Career
John Prophet was a clothier in Hereford. Circa 1377 he was one of twenty-five citizens appointed by Richard II as Custodians of the city with full powers as Commissioners of Array to marshall the town"s defences. From 1385 onwards he was regularly employed to witness deeds.
What is confusng is that the King"s Secretary was also Master John Prophet, Dean of Hereford, so that on his appointment there arose a conflict of interest with the civic offices of the town"s alnagers.
This may explain the dean"s mugging in church lane, and possibly Master Prophet"s decision to seek preferment elsewhere. Permission had to be obtained both from the king and the bishop, which was not completed until June 1391.
Then he was made Mayor of Hereford for 1392-1393. There is apparently a brass monumental inscription oveer a south transept door reading "here lies John Prophet, once a Mayor of Hereford".
Although it is clear that he was probably different man from the Dean, it is uncertain if he was ever made mayor in 1391, but was an Member of Parliament.
