Christopher St Lawrence, 8th Baron Howth (d. 1589)
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Christopher St Lawrence, 8th Baron Howth (died 1589) was a member of the Privy Council
, and played a leading part in the Irish Government of the 1560s but later went into opposition and was imprisoned as a result. He was nick-named " the blind lord ". He was a man of some culture and may have partly written the historical compilation called The Book of Howth. He was notorious for his domestic cruelty and was imprisoned for ill-treating his wife and causing the death of his daughter.
in 1544 and was practicing at the English bar ten years later. It is not known when he was afflicted with blindness or whether it was total. By 1556 he had returned to Ireland and was managing one of the family estates. He succeeded to the barony in 1558.
, the Earl of Sussex
.He was made a member of the Privy Council immediately after the accession of Elizabeth I and sat in her first Irish Parliament. Sussex sent him to negotiate with Shane O'Neill
in 1561 and he persuaded O'Neill go to London and submit to the Queen. Howth himself went to London the following year to discuss Irish affairs with the Queen. By his account the Queen at first treated him with great suspicion as an Irishman, but he succeeded in winning her trust. He was confirmed as Baron and later knighted. After Sussex's departure he continued to enjoy the confidence of the Lord Justice, Sir Nicholas Arnold, who sent him to treat with the O'Reilly clan.
, and the Anglo-irish nobility over his taxation policy, and especially over cess, the tax for maintaining garrisons. Howth emerged as a leader of the opposition, and gave grave offence to the Queen as a result. Summoned before the Council, he argued that from his knowledge of the law Sidney's proposals were unconstitutional. He was imprisoned for 5 months in Dublin Castle
, and then made a full submission, arguing that he had never intended to question the Royal Prerogative
or the Queen's power to tax her Irish subjects. After a sharp rebuke he was freed but it is unlikely that he was ever fully trusted again, and it may be that his later prosecution for domestic cruelty had partly political motives.
, Sir William Gerard
, ordered a further investigation.The evidence showed that Howth had beaten his wife so often and severely that she had fled in fear of her life to her brother's house. Even more grave was the evidence that he had beaten his 13-year-old daughter Jane who died as a result. Howth was briefly imprisoned and fined heavily; he was ordered to pay maintenance to his wife , who was allowed to live apart and given custody of the children. While the Government in imposing these penalties may have been rebuking Howth for his opposition, the verdict also suggests strong sympathy for Lady Howth.
, always a great rarity in Ireland.He died on 24 October 1589 and was buried in Howth Abbey; his tomb has an effigy to himself and his wife. His last will made generous bequests to servants but none of his children except his eldest son are included. The references in the will to his many and grave sins have been called evidence of genuine remorse for his treatment of his wife and daughter.
. The last part deals in detail with Howth's own career and may well have been written by him.
,or Granuaile the celebrated Pirate Queen of Galway, called at Howth Castle
only to find the gates barred. Outraged by the discourtesy, she kidnapped Lord Howth's heir, then a young child ( which would be the 8th baron's grandson, the future 10th baron ) and held him hostage until the St. Lawrence family apologised. To make amends Lord Howth promised that in future his gates would always be open at dinner time and a place set for unexpected guests.
. From her testimony at his trial it is clear that they had 14 children, but presumably many died in infancy as only 7 can be certainly identified:
Howth married secondly after 1579 Cecily Cusack, daughter of Henry Cusack, alderman of Dublin. She outlived him by many years and remarried.
Privy council
A privy council is a body that advises the head of state of a nation, typically, but not always, in the context of a monarchic government. The word "privy" means "private" or "secret"; thus, a privy council was originally a committee of the monarch's closest advisors to give confidential advice on...
, and played a leading part in the Irish Government of the 1560s but later went into opposition and was imprisoned as a result. He was nick-named " the blind lord ". He was a man of some culture and may have partly written the historical compilation called The Book of Howth. He was notorious for his domestic cruelty and was imprisoned for ill-treating his wife and causing the death of his daughter.
Early life
He was born after 1509, third son of Christopher St.Lawrence, 5th baron Howth,and Anne Bermingham, and brother of Edward and Richard, the 6th and 7th barons. Since he was not expected to inherit the title, his early years are poorly recorded. He entered Lincoln's InnLincoln'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...
in 1544 and was practicing at the English bar ten years later. It is not known when he was afflicted with blindness or whether it was total. By 1556 he had returned to Ireland and was managing one of the family estates. He succeeded to the barony in 1558.
Politician
The Lord of Howth was always well suited to playing a major part in Irish politics: Howth had the additional advantage of enjoying the trust of the Lord Deputy of IrelandLord Deputy of Ireland
The Lord Deputy was the King's representative and head of the Irish executive under English rule, during the Lordship of Ireland and later the Kingdom of Ireland...
, 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....
.He was made a member of the Privy Council immediately after the accession of Elizabeth I and sat in her first Irish Parliament. Sussex sent him to negotiate with Shane O'Neill
Shane O'Neill
Seán Ó Néill, anglicised Shane O'Neill , nicknamed 'Seán an díomais', was an Irish king of the O'Neill dynasty of Ulster in the mid 16th century. Shane O'Neill's career was marked by his ambition to be The Ó Néill Mór - Sovereign of the dominant Ó Néill Mór family of Tyrone... and thus head...
in 1561 and he persuaded O'Neill go to London and submit to the Queen. Howth himself went to London the following year to discuss Irish affairs with the Queen. By his account the Queen at first treated him with great suspicion as an Irishman, but he succeeded in winning her trust. He was confirmed as Baron and later knighted. After Sussex's departure he continued to enjoy the confidence of the Lord Justice, Sir Nicholas Arnold, who sent him to treat with the O'Reilly clan.
Opposition
The 1570s were a time of conflict between the Lord Deputy, Sir Henry SidneyHenry Sidney
Sir Henry Sidney , Lord Deputy of Ireland was the eldest son of Sir William Sidney of Penshurst, a prominent politician and courtier during the reigns of Henry VIII and Edward VI, from both of whom he received extensive grants of land, including the manor of Penshurst in Kent, which became the...
, and the Anglo-irish nobility over his taxation policy, and especially over cess, the tax for maintaining garrisons. Howth emerged as a leader of the opposition, and gave grave offence to the Queen as a result. Summoned before the Council, he argued that from his knowledge of the law Sidney's proposals were unconstitutional. He was imprisoned for 5 months in Dublin Castle
Dublin Castle
Dublin Castle off Dame Street, Dublin, Ireland, was until 1922 the fortified seat of British rule in Ireland, and is now a major Irish government complex. Most of it dates from the 18th century, though a castle has stood on the site since the days of King John, the first Lord of Ireland...
, and then made a full submission, arguing that he had never intended to question the Royal Prerogative
Royal Prerogative
The royal prerogative is a body of customary authority, privilege, and immunity, recognized in common law and, sometimes, in civil law jurisdictions possessing a monarchy as belonging to the sovereign alone. It is the means by which some of the executive powers of government, possessed by and...
or the Queen's power to tax her Irish subjects. After a sharp rebuke he was freed but it is unlikely that he was ever fully trusted again, and it may be that his later prosecution for domestic cruelty had partly political motives.
Charges of domestic cruelty
In 1579 Nicholas Terrell, a servant of Howth, was convicted of perjury. In the course of the trial much was said about Howth's cruelty to his wife, and the Lord Chancellor of IrelandLord 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...
, ordered a further investigation.The evidence showed that Howth had beaten his wife so often and severely that she had fled in fear of her life to her brother's house. Even more grave was the evidence that he had beaten his 13-year-old daughter Jane who died as a result. Howth was briefly imprisoned and fined heavily; he was ordered to pay maintenance to his wife , who was allowed to live apart and given custody of the children. While the Government in imposing these penalties may have been rebuking Howth for his opposition, the verdict also suggests strong sympathy for Lady Howth.
Last years
In the 1580s Howth briefly resumed his role as leader of the opposition, in blocking further proposals for tax reform by the Lord Deputy, Sir John Perrot. On this occasion he was quickly brought to admit his faults and was reconciled with Perrot, and sent him a present of a goshawkGoshawk
The Northern Goshawk , Accipiter gentilis, is a medium-large bird of prey in the family Accipitridae, which also includes other diurnal raptors, such as eagles, buzzards and harriers....
, always a great rarity in Ireland.He died on 24 October 1589 and was buried in Howth Abbey; his tomb has an effigy to himself and his wife. His last will made generous bequests to servants but none of his children except his eldest son are included. The references in the will to his many and grave sins have been called evidence of genuine remorse for his treatment of his wife and daughter.
The Book of Howth
He owned an interesting manuscript, the Book of Howth, which despite its flaws is considered a valuable historical source. It is partly a celebration of the achievements of the St. Lawrence family and partly a description of historical events such as the Battle of KnockdoeBattle of Knockdoe
The Battle of Knockdoe was a conflict between the Hiberno-Norman de Burghs and Anglo-Norman Fitzgeralds, along with their respective Irish allies. On the 19th of August 1504, the Parish of Lackagh was the site of what appears to have been an unusually bloody conflict, arising from a dispute...
. The last part deals in detail with Howth's own career and may well have been written by him.
Legend of Granuaile
A famous legend, which may have some basis in fact , records that about 1575 Grace O'MalleyGrace O'Malley
Gráinne Ní Mháille , Gráinne O'Malley or Grace O'Malley, was Queen of Umaill, chieftain of the Ó Máille clan and a pirate in 16th century Ireland...
,or Granuaile the celebrated Pirate Queen of Galway, called at Howth Castle
Howth Castle
Howth Castle lies close to the village of Howth, Fingal County in Ireland. It is the ancestral home of the line of the St Lawrence family that died out in 1909. From 1425 to 1767 the title had been Lord Howth, holding the area since the Norman invasion of 1180. It is now held by their heirs, the...
only to find the gates barred. Outraged by the discourtesy, she kidnapped Lord Howth's heir, then a young child ( which would be the 8th baron's grandson, the future 10th baron ) and held him hostage until the St. Lawrence family apologised. To make amends Lord Howth promised that in future his gates would always be open at dinner time and a place set for unexpected guests.
Character
Elrington Ball calls Howth the most striking member of his family and the most forceful Irish statesman of the Elizabethan era. He does not defend his treatment of his family, but argues, unconvincingly, that the early years of his marriage were happy. Crawford takes a much more severe view, arguing that Jane's death was manslaughter and that her mother fled to avoid a similar fate.Family
He married firstly , probably before 1540, Elizabeth Plunket,, daughter of Sir John Plunket of BeaulieuBeaulieu
-England:* Beaulieu, Hampshire, a village in the New Forest* Beaulieu Abbey, located in Beaulieu, Hampshire* Beaulieu Palace House, located in Beaulieu, Hampshire* Beaulieu River, running through Beaulieu, Hampshire...
. From her testimony at his trial it is clear that they had 14 children, but presumably many died in infancy as only 7 can be certainly identified:
- Nicholas St. Lawrence, 9th Baron Howth (1555–1606)
- Thomas ( died 1600 at the Battle of Moyry PassBattle of Moyry PassThe Battle of Moyry Pass was fought during September and October 1600 in counties Armagh and Louth, in the north of Ireland, during the Nine Years' War...
) - Leonard ( died 1608 )
- Richard
- Margaret, who married firstly William Fitzwilliam and secondly Michael Berford
- Mary who married Patrick Barnewall (died 1622)Patrick Barnewall (died 1622)Sir Patrick Barnewall or Barnwall , was the eldest son of Sir Christopher Barnewall of Turvey, Gracedieu, and Fieldston, son of Sir Patrick Barnewall , who in 1534 was made serjeant-at-law and solicitor-general, and in 1550 master of the rolls.Sir Christopher was sheriff of Dublin in 1560, and is...
- Jane, died 1577, victim of her father's ill-treatment.
Howth married secondly after 1579 Cecily Cusack, daughter of Henry Cusack, alderman of Dublin. She outlived him by many years and remarried.