John de Burnham

Last updated

John de Burnham, or John Brunham (died 1363) was an English-born cleric, judge and Crown official who spent much of his career in Ireland. He held office as Lord High Treasurer of Ireland and Chief Baron of the Irish Exchequer. He spent many years defending himself against charges of corruption, which seem to have been the invention of malicious colleagues.

Contents

Early life

He was the son of William Burnham of Norfolk, and was probably born in one of the groups of adjacent villages called the Norfolk Burnhams. [1] He had the title "Master", which at the time meant that he had a University degree. He took holy orders, and his first benefice was a living in Lincolnshire. He became parish priest of Felmersham, Bedfordshire in 1333 and was named as a tax assessor for the same county, and also for Buckinghamshire, in 1340. [1] He was a member of the Royal Household from the 1320s onwards. He was Treasurer to the Prince of Wales, and gained great experience in the field of finance, especially army accounts. [2]

StMary'sChurch-Felmersham.jpg Church of St Mary, Felmersham, Bedfordshire: Burnham was the parish priest here in the 1330s.

Lord Treasurer of Ireland

In 1343 he was sent to Ireland as Lord Treasurer; [3] he also became a canon of St. Patrick's Cathedral, Dublin and a prebendary of the Diocese of Cloyne. [1] His appointment as Treasurer, like that of Sir Ralph d'Ufford as Justiciar of Ireland the following year, was apparently prompted by complaints by the Privy Council of Ireland about the efficiency of the Irish Exchequer, and the Council's doubts about the honesty of Burnham's predecessor Hugh de Burgh. [2] It was no doubt thought that Burnham, with his long experience of administering the English royal finances, would be a good Treasurer, and he did indeed do something to improve the Irish finances. [4] However, his long battle to clear himself of charges of corruption can hardly have made the task of reforming the Irish Exchequer any easier. He was ex officio a member of the Privy Council. In 1344 he received £40 for levying the King's expenses in Munster. [5] He returned to England on official business in 1345. [6] In 1346 he was present at the Council meeting which approved the appointment of Ralph Darcy as the new Justiciar of Ireland (d'Ufford had died in April.) [7]

When the lands of Maurice FitzGerald, 1st Earl of Desmond, were forfeited for rebellion in 1345, Burnham was chosen to administer them. The lands were restored to Desmond in 1349. Burnham, like d'Ufford, was accused of unduly heavy-handed treatment of the Anglo-Irish nobility. [4]

In 134d he was raised to the Bench as a Baron of the Court of Exchequer (Ireland). [8]

Charges of corruption

In 1348 he was summoned to England to answer very serious charges over his conduct as Treasurer, involving accusations of fraud, negligence and concealment of the royal revenues for his own profit. His stay in England lasted for seven years, requiring him to appoint attorneys to manage his Irish affairs. [9] The charges appear to have been instigated by William de Barton, [2] a disgruntled official who was the former Keeper of Works in the Exchequer of Ireland who had a personal grudge against Burnham, who was probably responsible for Barton's temporary removal from office on health grounds. [4] Barton belonged to a rival faction in the Dublin administration and played a large part in the subsequent inquiry; he also received a substantial grant of Crown lands at this time at Milltown, Dublin. [10] There is no evidence that Burnham was regarded by the rest of his colleagues as corrupt, although some of them stood to gain from the charges, notably Robert de Emeldon, who succeeded him as Treasurer, and was supportive of Barton, whose return to the Exchequer he facilitated. [1]

In the end, Burnham was cleared of any wrongdoing; it does not seem that he had ever been removed from the Court of Exchequer. While the accusations against him were numerous and detailed, Connolly [2] concludes that there is no credible evidence to support any of them and that the charges were fabricated by Burnham's rival William de Barton. Although Barton, given the lack of evidence to support them, could not hope to prove the charges, he could hope that the length and complexity of the inquiry, which he dragged out as far as possible, would cause Burnham a great deal of trouble, and keep him out of Ireland. [11]

Last years

Having vindicated his good name, Burnham returned to Ireland and was promoted to the office of Lord Chief Baron in 1355. He remained in office until his death in 1363. [1] He and his former enemy William de Barton, who had been restored to office, on Robert de Emeldon's recommendation, as Chief Engrosser (copier) of the Exchequer, and as Chief Purveyor, [10] appear to have resolved their differences, and they worked amicably together in the Court of Exchequer for several years. [12] In 1361 with several other officials he crossed to England in an effort to persuade King Edward III that his presence, or failing that the presence of a senior member of the Royal Family, was required in Ireland to strengthen the Crown's authority. [4] He also played a part in drawing up the Westminster Ordinances which reformed the Irish Exchequer. [4]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Attorney-General for Ireland</span> Senior legal officer in Ireland prior to 1921

The Attorney-General for Ireland was an Irish and then United Kingdom government office-holder. He was senior in rank to the Solicitor-General for Ireland: both advised the Crown on Irish legal matters. With the establishment of the Irish Free State in 1922, the duties of the Attorney-General and Solicitor-General for Ireland were taken over by the Attorney General of Ireland. The office of Solicitor-General for Ireland was abolished at the same time for reasons of economy. This led to repeated complaints from the first Attorney General of Ireland, Hugh Kennedy, about the "immense volume of work" which he was now forced to deal with single-handedly.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chief Baron of the Irish Exchequer</span> Senior judge who oversaw the Court of Exchequer in Ireland

The Chief Baron of the Irish Exchequer was the Baron (judge) who presided over the Irish Court of Exchequer. This was a mirror of the equivalent court in England, and was one of the four courts which sat in the building in Dublin which is still called The Four Courts.

Sir John Morice, Morris or Moriz was an English-born statesman of the fourteenth century whose career was mainly spent in Ireland. He is remembered chiefly for his enthusiastic, if not very successful, efforts to reform the Irish administration, and for the fact that a portrait of him still exists. This is said to be the earliest portrait of an Irish judge and can be viewed by the public.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Court of Exchequer (Ireland)</span> Senior court of common law in Ireland

The Court of Exchequer (Ireland), or the Irish Exchequer of Pleas, was one of the senior courts of common law in Ireland. It was the mirror image of the equivalent court in England. The Court of Exchequer was one of the four royal courts of justice which gave their name to the building in Dublin in which they were located, which is still called the Four Courts, and is in use as a courthouse.

Walter de Islip, Isleep or de Istlep was an English-born cleric, statesman, and judge in fourteenth-century Ireland. He was the first Chief Baron of the Irish Exchequer; he also held the offices of Treasurer of Ireland, Chief Escheator, and Custos Rotulorum of Kilkenny. He was a noted pluralist, who held numerous benefices. His career was seriously damaged by accusations of corruption and maladministration. He played an important role in the celebrated Kilkenny Witchcraft Trials of 1324.

Thomas de Montpellier, or de Monte Pessulano was a fourteenth-century Anglo-French judge and Crown official, much of whose career was spent in Ireland. He held a number of important lay and clerical offices including Dean of St. Patrick's Cathedral, Chancellor of the Exchequer of Ireland and, briefly, Chief Baron of the Irish Exchequer.

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.

Thomas Minot, also spelt Mynot or Mynyot was an English-born judge and cleric in fourteenth-century Ireland. He was Archbishop of Dublin from 1363 to 1375. He is chiefly remembered for his extensive restoration works to St Patrick's Cathedral, Dublin, and in particular for rebuilding the Cathedral's tower, which is still called Minot's Tower.

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John de Troye</span>

John de Troye was a Welsh-born Crown official and judge in fourteenth century Ireland, who held the offices of Chancellor of the Exchequer of Ireland and Lord Treasurer of Ireland. He was also a leading ecclesiastic, whose most senior clerical office was Chancellor of St. Patrick's Cathedral, Dublin. He was a notable pluralist.

John de Grauntsete or Grantsete (or John of Grantchester) (c. 1270 – c. 1350) was an English judge who lived in fourteenth-century Ireland. We know more about him than we do about any other contemporary Irish judge, and from the surviving information we can form some idea of the lifestyle of an Irish judge in his time. He sat in turn in each of the Irish Courts of common law, and uniquely he is known to have appeared in Court as an advocate even after he became a judge.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thomas atte Crosse</span>

Thomas atte Crosse, also called Thomas de Crosse, or simply Thomas Crosse was an English cleric, Crown official and judge, who had a highly successful career in both England and Ireland. Little is recorded about his early years, but by 1336 he was referred to as an official of long-standing, who had been put to great "labours and charges" on the King's business in England, Ireland and Scotland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thomas Bache (judge)</span> Anglo-Italian cleric and judge in Ireland

Thomas Bache was an Anglo-Italian cleric and judge who held high office in Ireland in the later fourteenth and early fifteenth centuries. He served one term as Lord High Treasurer of Ireland and three terms as Chief Baron of the Irish Exchequer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thomas de Dent</span>

Thomas de Dent, Thomas Dyvelyn, Thomas Denton, or Thomas of Dublin was an English-born cleric and judge who held high office in Ireland during the reign of King Edward III, and was praised as a diligent and hard-working Crown official, who damaged his health through overwork.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Henry de Thrapston</span> English cleric

Henry de Thrapston, or Henry Trapeston was an English cleric, judge and Crown official who spent most of his career in Ireland, where he became Chancellor of the Exchequer of Ireland and Archdeacon of Cork.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nicholas de Snyterby</span> Ireland judge

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).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Walter de la Haye</span> English official in Ireland

Sir Walter de la Haye or de Haye was an English-born statesman and judge in Ireland of the late thirteenth and early fourteenth centuries, who served for many years as Sheriff of County Waterford and as Chief Escheator of Ireland, and briefly as Justiciar of Ireland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">William de Essendon</span> English-born cleric, lawyer


Sir William de Essendon, de Estdene or Eastdean was an English-born cleric, lawyer and Crown official, much of whose career was spent in Ireland in the reign of Edward I of England and his son. He served twice as Lord High Treasurer of Ireland, and had a high reputation for integrity and efficiency.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Brettan</span> Irish judge and Crown official

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">William de Epworth</span>

William de Epworth was an English-born judge and Crown official in Ireland in the reign of King Edward III. His career was marked by conflict with two other judges, Nicholas de Snyterby and John de Troye, who contested his right to sit as a Baron of the Court of Exchequer (Ireland). He also faced allegations of corruption in his conduct in another non-judicial office, which was taken very seriously, but of which he was ultimately cleared.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Ball, F. Elrington The Judges in Ireland 1221-1921 John Murray London 1926 Vol.1 p.81
  2. 1 2 3 4 Connolly, Philomena The Proceedings against John de Burnham, Treasurer of Ireland 1343-9 published in "Essays Presented to J.F. Lydon" Cambridge University Press 1993 pp.57-8
  3. ↑ Patent Rolls Edward III Vol.6 p.3
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 Mackay, Ronan "Burnham, John" Cambridge Dictionary of Irish Biography
  5. ↑ Close Roll 18 Edward III
  6. ↑ Patent Roll 19 Edward III
  7. ↑ Patent Roll 20 Edward III
  8. ↑ Patent Roll 20 Edward III
  9. ↑ Patent Rolls Edward III Vol.10 p.82
  10. 1 2 Patent Roll 22 Edward III
  11. ↑ Connolly p.71
  12. ↑ Connolly p.65
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.