Robert Weston
Encyclopedia
Robert Weston was Dean of the Arches and Lord Chancellor of Ireland
in the time of Queen Elizabeth
.
Weston was the third son of John Weston of Lichfield
and his wife Cicely Neville, sister of Ralph Neville, 4th Earl of Westmorland
. He entered All Souls, Oxford and was elected Fellow in 1536. He studied Civil Law, and attained the degree of BCL on 17 February 1538 and DCL on the 20 July 1556. From 1546 to 1549 he was a principal of Broadgate Hall, and at the same time deputy reader in civil law to the University, under Dr John Story.
Weston was elected Member of Parliament
for Exeter
in March 1553 and for Lichfield
in 1559.
On 12 January 1559 Weston was created Dean of the Arches and was a commissioner for administering the oaths required of ecclesiastics under to the Act of Uniformity
. He was consulted in regard to the Queen's Commission issued on 6 December 1559 for confirming Parker as archbishop of Canterbury and was included in a commission issued on 8 November 1564 to inquire into complaints of piratical depredations committed at sea on the subjects of the King of Spain
The lord deputy of Ireland Sir Henry Sidney, requested that Weston be nominated for the post of Lord Chancellor of Ireland
in succession to Hugh Curwen archbishop of Dublin in April 1566. After a year, on 10 June 1567 Queen Elizabeth
told Sydney that after good deliberation she had made the "choice for the supply of room of Chancellor by naming thereunnto our trusty well-beloved Doctor Weston, dean of the arches here, a man for his learning and approved integrity thoroughly qualified to receive and possess the same" and "that for some increase of his living whilst he remaineth in our service there she was pleased to give unto him the Deanery of St Patrick's whereof the Bishop of Armagh is now dean and yet to leave it at our order, as we know he will". Weston arrived in Dublin early in August and was sworn into office on 8 August 1567. He and Sir William Fitzwilliam the vice treasurer were sworn Lord Justices in Christ Church on 14 October. Weston addressed the Irish parliament when it was summoned on 17 January 1568.
Weston's health was failing in 1572 and he died in 1573 and was buried in St Patrick's Cathedral, Dublin.
Weston was described as follows
Weston married firstly Alice Jenyngs daughter of Richard Jenyngs of Barrr. They had three daughters and a son John. He married a second time to Alice Bigges daughter of John Bigges of Isleworth and widow of G Aunsham of Heston. They had no issue.
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:...
in the time of Queen Elizabeth
Elizabeth I of England
Elizabeth I was queen regnant of England and Ireland from 17 November 1558 until her death. Sometimes called The Virgin Queen, Gloriana, or Good Queen Bess, Elizabeth was the fifth and last monarch of the Tudor dynasty...
.
Weston was the third son of John Weston of Lichfield
Lichfield
Lichfield is a cathedral city, civil parish and district in Staffordshire, England. One of eight civil parishes with city status in England, Lichfield is situated roughly north of Birmingham...
and his wife Cicely Neville, sister of Ralph Neville, 4th Earl of Westmorland
Ralph Neville, 4th Earl of Westmorland
Ralph Neville, 4th Earl of Westmorland KG, PC was an English peer and soldier.-Early life:Ralph Neville was born to Ralph Neville, Lord Neville and Edith Sandys, and was the grandson of Ralph Neville, 3rd Earl of Westmorland and Isabel Booth. When his father died in 1498 he took the style of Lord...
. He entered All Souls, Oxford and was elected Fellow in 1536. He studied Civil Law, and attained the degree of BCL on 17 February 1538 and DCL on the 20 July 1556. From 1546 to 1549 he was a principal of Broadgate Hall, and at the same time deputy reader in civil law to the University, under Dr John Story.
Weston was elected Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
for Exeter
Exeter (UK Parliament constituency)
Exeter is a borough constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elects one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election....
in March 1553 and for Lichfield
Lichfield (UK Parliament constituency)
Lichfield is a constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elects one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election.- Boundaries :...
in 1559.
On 12 January 1559 Weston was created Dean of the Arches and was a commissioner for administering the oaths required of ecclesiastics under to the Act of Uniformity
Act of Uniformity
Over the course of English parliamentary history there were a number of acts of uniformity. All had the basic object of establishing some sort of religious orthodoxy within the English church....
. He was consulted in regard to the Queen's Commission issued on 6 December 1559 for confirming Parker as archbishop of Canterbury and was included in a commission issued on 8 November 1564 to inquire into complaints of piratical depredations committed at sea on the subjects of the King of Spain
The lord deputy of Ireland Sir Henry Sidney, requested that Weston be nominated for the post of 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:...
in succession to Hugh Curwen archbishop of Dublin in April 1566. After a year, on 10 June 1567 Queen Elizabeth
Elizabeth I of England
Elizabeth I was queen regnant of England and Ireland from 17 November 1558 until her death. Sometimes called The Virgin Queen, Gloriana, or Good Queen Bess, Elizabeth was the fifth and last monarch of the Tudor dynasty...
told Sydney that after good deliberation she had made the "choice for the supply of room of Chancellor by naming thereunnto our trusty well-beloved Doctor Weston, dean of the arches here, a man for his learning and approved integrity thoroughly qualified to receive and possess the same" and "that for some increase of his living whilst he remaineth in our service there she was pleased to give unto him the Deanery of St Patrick's whereof the Bishop of Armagh is now dean and yet to leave it at our order, as we know he will". Weston arrived in Dublin early in August and was sworn into office on 8 August 1567. He and Sir William Fitzwilliam the vice treasurer were sworn Lord Justices in Christ Church on 14 October. Weston addressed the Irish parliament when it was summoned on 17 January 1568.
Weston's health was failing in 1572 and he died in 1573 and was buried in St Patrick's Cathedral, Dublin.
Weston was described as follows
"A man in his time most godlie, upright, and virtuous, and such a one as that place was not possessed of the like in many currents of years. In his life he was most virtuous and godlie; in matters of council most sound and perfect; in justice most upright and uncorrupted in hospitalitie very bountie and liberal; in manners and conversation most courteous and gentle; faithful to his Prince, firm to his friend, and courteous to all men; and as was his life, so was his death, who a little time before the same called his household, and gave them such godlie instructions as to their callings appertained; then he set his private things in order, and he spent all the time that he had in praiers and exhortations"
Weston married firstly Alice Jenyngs daughter of Richard Jenyngs of Barrr. They had three daughters and a son John. He married a second time to Alice Bigges daughter of John Bigges of Isleworth and widow of G Aunsham of Heston. They had no issue.