Stephen de Bray

Stephen de Bray (died 1441) was an Irish judge, notable for his lengthy tenure as Lord Chief Justice of Ireland.

He was probably the son of Stephen de Bray senior, who also held high judicial office in Ireland, being appointed Chief Baron of the Irish Exchequer in 1376 and Chief Justice of the Irish Common Pleas in 1380.^[1] Little is known of their background, although the family name suggests that they came from Bray, County Wicklow.

Little is known of the younger Stephen's career until 1397 when he was appointed Lord Chief Justice.^[2] At the same time he was appointed a member of the council which advised Roger Mortimer, 4th Earl of March, the Lord Deputy of Ireland. McGee calls him "one of the wisest statesmen of the Pale",^[3] which may be borne out by the fact that, with two short intervals, he held the office of Lord Chief Justice for 38 years.^[4] In 1407 it appears that John Bermyngham was nominated to succeed him, but this was presumably against Bray's wishes since he succeeded in blocking Bermyngham's appointment, and remained in office for the next 25 years.

He retired in 1435 and died in 1441.^[5] After his death his widow Katherine was embroiled in litigation with James Butler, 4th Earl of Ormond, whom she appears to have accused of withholding monies due to her. The details of the lawsuit are hard to follow, but it was considered serious enough to be referred to the Privy Council of England, probably because Katherine's cause was supported by Ormonde's numerous political enemies. ^[6]

References

1. Ball, F. Elrington The Judges in Ireland 1221-1921 John Murray London 1926 Vol.1 p.89
2. Ball p.179
3. Thomas D'Arcy McGee A Popular History of Ireland from Earliest Times to the Emancipation of the Catholics Cameron and Ferguson 1869 Vol. 1 Ch. 6
4. Ball p.179
5. Ball p.179
6. Nicolas, Sir Nicholas Harris Proceedings and Ordinances of the Privy Council of England 1835 p.328