Patrick Barnewall (judge)

He was the eldest son of Roger Barnewall of Fieldstown or Fedleston, Clonmethan, County Dublin, a member of the Kingsland branch of the prominent Barnewall family; Roger had married his cousin Alison, daughter of Christopher, 2nd Baron Trimlestown and Elizabeth Plunket, and sister of John Barnewall, 3rd Baron Trimlestown, later Lord Chancellor of Ireland. Patrick's choice of a legal career no doubt owed something to his uncle's example; he is also said to have been greatly influenced, at least in the early years, by his brother-in-law Thomas Luttrell, later Chief Justice of the Irish Common Pleas. He returned to Ireland soon afterwards to practice at the Irish Bar. He acted as an agent for the family of Anne Boleyn, who had inherited substantial lands in Ireland through their relationship with the Butler dynasty. == Solicitor General ==

His appointment as King's Sergeant and as Solicitor General in 1534 was largely due to the patronage of Cromwell, who actively promoted the careers of Barnewall and his brother-in-law Sir Thomas Luttrell, and recommended Barnewall in particular for high office as being a man of "integrity and learning". His main rivals for power were the Cowleys, who were clients of the Earl of Ormond. In 1535 Barnewall obtained the lucrative posts of Collector of Customs for Dublin and Drogheda, only to lose them to Walter and Robert Cowley. Walter also aimed for Barnewall's other offices, and in 1536 Barnewall went so far as to write an abject letter to Cromwell offering to surrender all of them. despite his heavy obligations to the Crown, he initially opposed the Protestant Reformation. In 1540 he was in England discussing Parliamentary business and was recommended to the Crown as a man of integrity and learning, and an expert on the situation in the Pale. == Silken Thomas Rebellion- aftermath==

The rebellion of Silken Thomas was to involve Barnewall in the delicate task of pleading with Henry VIII for a general pardon on behalf of the Anglo-Irish gentry, many of whom were under suspicion of having supported the rebellion. Barnewall himself apparently had no sympathy for the rebel cause, although his enemy Walter Cowley tried hard to persuade Cromwell that he had. His uncle Lord Trimlestown had, probably with more reason, been accused of wavering in his loyalty, but Cromwell was evidently prepared to overlook this. Given the close ties of blood and marriage which existed between nearly all the Anglo-Irish families of the Pale, it was reasonable that Barnewall, with his considerable influence at the English Court, should be asked by his relatives and neighbours to go to England to plead for a pardon, and he agreed to do so. He was accompanied by Sir Robert Dillon (died 1580), the Attorney General for Ireland, who, though technically Barnewall's superior, seems to have been very much the junior partner on the mission. It has been suggested that he was exposing himself to great danger since there was a risk that the King would interpret any plea for mercy as evidence of his support for the rebels. However, he used his influence with Cromwell to good effect, and during his visit to London in 1536-7 he succeeded in obtaining a general royal pardon for those involved or suspected of involvement in the rebellion. In 1537 he accompanied the Lord Deputy of Ireland, Leonard Grey, 1st Viscount Grane, to Limerick, to assist in a military campaign against the O'Byrnes. == Dissolution of the Monasteries ==

Barnewall and Dillon at the same time as they were pleading for the suspected rebels were entrusted with a second mission to the King, which was to deal with the dissolution of the monasteries in Ireland, which raised quite different issues in Ireland than in England. == King's Inns ==

Barnewall is now chiefly remembered for his role in establishing the King's Inns. Like most of the Anglo-Irish gentry (even those, like Barnewall himself and his brother-in-law Thomas Luttrell, who spoke fluent Irish) Barnewall also believed firmly in the civilising effect of English culture on the Irish people and argued that the new Inn would encourage the use of the English language, as well as English customs and practice. It is not known if Cromwell responded, but Barnewall continued to press the matter even after Cromwell's downfall. He was one of the original lessees named in the lease of Blackfriars (the property comprising the present-day King's Inns) by the King in 1541 (as was his uncle Robert Barnewall, a barrister whose ambition for high office was never fulfilled); and he was among those who signed the petition to the Privy Council later that year asking for the title to the property to be confirmed. == Judge ==

Barnewall was a key figure in the Irish Government during the years 1536–41, but thereafter his influence declined, no doubt largely due to Cromwell's downfall and execution in 1540, although on a visit to England that year he was highly commended by the Crown. == Character ==

Barnewall has been described as a "redoubtable figure" who was noted for his integrity and learning. Kenny describes him as an astute politician. Hart agrees with this verdict and notes the crucial role Barnewall played in Government; probably no other Solicitor General in Irish history ever approached his influence. If his opposition to the suppression of the monasteries was self-interested, it nonetheless took considerable nerve; he also deserves credit for the courage he showed by his willingness to plead with Henry VIII for a general pardon for those gentry suspected of rebellion. == Family ==

Barnewall married, before 1522, Anne Luttrell, daughter of Richard Luttrell of Luttrellstown Castle and Margaret Fitzlyons and sister of Thomas Luttrell, the future Lord Chief Justice of the Common Pleas. They had two children: • Sir Christopher Barnewall, an extremely popular member of Parliament and Sheriff of County Dublin, and ancestor of the Viscounts Barnewall • Margaret, who married a cousin, also called Patrick Barnewall. == References ==