Elias de Asshebournham

Sir Elias de Asshebournham (died after 1353) was an Irish judge who held the office of Lord Chief Justice of Ireland, and fought a long battle with his rival Thomas Louth to retain it.

He was born in Dublin, son of Roger de Asshebournham, Provost of Dublin,^[1] who was later praised for his services to the English Crown. Elias lived for many years at Mears Ashby in Northamptonshire and obtained custody of the manor there in 1319.^[2] He received a royal pardon for unspecified offences in Northamptonshire in 1312.

He spent some time in the household of John Hotham, Bishop of Ely, whose early career had been spent in Ireland. He accompanied the Bishop to the Papal Court at Avignon in 1316,^[2] the mission being concerned largely with Irish Church affairs. He later appears as a royal servant: he visited Ireland on the King's business in 1326: he received recognition for his own and his father's services to the Crown, and was later knighted. ^[3]

In 1327 he was appointed second justice of the Court of King's Bench (Ireland).^[3] In 1330 he was made Lord Chief Justice, but soon began a lengthy struggle with Thomas Louth who also claimed the right to hold that office :^[4] the two men replaced each other so often that there is considerable confusion as to who was Chief Justice at any given time. It is known that the English Crown had concerns about the poor quality of the Irish-born judges, so that Louth, an Englishman, should have had the advantage; but Elias, a former royal servant, also had influence at Court^[5] and was ultimately confirmed in office in 1338.^[3]

He resigned from office as Lord Chief Justice in 1341. He was appointed constable of Arklow Castle, but is said to have subsequently offended Edward III.^[3] He was still alive in 1353. He endowed five chaplains in Saint Laud's Chapel, Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin.^[3] He owned an estate called Colcott, which is thought to have been part of modern-day Simmonscourt, County Dublin.^[6]

References

1. Ball F. Elrington The Judges in Ireland 1221-1921 John Murray London 1926 Vol.1 p.68
2. Ball p.68
3. Ball p.69
4. Frame, Robin Ireland and Britain 1170-1450 Hambledon Press 1998 p.115
5. Frame p.115
6. Ball F. Elrington History of Dublin Vol.2 1903 Alexander Thom and Co p.31