Barnaby Skurloke or Skurlog
Encyclopedia
Barnaby Skurloke or Skurlock (1520ca. 1587) was an influential lawyer in Ireland of the mid-sixteenth century. He held the office of Attorney General for Ireland, the first office holder to be so described, and was for a short time acting Lord Chief Justice of Ireland
; but in later life became a leading figure in opposition to Government policy and was imprisoned as a result.
He was a native of Bective in County Meath
. The family name is an early form of Sherlock; originally from Wales
, a branch of the family came to Ireland with Strongbow
; the Irish Skurlocks are associated mainly with Meath, and gave their name to Sckurlockston. Barnaby's parentage is obscure, but he was presumably a close relative of the Barnabas Skurlock who received a grant of lands in Meath in 1529.
Barnaby attended Lincoln's Inn
and returned to practice in Ireland. In 1554 Mary I
appointed him Attorney General for Ireland, the first use of the title in place of King's Attorney. On the accession of Elizabeth I, he was reappointed and also acted briefly as Chief Justice, pending a permanent appointment. He was soon removed from both offices. It has been suggested that this was the cause of his later opposition to the Crown, but it is more likely that the Lord Deputy, the Earl of Sussex
, already regarded him as a troublemaker .From the 1550s on he was consistent in his opposition to the levying of "cess" a tax to fund the military garrisons in the Pale
.
Despite his opposition to cess, Skurlock was generally well-regarded by the authorities: he was on the commission to execute martial law in Meath in 1564, and was party to the renewal of the lease of the King's Inns in 1567. The Lord Chancellor of Ireland
, Sir William Gerard
, described him as one of the most experienced lawyers in Ireland in 1576, when he was " one of the Queen's learned counsel".
Serious trouble only arose the following year with renewed opposition to the cess. Skurlock was chosen, with Henry Burnell and Richard Neterville, to travel to London to petition the Queen for its removal on account of the ruinous cost. The Lord Deputy Sir Henry Sidney, argued that the petition was a defiance of the Royal Prerogative.The Queen agreed and the three were imprisoned in the Fleet Prison
, but were soon released having made an abject apology to the Queen and the Lord Deputy, although they did not drop their opposition to the cess.
His last years seem to have been peaceful, apart from a dispute with the Lord Justice, Sir Henry Wallop
in 1584 over the right of Skurlock's sons to take possession of the manors of
Skurlockston and Ifernack. His date of death is not recorded but he was still living in 1586.
He married a daughter of Chief Justice Plunkett, and they had at least two sons:, Oliver, who held the manor of Skurlockston, and Walter , who was Attorney General for Connaught in 1601.
In character he was described as learned, modest and discreet, although his enemy Lord Deputy Sidney called him "old and crafty".
Lord Chief Justice of Ireland
thumb|200px|The Four CourtsThe headquarters of the Irish judicial system since 1804. The Court of King's Bench was one of the original four courts that sat there....
; but in later life became a leading figure in opposition to Government policy and was imprisoned as a result.
He was a native of Bective in County Meath
County Meath
County Meath is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Mid-East Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the ancient Kingdom of Mide . Meath County Council is the local authority for the county...
. The family name is an early form of Sherlock; originally from Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
, a branch of the family came to Ireland with Strongbow
Strongbow
The term Strongbow may refer to:*Richard de Clare, 2nd Earl of Pembroke, a Norman earl also known by the nickname "Strongbow"*Strongbow Cider*Beleg Cúthalion , a character in JRR Tolkien's Quenta Silmarillion...
; the Irish Skurlocks are associated mainly with Meath, and gave their name to Sckurlockston. Barnaby's parentage is obscure, but he was presumably a close relative of the Barnabas Skurlock who received a grant of lands in Meath in 1529.
Barnaby attended Lincoln's Inn
Lincoln's Inn
The Honourable Society of Lincoln's Inn is one of four Inns of Court in London to which barristers of England and Wales belong and where they are called to the Bar. The other three are Middle Temple, Inner Temple and Gray's Inn. Although Lincoln's Inn is able to trace its official records beyond...
and returned to practice in Ireland. In 1554 Mary I
Mary I
Mary I or Maria I may refer to:*Maria, Queen of Sicily *Mary, Queen of Hungary *Mary I of England , often called "Bloody Mary"*Mary, Queen of Scots *Mary I of Portugal...
appointed him Attorney General for Ireland, the first use of the title in place of King's Attorney. On the accession of Elizabeth I, he was reappointed and also acted briefly as Chief Justice, pending a permanent appointment. He was soon removed from both offices. It has been suggested that this was the cause of his later opposition to the Crown, but it is more likely that the Lord Deputy, the Earl of Sussex
Earl of Sussex
Earl of Sussex is a title that has been created several times in the Peerages of England, Great Britain, and the United Kingdom. The early Earls of Arundel were often also called Earls of Sussex....
, already regarded him as a troublemaker .From the 1550s on he was consistent in his opposition to the levying of "cess" a tax to fund the military garrisons in the Pale
The Pale
The Pale or the English Pale , was the part of Ireland that was directly under the control of the English government in the late Middle Ages. It had reduced by the late 15th century to an area along the east coast stretching from Dalkey, south of Dublin, to the garrison town of Dundalk...
.
Despite his opposition to cess, Skurlock was generally well-regarded by the authorities: he was on the commission to execute martial law in Meath in 1564, and was party to the renewal of the lease of the King's Inns in 1567. The Lord Chancellor of Ireland
Lord Chancellor of Ireland
The office of Lord Chancellor of Ireland was the highest judicial office in Ireland until the establishment of the Irish Free State in 1922. From 1721 to 1801 it was also the highest political office of the Irish Parliament.-13th century:...
, Sir William Gerard
Sir William Gerard
Sir William Gerard was an Elizabethan statesman with a distinguished record of service in England, Wales and Ireland. He sat in the House of Commons for Chester for many years, and was Vice-President of the Council of Wales and the Marches...
, described him as one of the most experienced lawyers in Ireland in 1576, when he was " one of the Queen's learned counsel".
Serious trouble only arose the following year with renewed opposition to the cess. Skurlock was chosen, with Henry Burnell and Richard Neterville, to travel to London to petition the Queen for its removal on account of the ruinous cost. The Lord Deputy Sir Henry Sidney, argued that the petition was a defiance of the Royal Prerogative.The Queen agreed and the three were imprisoned in the Fleet Prison
Fleet Prison
Fleet Prison was a notorious London prison by the side of the Fleet River in London. The prison was built in 1197 and was in use until 1844. It was demolished in 1846.- History :...
, but were soon released having made an abject apology to the Queen and the Lord Deputy, although they did not drop their opposition to the cess.
His last years seem to have been peaceful, apart from a dispute with the Lord Justice, Sir Henry Wallop
Henry Wallop
Sir Henry Wallop was an English statesman.He was the eldest son of Sir Oliver Wallop of Farleigh Wallop in Hampshire. Having inherited the estates of his father and of his uncle, Sir John Wallop, he was knighted in 1569 and was chosen member of parliament for Southampton in 1572...
in 1584 over the right of Skurlock's sons to take possession of the manors of
Skurlockston and Ifernack. His date of death is not recorded but he was still living in 1586.
He married a daughter of Chief Justice Plunkett, and they had at least two sons:, Oliver, who held the manor of Skurlockston, and Walter , who was Attorney General for Connaught in 1601.
In character he was described as learned, modest and discreet, although his enemy Lord Deputy Sidney called him "old and crafty".