He was born at Thrapston in Northamptonshire.[1] By 1300, he was already a senior Crown official, and his Irish career began around 1301. He frequently returned to England, where he had a number of official duties, such as keeper of the lands of the Royal favouriteHugh Despenser the Elder. He was also entrusted with arresting the attendees at a tournament (presumably illegal) in Staffordshire.[1]
In Ireland, he became custodian of the writs and rolls of the Court of the Justiciar of Ireland in 1301 at a salary of £5 a year.[1] An order in the Close Rolls for 1302 survives, directing payment to him of 50 shillings in part payment of his salary,[2] and there is a similar order in 1306, as his salary was now seriously in arrears. He was a witness to the marriage contract between Robert Dardyz and Matilda Rochfort in 1303; an interesting detail is that Robert bound himself to pay his wife 200 marks in case the couple were divorced.[3]
In 1307, he was superseded as custodian of the Writs by Nicholas Wynley, and ordered to hand all the records of the custodian's office over to him.[4] He was given a temporary reappointment in 1310 "in the present eyre (judicial circuit) of County Dublin" (this was one of the last Irish eyres). He made several return visits to England, whether on official or personal business is not clear.[1] He was appointed second Baron of the Court of Exchequer (Ireland) "during pleasure" in 1328.[5] He was appointed Chancellor of the Exchequer in 1330 so long as he was of good behaviour, and "so long as his bodily health allowed".[1] This was presumably a reference to his advancing years and ill health. He held the office for about three years, being replaced by Thomas de Brayles in 1333.[6]
Robert Wikeford or de Wikeford was an English-born diplomat, lawyer and judge, who became Lord Chancellor of Ireland and Archbishop of Dublin.
Nicholas de Balscote was an English-born official and judge in fourteenth-century Ireland. He attained high judicial office, but his career was damaged by a quarrel with King Edward II.
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Robert de Emeldon, or Embleton was an English-born Crown official and judge who spent much of his career in Ireland. He held several important public offices, including Attorney-General for Ireland, Lord High Treasurer of Ireland and Chief Baron of the Irish Exchequer. He was a turbulent and violent man, who was guilty of at least one homicide, was imprisoned for a number of serious crimes including rape and manslaughter, and had a reputation for corruption: but he was a royal favourite of King Edward III and was thus able to survive his temporary disgrace in the early 1350s.
John Keppock was an Irish judge of the late fourteenth century, who held the offices of Lord Chief Justice of Ireland, Chief Baron of the Irish Exchequer and Deputy Lord Chancellor of Ireland. He became a politician of some importance.
William de Karlell was an English-born judge, administrator and cleric in fourteenth-century Ireland. He held numerous benefices including Archdeacon of Meath and Rector of Youghal, and sat in the Irish House of Commons. After sitting for some years as a Baron of the Court of Exchequer (Ireland) he was removed from office, following a flood of complaints about his acts of extortion and oppression committed by himself and Chief Baron Holywood, but he was later restored to favour, and served briefly as Chief Baron of the Irish Exchequer. He is buried in St Canice's Cathedral, Kilkenny.
Sir John de Shriggeley, whose family name is also spelt Shirggeley and Shryggeley was an Irish statesman and judge who held several important judicial offices, including Chief Justice of the Irish Common Pleas. Although he committed two murders, he was a valued servant of the English Crown.
John de Rednesse was an English-born judge who served four times as Lord Chief Justice of Ireland.
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John Giffard, or Gyffard was an English-born lawyer and cleric in Ireland in the late fourteenth century, who served briefly as Chief Justice of the Irish Common Pleas.
Robert Dyke, Dyck or Dyche was an English-born cleric and judge who held high office in fifteenth-century Ireland. He was appointed to the offices of Archdeacon of Dublin, Chancellor of the Exchequer of Ireland, Lord High Treasurer of Ireland, and Master of the Rolls in Ireland, as well as holding several Church benefices.
Edward Somerton, or Somertoune was an Irish barrister and judge who held the offices of Serjeant-at-law (Ireland) and judge of the Court of King's Bench (Ireland) and the Court of Common Pleas (Ireland). He was born in Ireland, possibly in Waterford, although he lived much of his life in Dublin. By 1426 he was a clerk in the Court of Chancery (Ireland), and was paid 26 shillings for his labours in preparing writs and enrolment of indentures,. In 1427 he is recorded in London studying law at Lincoln's Inn. He returned to Ireland and was again in the Crown service by 1435, when he was ordered to convey lands at Beaulieu, County Louth to Robert Chambre, one of the Barons of the Court of Exchequer (Ireland). He was appointed King's Serjeant for life in 1437; he also acted as counsel for the city of Waterford, a position subsequently held by another future judge, John Gough.
Sir William le Deveneys was a Crown administrator and judge in late thirteenth and early fourteenth century Ireland, who served very briefly as Chief Justice of the Irish Common Pleas.
Thomas de Brayles was a senior judge and Crown official in fourteenth century England. He spent part of his career in Ireland, where he became Chancellor of the Exchequer of Ireland and a Baron of the Irish Court of Exchequer.
Nicholas de Snyterby, or Snitterby was a Law Officer and judge in Ireland in the fourteenth century, who held office as King's Serjeant, Baron of the Court of Exchequer (Ireland) and justice of the Court of Common Pleas (Ireland).
William Alysaundre or Alesander was an Irish judge and Crown official in the reigns of King Edward I of England and his son Edward II.
John Blakeney was an Irish judge of the fifteenth century, who served three times as Chief Justice of the Common Pleas.
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John Brettan or Breton was an Irish judge and Crown official. His petitions to the Irish Privy Council, of which he wrote five between 1376 and 1382, and which have survived ; cast a valuable light on the disturbed condition of English-ruled Ireland in the late fourteenth century, and especially the situation in Carlow, his home town, which was the effective seat of English government in the latter half of the fourteenth century.
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