John Colleton

, or Collington, Son of Edmund Colleton of Milverton in Somersetshire Gent. was born there, and at 17 years of age, an. 1565. was sent to the University of Oxon, particularly, as ’tis thought, to Lincoln coll. but leaving the place without a degree, and his Country, he crossed the Seas and went to Doway, where applying himself to the study of Divinity in the English coll. was made a Priest, and returned into England with Father Campian, an. 1580. But being taken and sent Prisoner to the Tower of London, was afterwards, upon his trial for conspiring the death of the Queen at Rome or Rheimes, set at liberty, and charged to depart the Land within few days after. In obedience therefore to that command, he, with others of his profession, went (or rather were sent) accordingly, in 1584. but tarrying there not long, returned, and spent many years in administring to the Brethren, and gaining Proselytes. In which time, as Father Persons reports, he was a principal author of the Libels against the Archpriestship: See more in Christop. Bagshaw, under the year 1625. In the Reign of K. Jam. 1. he was made Archdeacon of London, (only titular) Vicar General of the East parts of England, and at length Dean of Chalcedon, but when age grew upon him, Greg. Fisher alias Musket, Archdeacon of Surrey and Middlesex, was added as a Coadjutor in the Office of Vicar-General, 10. Feb. 1626. to assist in the East parts of England, namely in Essex, Norfolk, Suffolk, Cambridgshire, Isle of Ely, Bedfordshire, Bucks, Middlesex, and Hertford. He hath written and published,

A just defence of the slandred Priests, wherein are contained reasons against their receiving Mr. George Blackwel to be their Superior, &c.—Printed 1602. qu. concerning which book and Father Persons his character therein, you may see in The Anatomy of Popish Tyranny, &c. written by Tho. Bell, lib. 4. cap. 5. sect. 4.

Supplication to the King of Great Britain for a toleration of the Cath. Religion.

Epistle to P. Paul 5.—with other things which I have not yet seen. He ended his days in the house of a Rom. Catholick at Eltham in Kent, on the fourteenth of the Calends of Novemb. 1635 in sixteen hundred thirty and five, aged 87. and was buried in the Church there, dedicated to S. John Bapt. Over his grave was soon after a monumental stone laid, with an inscription round the verge, a copy of which was sent to me by his Sisters Son, named Joh. Kynn O. S. B. living at Beoly in Worcestershire. Much about the time that this Joh. Colleton studied according to report in Linc. college, one Joh. Filby an Oxfordshire man born, studied there also, who leaving that coll. before he was Bac. of Arts, went to Rheimes, where he studied Divinity in the English coll. and was made a Priest. Afterwards being sent into the Mission of England, he was taken, imprisoned, and at length being condemned to die, was executed at Tyburn 30. May 1582.