Christopher Barnewall
Encyclopedia
Sir Christopher Barnewall ( 1522–1575 ) was a leading Anglo-Irish statesman of the Pale
in the 1560s and 1570s,and was effective Leader of the Opposition in the Irish House of Commons
in the Parliament of 1568-71. He is remembered for building Turvey House and sheltering the future martyr Edmund Campion
there;for his impressive tomb in Lusk
Church, and for the eulogy to him in Holinshed's Chronicles
.
and Anne Luttrell. Through both paternal grandparents he was closely related to Baron Trimleston. His father, a close associate of Thomas Cromwell, was a key figure in the Irish administration between about 1535 and 1542: initially opposed to the Dissolution of the Monasteries
, he turned in time to profit handsomely, acquiring Grace Dieu in Dublin and Knocktopher
in Kilkenny
. Christopher himself built Turvey House near the ruins of Grace Dieu, reputedly from its stones.
Unlike his father and his uncle Thomas Luttrell
, who both became senior judges, he does not seem to have practiced at the bar. Nor was he a Bencher of the KIng's Inns, which his father had helped found, although he was party to the renewal of the lease in 1567. He may however have had some legal training since the Earl of Ormonde, of whom he was a close associate appointed Barnewall in 1556 steward and receiver of all the Earl's lands within the Pale.
but he was defeated by the Crown candidate James Stanyhurst. Barnewall assumed the role of Leader of the Opposition, concentrating his assault on the composition of the House, which he alleged had been "packed" with Crown supporters; in particular he objected to the presence of English members who represented boroughs where the did not reside and had never even visited. Although the judges ruled for him on two points, he was not successful in excluding the members complained of, and Sidney was able to pass legislation without serious difficulty.
( son of James ), Campion's pupil. Campion spent several weeks at Turvey House and later acknowledged Barnewall's role in saving his life.
"the lantern and light as well of his house as of that part of Ireland where he dwelt,who being sufficiently well furnished with the knowledge of the Latin tongue as of the common laws of England, was zealously bent on the reformation of his country; a deep and a wise gentleman, spare of speech and therewithal pithy,wholly addicted to gravity..very upright in dealing, measuring all his affairs with the safety of conscience, as true as steel..fast to his friend, stout in a good quarrel, a great householder..of nature mild, rather choosing to pleasure where he might harm than harm where he might pleasure."
.They had thirteen children, most of whom reached adulthood:
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...
in the 1560s and 1570s,and was effective Leader of the Opposition in the Irish House of Commons
Irish House of Commons
The Irish House of Commons was the lower house of the Parliament of Ireland, that existed from 1297 until 1800. The upper house was the House of Lords...
in the Parliament of 1568-71. He is remembered for building Turvey House and sheltering the future martyr Edmund Campion
Edmund Campion
Saint Edmund Campion, S.J. was an English Roman Catholic martyr and Jesuit priest. While conducting an underground ministry in officially Protestant England, Campion was arrested by priest hunters. Convicted of high treason by a kangaroo court, he was hanged, drawn and quartered at Tyburn...
there;for his impressive tomb in Lusk
Lusk
Lusk may refer to:* Lusk, Tennessee, a community in the U.S. state of Tennessee* Lusk, Wyoming, a town in the U.S. state of Wyoming* Lusk, County Dublin, a village in Ireland* Lusk, a band that released the album Free Mars in 1997...
Church, and for the eulogy to him in Holinshed's Chronicles
Holinshed's Chronicles
Holinshed's Chronicles, also known as Holinsheds Chronicles of England, Scotland, and Ireland, is a collaborative work published in several volumes and two editions, the first in 1577, and the second in 1587....
.
Background
He was the son of Patrick Barnewall (Solicitor General)Patrick Barnewall (Solicitor General)
Patrick Barnewall was a leading figure in the Irish Government in the 1530s and 1540s, due largely to his close links with Thomas Cromwell. He held the offices of Solicitor General for Ireland and Master of the Rolls in Ireland. Today he is remembered mainly for his role in founding the King's Inns...
and Anne Luttrell. Through both paternal grandparents he was closely related to Baron Trimleston. His father, a close associate of Thomas Cromwell, was a key figure in the Irish administration between about 1535 and 1542: initially opposed to the Dissolution of the Monasteries
Dissolution of the Monasteries
The Dissolution of the Monasteries, sometimes referred to as the Suppression of the Monasteries, was the set of administrative and legal processes between 1536 and 1541 by which Henry VIII disbanded monasteries, priories, convents and friaries in England, Wales and Ireland; appropriated their...
, he turned in time to profit handsomely, acquiring Grace Dieu in Dublin and Knocktopher
Knocktopher
Knocktopher is a village in County Kilkenny, Ireland. It is situated on the M9 between the villages of Stoneyford to the north, and Ballyhale to the south....
in Kilkenny
Kilkenny
Kilkenny is a city and is the county town of the eponymous County Kilkenny in Ireland. It is situated on both banks of the River Nore in the province of Leinster, in the south-east of Ireland...
. Christopher himself built Turvey House near the ruins of Grace Dieu, reputedly from its stones.
Unlike his father and his uncle Thomas Luttrell
Thomas Luttrell
Sir Thomas Luttrell was a leading Anglo-Irish nobleman of the sixteenth-century Irish Pale, and was also a distinguished lawyer and judge who held the offices of Solicitor General for Ireland and Chief Justice of the Irish Common Pleas....
, who both became senior judges, he does not seem to have practiced at the bar. Nor was he a Bencher of the KIng's Inns, which his father had helped found, although he was party to the renewal of the lease in 1567. He may however have had some legal training since the Earl of Ormonde, of whom he was a close associate appointed Barnewall in 1556 steward and receiver of all the Earl's lands within the Pale.
Politics
He sat in the Parliament of 1560 and was Sheriff of Dublin the same year. He played a greater role in Elizabeth I's second Irish Parliament, especially in the crucial year 1569. He had emerged as effective head of the Anglo-Irish landowners of the Pale, and opponent of the Court party loyal to the Lord Deputy Sir Henry Sidney. His friends attempted to have Barnewall chosen Speaker of the House of CommonsSpeaker of the House of Commons
Speaker of the House of Commons can refer to:*Speaker of the House of Commons *Speaker of the House of Commons of Canada*Speaker of the Northern Ireland House of Commons...
but he was defeated by the Crown candidate James Stanyhurst. Barnewall assumed the role of Leader of the Opposition, concentrating his assault on the composition of the House, which he alleged had been "packed" with Crown supporters; in particular he objected to the presence of English members who represented boroughs where the did not reside and had never even visited. Although the judges ruled for him on two points, he was not successful in excluding the members complained of, and Sidney was able to pass legislation without serious difficulty.
Edmund Campion
As a Member of Parliament Barnewall was required under the Act of Supremacy (Ireland ) 1560 to acknowledge Elizabeth I as head of the Church, and his family had benefitted greatly from the suppression of the religious houses. His own private sympathies were however apparently with the old faith; certainly he agreed to shelter the future martyr Edmund Campion in 1569, at the request of Richard StanyhurstRichard Stanyhurst
Richard Stanyhurst was an Irish alchemist, translator, poet and historian, born in Dublin.His father, James Stanyhurst, was recorder of the city, and Speaker of the Irish House of Commons in 1557, 1560 and 1568. Richard was sent in 1563 to University College, Oxford, and took his degree five years...
( son of James ), Campion's pupil. Campion spent several weeks at Turvey House and later acknowledged Barnewall's role in saving his life.
Death and memorial
Barnewall died in 1575 and was buried in Lusk Church. His widow Marion, who remarried Sir Lucas Dillon, commissioned an impressive tomb, dated 1589,which still exists. Marion died in 1607 and was buried in the same tomb.Character
Holinshed's Chronicles contain a remarkable tribute to Barnewall; the personal tone is explained by the fact that it was written by Richard Stanyhurst, who know Barnewall all his life and married his daughter Janet:"the lantern and light as well of his house as of that part of Ireland where he dwelt,who being sufficiently well furnished with the knowledge of the Latin tongue as of the common laws of England, was zealously bent on the reformation of his country; a deep and a wise gentleman, spare of speech and therewithal pithy,wholly addicted to gravity..very upright in dealing, measuring all his affairs with the safety of conscience, as true as steel..fast to his friend, stout in a good quarrel, a great householder..of nature mild, rather choosing to pleasure where he might harm than harm where he might pleasure."
Family
Barnewall married Marion Sherle, daughter of Richard Sherle of Shallan, County MeathCounty 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...
.They had thirteen children, most of whom reached adulthood:
- 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...
who inherited his fathers estets and was the father of the first Viscount BarnewallViscount BarnewallViscount Barnewall, of Kingsland in the Parish of Donabate in the County of Dublin, was a title in the Peerage of Ireland. It was created on 29 June 1646 for Nicholas Barnewall, who had earlier represented County Dublin in the Irish House of Commons... - John
- Catherine
- Margaret, who married Nicholas St.Lawrence, 9th Baron Howth
- Janet, who married Richard Stanyhurst
- Alison, who married John Plunkett
- Elizabeth, who married Richard Finglas
- Anne
- Mabel, who married Sir Ruchard Masterson
- Ismay, who married Richard Delahide
- Eleanor, who married James Dillon, 1st Earl of RoscommonEarl of RoscommonEarl of Roscommon was a title in the Peerage of Ireland. It was created on 5 August 1622 for James Dillon, 1st Baron Dillon. He had already been created Baron Dillon on 24 January 1619, also in the Peerage of Ireland. The fourth Earl was a courtier, poet and critic. The titles became dormant on the...
- Maud
- Mary, who married Patrick Plunkett, 7th Baron DunsanyBaron DunsanyThe title Baron of Dunsany or, more commonly, Lord Dunsany, is one of the oldest dignities in the Peerage of Ireland, one of just a handful of 13th to 15th century titles still extant, having had 20 holders to date...