Lucas Dillon

Sir Lucas Dillon (c.1530–1592) 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 the Crown, although his enemies accused him of corruption and maladministration. He was the father of James Dillon, 1st Earl of Roscommon.

Background and early career

He was born at Newtown in County Meath, son of Sir Robert Dillon, Chief Justice of the Irish Common Pleas, and Elizabeth Barnewall of Crickstown.[1] Sir Robert Dillon, later Lord Chief Justice, was his second cousin. He entered Middle Temple in 1561, then returned to Ireland. His rise in his profession was rapid: he became Principal Solicitor for Ireland in 1565 and Attorney General the following year.[2] He sat in the Irish House of Commons as member for Meath in the Parliament of 1568-71. He bought an estate at Moymet, near Trim, County Meath, where he built Moymet Castle, now a ruin. In 1570 he succeeded his father-in-law James Bathe as Chief Baron, rather against the wishes of the Irish ruling class, most of whom supported the claims of the second Baron of the Exchequer, Robert Cusack.[3] The final decision rested with Queen Elizabeth I, 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. However the English Crown, while making intermittent efforts to appoint judges of sincere Protestant views, as a rule accepted outward adherence to the Church of Ireland as sufficient evidence of loyalty, and Dillon's private religious opinions, which were shared by most of his colleagues, were not a bar to advancement.

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, diligent in attending the Privy Council and the Court of Castle Chamber (the Irish Star Chamber), and one of the few judges of real eminence in Ireland.[4] He was particularly close to Sir Henry Sidney, the Lord Deputy of Ireland, who called him "my faithful Dillon", and knighted him.[5] He played a considerable part in putting down the Desmond Rebellions and the rebellion of William Nugent. [6]

His reputation suffered greatly through his willingness to sit as a judge of the trial of William's uncle Nicholas Nugent for treason in 1582. Nicholas had been Chief Justice of the Common Pleas, and the trial of a senior judge on such a charge was without precedent. There was a long and bitter feud between the two families: Lucas' cousin Robert hoped to succeed Nugent as Chief Justice, and the fact that among the charges was an accusation that Nugent had plotted to kill both Dillons should have disqualified them from sitting.[7] The conviction and execution of Nugent caused grave 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 giving impartial justice to their own people.

Dillon was by now acquiring enemies, but he also had friends, including the new Deputy, Sir John Perrot. He was spoken of as a likely Lord Chancellor, although critics said he was too corrupt for the post. Elizabeth I herself thought highly of him and at one point was said to have offered him the office of Lord Chief Justice of Ireland.[8] 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 against a servant of the Crown.[9] William Nugent, who had received a royal pardon, made a concerted attack on Sir Robert Dillon, now Chief Justice, and for a time had him suspended. Lucas was also attacked, and the strain is said to have hastened his death, although he had been in ill- health for some years. He died in Dublin, and was buried at Newtown.[10]

Family

Dillon married firstly Jane Bathe, daughter of his predecessor Chief Baron James Bathe; their son James became 1st Earl of Roscommon in 1622. He married secondly Marion Sherle, widow of Sir Christopher Barnewall of Turvey; Eleanor, one of her many daughters by her first marriage, married her stepfather's son James Dillon.[11]

Lucas' daughter Genet married Christopher Plunkett, 9th Baron Killeen and was the mother of

Reputation

Lucas Dillon has received somewhat mixed treatment from historians. Elrington Ball stresses the charges of corruption and his handling of the Nugent trial.[12] Crawford on the other hand stresses his talent and energy and the high regard most Crown officials had for him, and argues that the charges of corruption were partisan in nature.[13] It is significant that Queen Elizabeth, who was noted for her skill in choosing good public servants, thought highly of him.

Notes

  1. ↑ Ball, 1926, p.211
  2. ↑ Ball, p.212
  3. ↑ Ball, p.212
  4. ↑ Crawford, p.98
  5. ↑ Ball, p.212
  6. ↑ Pollard 1901.
  7. ↑ Ball, p.147
  8. ↑ Ball, p.212
  9. ↑ Crawford p.110
  10. ↑ Ball, p.212
  11. ↑ Ball, p.212
  12. ↑ Ball, p.147
  13. ↑ Crawford, pp.109–110

References