Sir John Bennet (1553 – 15 February 1627) was a judge and politician, whose career ended in disgrace after he was found guilty of extorting bribes and excessive fees.
Bennet was from a prosperous Berkshire family, being the second son of Richard Bennet of Clapcot in that county (now in Oxfordshire) and his wife, Elizabeth, the daughter of Thomas Tesdale of Stanford Dingley and Abingdon, also in Berkshire (the latter now in Oxfordshire) and half-sister of Thomas Tesdale, the founder of Pembroke College, Oxford. He was probably educated at Abingdon School (now Oxfordshire) – his family were benefactors – before attending Christ Church, Oxford. He matriculated in 1573, obtained his BA in 1577 and his MA in 1580. Receiving a MA from Cambridge in 1583,[1] he returned to Oxford and was elected a proctor later that year. He was awarded his BCL and DCL at the same time by special dispensation in 1589, and in the following year was admitted as an advocate in the Court of Arches. He began his career as a judge in the Diocese of York, probably through the influence of John Piers, the Archbishop of York, who had been the Dean of Christ Church. He was chancellor of the diocese and joint commissary of the exchequer court. In 1591 he was appointed to the prebend of Langtoft. He advanced his career in other areas, serving as a legal adviser to a commission negotiating with Scotland about the security of the border, and was later appointed to the Council of the North.[2]
He was MP for Ripon in 1597 and 1604 and for York in 1601. During his time in Parliament, he defended the ecclesiastical courts but was unsuccessful in preventing a bill prohibiting married men residing with their families in the colleges of Oxford and Cambridge Universities. In 1604 he became judge of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury, retaining his positions in York as commissary until 1609 and chancellor until 1624. He was a member of the High Court of Delegates, hearing appeals from ecclesiastical and admiralty courts, and the Court of High Commission. In 1608 he was appointed a Master in Chancery and in 1611 was appointed to the council of Queen Anne, wife of James I. He was growing in wealth and status and is reported to have offered £30,000 to become Lord Chancellor, without success.[2]
Bennet, who was interested in the affairs of Oxford University, was asked by Sir Thomas Bodley to act as fund-raiser for the Bodleian Library, a task he carried out efficiently. Bennet was one of the first governors of Pembroke College, Oxford and MP for the university constituency in 1614 and 1621. However, he was accused by Richard Kilvert in Parliament of extracting bribes and excessive fees in his judicial work. The issue was debated in his absence, Bennet pleading ill-health, and it was decided that he should be expelled from the House of Commons and the case referred to the House of Lords. He was placed under house arrest. When he appeared before the House of Lords, he said that he could account for all but £4,000 of the money that had passed through his hands. He was bailed in the sum of £20,000 and ordered to pay to Oxford University £1,000 that he still had as executor of Thomas Bodley's estate: he only paid £550. When the case was eventually tried, Bennet's counsel put up a weak defence. Bennet was fined £20,000, but punishments of imprisonment and disqualification from office were later lifted. It was said that his profiteering from his post overshadowed that of Francis Bacon: "Sir John Bennet hath made my Lord Chancellor an honest man". He died on 15 February 1627.[2]