. They obtained a licence to start this in 1353, but it was not finished before the 1390s, indicating that progress was very slow. Rougham was a physician, and records indicate that he was probably a good one. He may have been the personal physician of Bateman’s successor – Henry Despenser – in the 1360s. John Ufford (died 1375) and Nicholas Bottisham (a civil and canon lawyer, whose dates are uncertain) were probably also Fellows around this time.
Cambridge has several medieval churches that date from the fourteenth century or earlier, and one of the most glorious of these is Great St Mary’s, the University Church. St Michael’s Church, which was rebuilt specially for Michaelhouse by its founder Hervey de Stanton in the 1320s, stands a little way down the street, and has recently been renovated as a community centre and café – aptly named Michaelhouse. It welcomes visitors, and is a peaceful and atmospheric place to sit and relax after a tour of Cambridge’s wonderful medieval past.
For more information on the Bartholomew
novels and medieval Cambridge, visit
www.matthewbartholomew.co.uk
Bartholomew 10 - The Hand of Justice Page 52
