James Bathe (c.1500-1570) was an Irish judge, notable for serving as Chief Baron of the Irish Exchequer for thirty years under four monarchs. He was grandfather of the 1st Earl of Roscommon.
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He was born at Beshellstown in County Meath to a long established family the main branch of which was settled at Ardcarne. Sir Thomas Bathe, an earlier Chief Baron, belonged to the same family, as did John Bathe (politician) the Chief Justice of the Irish Common Pleas.[1] James entered Middle Temple in 1522 and was Master of the Revels in 1524.
Early in his career he narrowly escaped being implicated in the rebellion of Silken Thomas, as he was close to several of the rebels. [2]Through Thomas St.Lawrence, the Attorney General for Ireland he obtained the confidence of the Lord Deputy, Leonard Grey and was sent by him to report to Thomas Cromwell on the state of Irish government. He survived Grey's downfall in 1540 and played a considerable role in the Dissolution of the Monasteries.
He was appointed the Irish Chief Baron in 1540 and held office under each successive Tudor monarch until his death in 1570, being commended for his good service to the Crown.[3]
He married Elizabeth Burnell, widow of Robert Barnewall of Drimnagh Castle.[4] They had at least two children:
James Bathe became a substantial landowner in Dublin: he acquired Drimnagh Caslte through marriage and also had a seat at Drumcondra.