Lucas Dillon

Sir Lucas Dillon (1 January 1530 – 1593; also called Luke Dillon) was a leading Irish barrister and judge of the Elizabethan era who held the offices of Attorney General for Ireland and Chief Baron of the Irish Exchequer. He was held in high regard by Queen Elizabeth, but was accused by his enemies of corruption and maladministration. He was the father of James Dillon, 1st Earl of Roscommon. His tomb, which has the curious local name "the jealous man and woman", can still be seen at Newton Abbey near Trim.

Lucas Dillon

Chief Baron of the Exchequer
In office
1570–1593
Preceded byJames Bathe
Personal details
Born1 January 1530
Newtown
Died1593
Spouse(s)Marion Sherle
ChildrenJames, Henry, Christopher, Oliver, Alexander, John, & Robert; Genet, Eleanor, Elizabeth, Margaret, & Anne
MotherElizabeth Barnewall
FatherRobert Dillon of Newtown

Birth and origins

Lucas born on 1 January 1530 at Newtown, near Trim, County Meath, eldest son of Sir Robert Dillon (died 1580) and Genet (also called Elizabeth) Barnewall.[1] His father was Sir Robert Dillon of Newtown, Chief Justice of the Irish Common Pleas. Lucas's mother was a younger daughter of Edward Barnewall of Crickstown.[2] His parents had four sons and three daughters.[3]

He heads the list of his brothers below as the eldest:

  1. Lucas (1530–1592);
  2. Roger, married Margaret, daughter of Richard Missett of Ballydromney;[4]
  3. Thomas, married first the daughter of Walter Peppard, and secondly Margaret, daughter of Cushen and by her had Robert who married Margaret, eldest daughter of Theobald Dillon, 1st Viscount Dillon;[5] and
  4. John, a priest according to some, but founded families according to others.[6]

Nothing seems to be known about his sisters.

Family tree
Lucas Dillon with his two wives, his parents, and other selected relatives.
James
Dillon		Elizabeth
Bathe
Bartholomew
Dillon		James
Bathe
c. 1500 – 1570
Chief Baron		Robert
Dillon
of Newtown
Chief Justice		Elizabeth
Barnewall
Thomas
Dillon
of Riverston		Jane
Bathe		Lucas
Dillon
1530–1592
Chief Baron		Marion
Sharl		Christopher
Barnewall
1522–1575
Robert
Dillon
c. 1540 – 1597		James
1st Earl
d. 1641		Eleanor
Barnewall
d. 1628		Theobald
1st
Viscount
d. 1624
Robert
2nd Earl
d. 1642		Margaret
Barry		Jane
Dillon
m. 1604		Christopher
Dillon
of Ballylaghan
d. 1624
Legend
XXXLucas
Dillon		XXXEarls of
Roscommon		XXXViscounts
Dillon
Also see the lists of siblings and children in the text.

Career

He entered Middle Temple in 1561, was called to the Bar, and then returned to Ireland to practice law. His rise in the legal profession was rapid: he became Principal Solicitor for Ireland in 1565 and Attorney General in the following year.[7] He sat in the Irish House of Commons as MP for Meath in the Parliament of 1568-71. He bought an estate at Moymet, near Trim, County Meath, close to the older family estate of Newtown, where he built Moymet Castle, now a ruin. He later acquired lands in County Cavan, and had a town house at Nicholas Street in Dublin. He inherited Newtown on his father's death in 1580.

Elevation to the Bench

In 1570 he succeeded his father-in-law James Bathe as Chief Baron,[8] rather against the wishes of the Irish ruling class, most of whom would have preferred the second Baron of the Exchequer, Robert Cusack The final decision rested with Queen Elizabeth, who wrote that while she heard very good reports of Cusack, Dillon had the stronger claim. Cusack's supporters praised him as "a true Protestant", whereas Dillon was known to incline privately to the Roman Catholic faith, and in his last years made little effort to conceal the fact. However the English Crown, while it made intermittent efforts to appoint judges of strongly Protestant views, would as a rule accept outward adherence to the Church of Ireland as sufficient evidence of loyalty, and Dillon's private religious opinions, which were shared by several of his colleagues, were thus not a bar to advancement. In any event Cusack died later the same year.

Judicial career

Until his last years, Dillon was held in high regard by the English Crown. Sir William Gerard, the Lord Chancellor of Ireland, described him as an energetic reformer, who was diligent in attending the Privy Council and the Court of Castle Chamber (the Irish equivalent of Star Chamber). He was said to be one of the few judges of real eminence in Ireland, at a time when the calibre of most of his colleagues was compared unfavourably to that of a junior English barrister.[9] He was particularly close to Sir Henry Sidney, the Lord Deputy of Ireland, who called him "my faithful Dillon", and knighted him.[10] He was one of Sidney's few influential supporters during the so-called "cess controversy", the much resented attempt to impose a tax for the upkeep of military garrisons on the gentry of the Pale, and became rather unpopular as a result.[11] His membership of a five-man commission empowered to fine those landowners who refused to pay the cess was a particular source of irritation, especially as he was its only Irish member. Like Gerard, he was a firm believer in the benefits of extending the common law to all parts of Ireland, and of encouraging the settlement of all grievances by resort to law. In general he favoured moderation rather than coercion, although he would where required by the Crown carry out repressive measures. He played a considerable part in putting down the Desmond Rebellions and the rebellion of William Nugent.[11] Sidney did however express concerns about Lucas's increasing ill-health, which he feared might make him incapable of performing his duties as a judge.[12]

Nicholas Nugent

Lucas's reputation suffered greatly through his sitting, together with his cousin Robert Dillon, as judges in the trial of Nicholas Nugent for treason in 1582. Nicholas was accused of treason in the context of the rebellion of his nephew William Nugent. There had been a long and bitter feud between the Nugent and Dillon families. Nicholas had recently been appointed Chief Justice of the Common Pleas and Lucas's cousin Robert Dillon reportedly hoped to take Nugent's place. The trial of a senior judge on a treason charge was without precedent in England or Ireland. Both Dillons should have been disqualified from sitting as judges at his trial as one of the charges was that Nugent had plotted to kill them.[13] The trial ended with the conviction and execution of Nugent, which caused grave public disquiet, (although he did at least have the benefit of trial by jury), and led to a claim that Irish born judges were incapable of administering impartial justice. The Queen for a time altered her favourable opinion of Lucas, but after obtaining a series of private audiences with her during a lengthy visit to London in 1582-3 he was restored to favour.

Later years

Dillon was by now acquiring powerful enemies, notably Thomas Butler, 10th Earl of Ormond, but he also had friends, including the new Lord Deputy, Sir John Perrot. He was spoken of as a likely Lord Chancellor of Ireland, although his critics said that he was too corrupt to be suitable for the post.[11] Elizabeth herself thought highly of him, apart from a period of coolness after the death of Nicholas Nugent, and at one point was said to have offered him the office of Lord Chief Justice of Ireland.[14] If the offer was made, it seems that his enemies had enough influence to block it. As some consolation for his failure to attain higher office he was made Seneschal of West Kilkenny.[11]

As Perrot's Deputyship became increasingly embattled, Dillon, his ally, was also attacked: Adam Loftus, Archbishop of Dublin accused him of recusancy, a very serious charge to make against a servant of the Crown, and informed the London government that he was "very corrupt".[15] William Nugent, who had received a royal pardon for his rebellion against the Crown, made a concerted attack on Sir Robert Dillon, who was by now Lord Chief Justice, and for a time had him suspended from office. Lucas was also attacked by Nugent, although he was not charged with any crime, even after Perrot's final downfall, not long before his own death early in 1593. The stress of defending himself against charges of corruption is said to have hastened his death, although he was in any case an old man by the standards of the time, and had been in ill health for some years.[16]

Death and burial – "the tomb of the jealous man and woman"

He died in Dublin, and was buried beside his first wife Jane at Newtown Abbey, near Trim.[17] Their tomb, which still exists, has the interesting nickname "the tomb of the jealous man and woman", although the origin of the nickname is unclear. One suggestion is that it originates from the fact that the effigies of Lucas and Jane are separated by a sword of state, which may indicate that there had been an estrangement between the couple.[18]

"The tomb of the jealous man and woman"- effigies of Sir Lucas Dillon and his first wife Jane Bathe, Newtown Abbey, Trim, County Meath

Family

Dillon married firstly Jane Bathe, daughter of his predecessor as Chief Baron, James Bathe, and his second wife Elizabeth Burnell.

Lucas and Jane had twelve children, seven sons:

  1. James (c. 1570 – 1641), became the 1st Earl of Roscommon in 1622;
  2. Henry (d. 1609) of Kentstown in Meath;[19]
  3. Christopher;[20]
  4. Oliver;[20]
  5. Alexander;[20]
  6. John, either died childless[20] or married a daughter of Sir William Sarsfield of Lucan;[21]
  7. Robert;[22]

—and five daughters:

  1. Genet, married Christopher Plunkett, the 9th Lord Killeeen and was the mother of Luke Plunket, 1st Earl of Fingall,[23] Nicholas Plunkett, Patrick Plunkett, Bishop of Ardagh, Genet, who married Richard Nugent, 1st Earl of Westmeath, and Mary, who married firstly James O'Ferrall and secondly Sir Richard Browne, Lord Mayor of Dublin;
  2. Eleanor, married Robert Rochfort of Kilbride,[24] ancestor of the prominent Rochfort family;
  3. Elizabeth;
  4. Margaret, married John Sarsfield of Shurninges;[25] and
  5. Anne, married Richard Plunket of Rathmore.[26]

Lucas married secondly in 1578 Marion Sherle (or Shurle), daughter of Patrick Sherle of Shallon, County Meath and widow of Sir Christopher Barnewall of Turvey; Eleanor (or Helen), one of her many daughters by her first marriage, married her stepfather's son James Dillon.[27] His widow died in 1607 and was buried beside her first husband in Lusk church.[28]

Reputation

Lucas Dillon's record as a judge and as a statesman has received a somewhat mixed verdict from historians. Elrington Ball points to the charges of corruption made against him and his improper conduct of the Nugent trial.[29] Crawford on the other hand praises his talent and energy, points to the high regard most Crown officials had for him, and argues that the charges of corruption made against him were partisan in nature.[30] It is significant that Queen Elizabeth, who was noted for her skill in choosing good public servants, thought highly of him.[11]

Notes and references
  1. Ball 1926, p. 211, penultimate line: "... was son of Robert Dillon and Elizabeth Barnewall;"
  2. Lodge 1789, p. 154, line 37: "He [Robert Dillon] married Genet, younger daughter of Edward Barnewall of Crickstown."
  3. Lodge 1789, p. 154, line 40: "... had issue four sons and three daughters."
  4. Lodge 1789, p. 155, line 4: "Roger who married Margaret, daughter of Richard Missett ..."
  5. Lodge 1789, p. 155, line 9: "Thomas who married first the daughter of Walter Peppard by whom he had a son Tibbot; and secondly Margaret daughter of ___ Cushen, and by her had a son Robert, who married Margaret, eldest daughter of Theobald, the first Viscount Dillon ..."
  6. Lodge 1789, p. 155, line 16: "John (in some Pedigrees said to be a priest) but by others made founder of the families of Dremiston ..."
  7. Ball 1926, p. 211, last line: "... entered the Middle Temple 1551; returned to Ireland;"
  8. Smyth 1839, p. 163: "SIR LUCAS DILLON ... Dillon made Chief Baron, -patent 4 June 1570."
  9. Crawford, p.98
  10. Ball, p.212
  11. Pollard 1901.
  12. Ball p.143
  13. Ball, p.147
  14. Ball, p.212
  15. Crawford p.110
  16. Ball p.142
  17. Ball, p.212
  18. Hoare, R.C. Journal of a Tour in Ireland A.D. 1806 Dublin 1807 p.269
  19. Lodge 1789, p. 157, line 8: "Henry Dillon, (the second son) of Kentstown, in Meath and of Strokestown and Ardnecrane in Dillon's Country, married Elizabeth, daughter to the Lord Culpepper and dying 18 April 1609 (or 20 April 1610) had four sons and three daughters ..."
  20. Lodge 1789, p. 156, line 36: "Christopher, Olivers, Alexander, and John, all died childless;"
  21. Crawford 2004, p. 220, left column, line 27: "Another son, John, married the daughter of Sir William Sarsfield of Lucan, co. Dublin.
  22. Lodge 1789, p. 156, line 37: "Robert, who settled in the King's County, and left posterity in Munster and in England;"
  23. Lodge 1789, p. 156, line 38: "Genet, married to Christopher, the ninth lord Killeen, and was mother to Lucas created Earl of Fingall."
  24. Lodge 1789, p. 156, line 40: "Elinor, to Robert Rochfort of Kilbride, in Meath, Esq.."
  25. Lodge 1789, p. 157, line 5: "Margaret, to John Sarsfield of Shurninges, in the county of Kildare, Esq;"
  26. Lodge 1789, p. 157, line 6: "Anne, to Richard Plunket of Rathmore, Esq."
  27. Ball, p.212
  28. Brewer 1829, p. 254, line 23: "... the costly monument of Sir Christopher Barnewall, of Turvey, grandfather of Nicholas, first Viscount Kingsland; and his lady Marian ..."
  29. Ball, p.147
  30. Crawford, pp. 109–110
  • Ball, Francis Elrington (1926), The Judges in Ireland 1221–1921, 1 (1st ed.), London: John Murray
  • Brewer, James Norris (1829), A History of Leinster: Embracing the beauties of Dublin, Wicklow, Wexford, Kilkenny &c. &c., London: J. S. Taylor & Co.
  • Crawford, Jon G. A Star Chamber Court in Ireland- the Court of Castle Chamber 1571–1621 Four Courts Press Dublin 2005
  • Crawford, Jon G. (2004), "Dillon, Sir Lucas (d. 1592)", in Matthew, Colin; Harrison, Brian (eds.), Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, 16, New York: Oxford University Press, pp. 219–220, ISBN 0-19-8613660
  • Lodge, John (1789), The Peerage of Ireland, 4, Dublin: James Moore – Viscounts (for Dillon)
  • Pollard, Albert Frederick (1901). "Dillon, Lucas" . Dictionary of National Biography (1st supplement). London: Smith, Elder & Co.
  • Smyth, Constantine (1839), Chronicle of the Law Officers of Ireland, London: Henry Butterworth
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