John Plunket

Sir John Plunket (c.1497–1582) was an Irish politician and judge who held the office of Lord Chief Justice of Ireland. He was also a member of the Privy Council of Ireland and was regarded by successive English monarchs as a reliable supporter of the Crown. He was noted for integrity, but was criticised for remaining in office after old age and illness had made him unfit for it. He was also notable as the fifth of the six husbands of Jenet Sarsfield.

Background and early career

He was the eldest son of Christopher Plunket of Dunsoghly Castle, Finglas, and his wife Catherine Bermingham.[1] His two grandfathers, Thomas Plunket and Philip Bermingham, had presided respectively over the Court of Common Pleas (Ireland) and the Court of King's Bench. His precise date of birth is unknown but Elrington Ball believed that he was at least 85 when he died.[2] He joined the Inner Temple and was Master of Revels there in 1518. He entered the service of Richard Delahide, Chief Justice of the Irish Common Pleas, who married his sister Jenet; Delahide gave him a clerical office in the Common Pleas.[3] He inherited Dunsoghly before 1547.

Political career

In the reign of King Edward VI he was described as the right-hand man of the Lord Deputy of Ireland, Sir Edward Bellingham, whom he served as Comptroller of the Household; his tasks such mundane tasks included providing for suitable beds and beer for the Deputy's entourage. He is also said to have enjoyed the confidence of the Lord Protector, the Duke of Somerset.[4]

Under Mary I he became a member of the Privy Council and sat on several legal commissions; he is said to have enjoyed the Queen's personal goodwill. Mary's regard was shared by Elizabeth I who almost as soon as she succeeded her sister appointed him her Lord Chief Justice.[5]

Lord Chief Justice

He remained on the Privy Council, and until his last years, when his health failed, was one of its most diligent members. In 1562 he went to England to report to the Queen on Irish affairs. In 1565, after the long standing feud between Thomas Butler, 10th Earl of Ormond and Gerald Fitzgerald, 15th Earl of Desmond had erupted into the private war known as the Battle of Affane, Plunket was entrusted, with the Lord Justice of Ireland, Sir Nicholas Arnold, with holding an inquiry into the causes of the dispute, and in 1567 he oversaw the confiscation of certain of the Desmond properties. He was knighted the same year.[6]

During the cess controversy, where almost all the landowners of the Pale objected to the tax reforms proposed by the Lord Deputy, Sir Henry Sidney, Plunket was almost alone in supporting Sidney, and earned his gratitude as a result (although Sidney privately admitted that he was concerned about Plunket's continued fitness for office, given his age and failing health). Successive administrations praised his diligence and incorruptibility; only from about 1577 on were public complaints made of his unfitness for office.[7]

Last years and death

He remained in office until his death, by which time he was well into his 80s, and said to be infirm and blind. Although his third marriage to the much-married Jenet Sarsfield seems to have been happy enough, he was troubled by a long lawsuit between Jenet and her stepson Edward Cusack. Not surprisingly he took his wife's side and was accused by Edward of corruption as a result, to which charge he indignantly replied that he had served the Queen uprightly since the beginning of her reign and had never in his life written anything but the truth.[8]

After a long decline into ill health, he died in 1582. In his will he noted that the money which Jenet had brought him made him "none the richer"; however he lists among his valuables an impressive collection of silver. He was noted for charitable works, and built two chapels, and a room over a local mineral spring.[9] One of the chapels contains a carving on which the initials of John and Jenet are visible. Although he was outwardly a member of the Church of Ireland, (his sister, Margaret, married John Garvey, Archbishop of Armagh), he is said to have practised the Roman Catholic faith in private.[10]

Family

Plunket married firstly Elizabeth Preston; secondly Catherine, sister of Sir Thomas Luttrell; and thirdly Jenet Sarsfield.[11] All his children were from his marriage to Catherine Luttrell. They were:

James predeceased him and Dunsoghly passed to his grandson Sir Christopher Plunket.

Character

Plunket was a popular and respected figure, known as "good Sir John Plunket", and he seems to have had had remarkably few enemies. Despite the attack on his probity by Edward Cusack he was much praised for his integrity. Only in his last years was he criticised for clinging to office when he was clearly unfit for it.[12] A certain arrogance about his family's lineage was considered to be one of his few faults.

Legal offices
Preceded by
Gerald Aylmer		 Lord Chief Justice of Ireland
1559–1582 		Succeeded by
James Dowdall

References

  1. ↑ Ball, F. Elrington The Judges in Ireland 1221–1921 1926 John Murray London p.208
  2. ↑ Ball 1926 p.140
  3. ↑ Ball 1926 p.208
  4. ↑ Ball F. Elrington History of Dublin Vol.6 1920 Dublin Alexander Thom and Co. p.66
  5. ↑ Ball 1926 p.208
  6. ↑ Ball 1920 p.67
  7. ↑ Crawford, Jon.G A Star Chamber Court in Ireland-the Court of Castle Chamber 1571–1641 2005 Four Courts Press p.103
  8. ↑ Ball 1920 p.67
  9. ↑ Ball 1926 p.208
  10. ↑ Lennon, Colm Sixteenth-century Ireland- the Incomplete Conquest Gill and Macmilan 1994 p.313
  11. ↑ Ball 1926 pp.208–9
  12. ↑ Crawford p.103
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