Nathaniel Catelyn

Sir Nathaniel Catelyn (c.1580–1637) was a leading politician and judge in seventeenth-century Ireland. He was Speaker of the Irish House of Commons in the Irish Parliament of 1634–5, Recorder of Dublin and the first holder of the office of Second Serjeant. Despite accusations of conflicts of interest and of Roman Catholic sympathies, he retained the confidence of the Crown and was a key ally of Thomas Wentworth, 1st Earl of Strafford, the Lord Deputy of Ireland.

Family and early career

He was born in Suffolk, younger son of Richard Catelyn (died 1601) of Woolverstone Hall, near Ipswich, and his wife Dionysia Marsh; the Catelyns were a junior branch of a family which had been long associated with Norwich.^[1]

He entered Lincoln's Inn in 1605.^[2] It is not known when he came to Ireland, but he is recorded as a member of King's Inns in 1622/3 and became Recorder of Dublin in 1626.^[3]

Serjeant-at-law

In 1627 he was selected for the new office of Second Irish Serjeant-at-law. The reasons are unclear but may have been due to pressure of work on the existing Law Officers : the patent states that the King "understands that it is expedient for our services that we should have another serjeant at law in that our kingdom, of whose diligence use may be made in such causes as concern us."^[4] On the other hand James Butler, 1st Duke of Ormonde (who was a teenager at the time), recalled many years later that the office had been created simply to favour Catelyn; in his view the position of Second Serjeant was "wholly useless to the King and little profitable to anyone".^[5]

When the question of precedence was raised, the King ruled that the Second Serjeant, as in England, should have precedence over the Attorney General for Ireland and Solicitor General for Ireland, ranking equally with his fellow serjeant.^[6] He was explicitly allowed to retain office as Recorder and in that capacity to act as counsel for the city of Dublin. This double role later damaged his career.

Religious riots of 1628

In 1628 the Crown, having for some years tolerated the open celebration of the Roman Catholic faith in Dublin, decided on vigorous enforcement of the Penal Laws. On 26 December news came that troops were being sent into the city to prevent celebration of the Mass; a serious riot developed and a large mob stoned the Anglican Archbishop of Dublin, Lancelot Bulkeley, who had to rake refuge in a private house for his safety. In an effort to calm the rioters, the city fathers denied the troops entry to the city: when the Archbishop, naturally outraged at being put in danger, complained, Catelyn, as Recorder, defended the right of the Corporation of Dublin to take whatever steps it thought fit.^[7]

Charles I would not tolerate the questioning of his royal prerogative by one of his own law officers, and ordered "the man Catelyn's" dismissal from as position of Recorder on the ground that he was a ringleader of the trouble.^[8] He was removed from office, but the Lord Deputy of Ireland, Lord Falkland, who was well disposed to Catelyn, later ordered the Privy Council of Ireland to hear him in his own defence. He defended himself with great vigour, pointing to the Mayor of Dublin's evidence that he had, as a lawyer, simply acted on the instructions given by his client, and that the Recorder of Dublin, as in London, was in the special position of "serving two masters", Crown and City. The Council accepted his arguments and he was reinstated. The episode did not damage his career in the long run: in 1632 he was commended for his good service by the Lords Justices,^[9] and later received a knighthood. The episode also gave him a reputation for being sympathetic to Roman Catholics, and even of being at heart a Catholic himself, which increased his popularity.

Strafford Administration

Under the strong and ruthless regime of the Earl of Strafford, Catelyn played a key part in the administration of government. He sat regularly in the Court of Castle Chamber, the Irish equivalent of Star Chamber, notably in the case of alleged maladministration of Youghal College, a key test of the power of Richard Boyle, 1st Earl of Cork.^[10] In 1635 he led for the Crown in the inquisition to establish the Crown's title to lands in Roscommon and was praised by Strafford for his good work.

Speaker of the House of Commons

A key part of Strafford's programme was to demonstrate the Crown's ability to manage the Irish Parliament, and for this purpose a compliant Speaker was essential. Strafford chose Catelyn as " a very able man and one who will in all things apply himself to his Majesty's service".^[11] It has been argued that Strafford also intended to conciliate the Roman Catholic members by selecting a man who, though a Protestant, was generally seen as well-disposed to Catholics.^[12] Unfortunately Catelyn failed to secure election to the Irish House of Commons. Strafford dealt with this problem in atypically ruthless fashion by summoning the Sheriff of Dublin City, Christopher Brice, who had returned the "wrong" candidate, before the Court of Castle Chamber, fining him heavily and barring him from office for life.^[13] Not surprisingly in view of such intimidation, the voters then elected Catelyn as member for Dublin City. Strafford then bluntly informed the Commons that he would reject any Speaker unacceptable to the King, and made his choice of candidate clear. The Commons duly elected Catelyn, who managed the business of the Commons entirely in accordance with Strafford's instructions.

Death and family

It was common for serjeants to act as extra judges of assize: Catelyn was on assize in 1637 when he died.^[14]

He married Rebecca Thimbleby of Dublin; they appear to have been childless. After his death she remarried Sir Erasmus Borrowes, first of the Borrowes baronets. She died in 1682.^[15]

References