Walter Cowley

Walter Cowley (c.1500 – 1548) was an Irish lawyer and politician who was the first holder of the office of Principal Solicitor for Ireland, which was created for him. He was a client of Thomas Cromwell, and later of John Alan, the Lord Chancellor of Ireland, which ultimately led to his downfall. He is best remembered as an ancestor of the 1st Duke of Wellington.

Background

The Colley family originated in Rutland, where they were long associated with the village of Glaston. Records show that Walter Colley and son Robert moved to Ireland about 1500 as merchants from Bristol. Robert Cowley, though sometimes referred to as Walter's brother, was almost certainly his son. Robert moved to Ireland about 1500, which was probably the year of Walter's birth, and had a highly successful career, becoming Master of the Rolls in Ireland, but ultimately fell from power about 1540.[1]

Early career

By the mid 1530s Walter had developed political ambitions of his own; he and his father both became clients of Thomas Cromwell.[2] This led to a clash with Patrick Barnewall, another client of Cromwell; Walter clearly hoped to replace Barnewall as Solicitor General for Ireland, and did replace him as Receiver of Customs for Drogheda.[3] Both Cowleys sought to blacken Barnewall's name, accusing him in particular of questioning the King's authority, a very serious matter given the ruthlessness with which Henry VIII dealt with dissent. Barnewall was so alarmed that he offered to resign in Walter's favour; but Cromwell wished to retain the services of both men, and a separate office of Principal Solicitor for Ireland was created for Walter.[4] Odd though this arrangement may seem, it probably helped to alleviate the burden of work for the two senior Law Officers, and continued for many years after Walter's removal.

Walter also clashed with James Bathe, Chief Baron of the Irish Exchequer 1540-1570; Walter's father had attacked Bathe as a "presumptuous upstart" as early as 1525.[5] The Rebellion of Silken Thomas must have seemed an excellent opportunity to block Bathe's advancement, since his father-in-law John Burnell was one of the principal rebels. However Bathe possessed both influential friends and the ability to avoid becoming tied to any political faction: his rise to power was a clear sign that the Cowleys' political influence was in decline.[6]

Later career

After Cromwell's downfall Walter sought the patronage of the Lord Chancellor, John Alan, who belonged to a faction opposed to the Lord Deputy of Ireland, Sir Anthony St Leger. Since St Leger was notoriously hot-tempered his ensuing quarrel with St Leger was probably not of Walter's making, but he showed a serious lack of judgment, which led to his removal from office. His father was already out of favour and had been imprisoned in the Fleet Prison.[7]

In an effort to conciliate James Butler, 9th Earl of Ormond, who had regained much of his family's former influence, St Leger gave him command of the Irish forces in the war against Scotland in 1544.[8] Ormond received an anonymous letter at Gowran, accusing St Leger of deliberately exposing him to danger. It emerged that Walter had written the letter, although he insisted that an associate of his called Cantwell had been responsible.[9]

In a further blunder, Walter and Lord Chancellor Alan drew up a book of articles, accusing St Leger of widespread maladministration. St Leger demanded an inquiry by the Privy Council of England, which exonerated him entirely. Walter was deprived of office and imprisoned in the Tower of London;[10] the State papers preserve an abject letter he wrote to the King pleading for clemency and saying that he had acted out of genuine fear for Ormond's life.[11] He was eventually released, and apparently regained a degree of favour, being appointed Surveyor-General shortly before he died in 1548. Since his family were able to purchase Carbury Castle, County Kildare, within a few years of his death, it is likely that he left a considerable fortune.

Descendants

His wife's name is unknown: he had two sons of whom the elder, Sir Henry Colley of Carbury Castle (died 1584), was a distinguished soldier and a direct ancestor of Richard Wesley, 1st Baron Mornington. Richard changed the family name to Wesley, and was the grandfather of the 1st Duke of Wellington.[12]

Character

Historians have little good to say of Walter Cowley: he and his father have been described as "ambitious mischief-makers".[13] He should not perhaps be blamed for the abject tone of his letter to Henry VIII from the Tower of London pleading for mercy, since he may well have feared for his life at the time he wrote it. On the other hand, his intrigues against Barnewall and Bathe show him in an unattractive light.[14]

References

  1. ↑ Ball, F. Elrington The Judges in Ireland 1221-1921 John Murray London 1926 Vol.1 p. 203
  2. ↑ Hart, A. R. The History of the King's Serjeants-at-law in Ireland Dublin Four Courts Press 2000 p. 31
  3. ↑ Hart p. 31
  4. ↑ Hart p.37
  5. ↑ Ó Mathuna, Seán P. William Bathe 1564-1614 - a Pioneer in Linguistics John Benjamins 1986 p.9
  6. ↑ Ó Mathúna p.9
  7. ↑ Ball p. 203
  8. ↑ Dudley Edwards, Robert Ireland in the Age of the Tudors Croom Helm London 1977 p. 58
  9. ↑ Dudley Edwards p. 59
  10. ↑ Dudley Edwards p. 59
  11. ↑ State Papers for the Reign of Henry VIII Vol. III p. 580
  12. ↑ Longford, Elizabeth Wellington-the Years of the Sword Panther Edition 1971 p. 29
  13. ↑ Hart p. 30
  14. ↑ Hart p.30
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