Thomas St. Lawrence

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Thomas St. Lawrence, also called Thomas Howth (c.1480-1553) was a leading statesman and judge in sixteenth-century Ireland. He held the offices of Attorney General for Ireland and judge of the Court of King's Bench (Ireland) and was a member of the Privy Council of Ireland. He is remembered for his efforts to shield John Alen, Archbishop of Dublin, who was murdered during the Rebellion of Silken Thomas, and for his opposition to the Reformation which led to a bitter clash with John Bale, Bishop of Ossory. His family were Barons and later Earls of Howth, hence the alternative name.

Background

He was a younger son of Robert St Lawrence, 3rd Baron Howth, hence the alternative name Thomas Howth. His date of birth and his mother's identity are unclear. His brother Nicholas St Lawrence, 4th Baron Howth, son of their father's first wife Alice White, was born around 1460;[1] but Thomas, a student in 1503 and still fit enough to undertake a long journey in 1553, must have been considerably younger. Elrington Ball is therefore probably correct in thinking he was the son of the 3rd Baron's second marriage to Joan Beaufort, daughter of Edmund Beaufort, 2nd Duke of Somerset, which took place in 1478.[2] Joan was a close relative of Henry VII, which, if Thomas was her son, would explain his rise to prominence.

Early career

He entered Lincoln's Inn in 1503, and was still a member in 1515.[3] He was back in Ireland in 1522 when he stood surety for Gerald FitzGerald, 9th Earl of Kildare, suspected of inciting rebellion. He was appointed Attorney General for Ireland in 1532, and second justice of KIng's Bench in 1535; he was also Chief Remembrancer of the Exchequer. He was given a seat on the Privy Council, an unusual honour for a junior judge, suggesting he was held in high regard.[4] He married Margaret Holywood of Artane, and was guardian of the youthful Holywood heir, Nicholas;[5] he was living at Artane Castle when the Silken Thomas rebellion broke out in 1534, due to the false report that Silken Thomas' father, the Earl of Kildare, had been executed.

Murder of Archbishop Alen

Main article: John Alen

Kildare and Alen had long been on bad terms; when the rumour of Kildare's death reached Ireland Alen was accused of bringing it about. Fearing for his life, the Archbishop tried to flee to England, but his boat ran aground at Clontarf. He sought refuge in Artane Castle, whether because St. Lawrence was a close friend or simply because it was the nearest shelter he could find is unclear.[6] St. Lawrence willingly took him in, but his whereabouts was discovered and he was captured. He was brought before Silken Thomas who gave the ambiguous order Beir uaim an bodach ("take the fellow away") whereupon his men killed the Archbishop. Whether Thomas intended to have Alen killed has never been clear; but no harm came to St. Lawrence for sheltering him. St. Lawrence was one of those later entrusted with putting down the rebellion.[7]

Later controversies

He was opposed to the Reformation, but like may of the nobility was eventually persuaded of the advantages which would flow from the Suppression of the Monasteries, and served on the commission for that purpose in 1541.[8] He was one of the original lessees of the King's Inn and signed the petition for the title to be transferred to the lessees in 1542.[9] He resigned as Remembrancer in 1544 on receiving a pension, but remained on the Privy Council. He received thanks from the Government of Edward VI for his faithful and diligent service in 1547.[10]

His good services did not extend to support for the Church of Ireland and on Edward's death he took the opportunity to undermine the late King's Irish bishops. In particular he attacked John Bale. Bishop of Ossory, a gifted and prolific writer but an exceptionally quarrelsome individual, nicknamed " bilious Bale".[11] Despite his age St. Lawrence travelled to Kilkenny to urge the public to oust Bale and return to the Roman Catholic faith. Bale soon left Ireland; St. Lawrence himself died a few months later.

He had one daughter, Margaret, who married William Bermingham, son of his colleague Patrick Bermingham.[12]

References

  1. ↑ Pine, L.G. The New Extinct Peerages 1884-1971 192 p.150
  2. ↑ Ball, F. Elrington The Judges in Ireland 1221-1921 1926 John Murray London Vol.1 p.202
  3. ↑ Ball 1926 p.202
  4. ↑ Ball, F. Elrington History of Dublin Vol.5 1917 Alexander Thom and Co. Dublin p.63
  5. ↑ Ball 1917 p.64
  6. ↑ Ball 1926 p.129
  7. ↑ Ball 1926 p.202
  8. ↑ Ball 1926 p.202
  9. ↑ Kenny, Colum The King's Inns and the Kingdom of Ireland Irish Academic Press Dublin 1992 p.33
  10. ↑ Ball 1926 p.202
  11. ↑ Ball 1926 p.130
  12. ↑ Ball 1926 p.202
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