Nicholas White (lawyer) facts for kids

Sir Nicholas White (around 1532 – 1592) was an important Irish lawyer, judge, and government official during the time of Queen Elizabeth I. He was also a member of the Privy Council of Ireland, which was a group of trusted advisors to the ruler in Ireland.

Early Life and Career Beginnings

Sir Nicholas White came from a well-known family in The Pale, an area in Ireland controlled by the English. His father, James White, was a trusted helper for the Earl of Ormond. Sadly, both his father and the Earl were poisoned in London in 1546.

Nicholas got his start thanks to the Earl of Ormond. The Earl left money for Nicholas's education at the Inns of Court in London. This was a place where young men learned to become lawyers. Nicholas joined Lincoln's Inn in 1552 and became a lawyer in 1558. While studying, he even taught the children of Sir William Cecil, who later became a very powerful advisor to the Queen.

After his studies, White returned to Ireland. In 1559, he was chosen to be a member of the Irish Parliament for County Kilkenny. He became a justice of the peace for Kilkenny in 1563. The next year, he was named Recorder of Waterford, which meant he was a judge there. In 1567, he bought Leixlip Castle to have a home closer to Dublin.

White kept in touch with Sir William Cecil. He became a trusted friend and shared important information about what was happening in Ireland. In 1568, he traveled to England. He had a famous meeting with Mary, Queen of Scots, in February 1569. They talked about her English language skills and her needlework. White noticed her "pretty Scottish speech." He also saw the special saying she had sewn on her cloth: "En ma fin est mon commencement," which means "My End is in My Beginning."

In 1568, Queen Elizabeth I appointed White as the seneschal of Wexford. This meant he was in charge of law and order in that area. He also became constable of Leighlin and Ferns. He held this job until 1572. His time in this role ended with him chasing after rebels. These rebels, led by Fiach McHugh O'Byrne, had sadly killed his son-in-law, Robert Browne.

White built his main home at White's Hall, near Knocktopher, County Kilkenny. He also gained control of Dunbrody Abbey in County Wexford. He also owned the Castle and St Catherine's Priory at Leixlip, County Kildare.

Becoming Master of the Rolls

In 1572, White was given a very important job: Master of the Rolls in Ireland. This role involved keeping important government records and helping with legal matters. The Lord Deputy, William Fitzwilliam, recommended him for the position.

Even though the Queen favored him, some other advisors in Ireland didn't fully trust White. They thought he often took sides with Irish interests. Sir Henry Sidney, another important official, didn't trust him. Sidney believed White was too close to the Earl of Ormond.

In 1578, White was temporarily removed from his job. This happened because he spoke out against the cess. The cess was an unpopular tax that people had to pay to support soldiers. Many people in the Pale were against this tax. Because so many people opposed the tax, White was soon back in favor and got his job back. He also had arguments with the Attorney General for Ireland, Thomas Snagge, who said White was not doing his job well.

Role in the Desmond Rebellion

During the Second Desmond Rebellion, White worked closely with English leaders. He was an experienced official who knew a lot about the Munster region. However, some people still suspected him. They thought he favored the "Old English" families too much. He was even blamed for not catching rebels in Wicklow during the rebellion.

Despite this, White continued to send valuable letters to Lord Burghley. In these letters, he shared his thoughts on the difficulties of war. He also wrote about the need for fair government. He worried that the "wild Irish" were happy to see any weakness from the English in Ireland. White was very useful because he could speak Irish and was a Protestant. This made him an essential advisor for twenty years.

Later Career and Knighthood

In 1584, a new and ambitious Lord Deputy named Sir John Perrot arrived. White was knighted around this time. He worked with Perrot to create a good system for common law. This system helped manage legal cases. In that same year, many prisoners were put to death in the Leinster area.

In 1585, White helped arrange the Composition of Connacht. This was an agreement that helped organize land ownership and taxes in the Connacht region.

By 1586, White wrote to Burghley about constant arguments among the council members. These arguments were between the chief governor and the Lord Chancellor, Loftus. Towards the end of Perrot's time as Lord Deputy, White was seen as someone who favored Irish-born officials. When Sir William Fitzwilliam returned as Lord Deputy in 1588, White became a target of anger from the English members of the council.

Arrest and Death

In 1589, White was linked to accusations of treason made against Perrot. A former priest named Dennis O'Roghan made these claims. Even though White was very ill, he was arrested in June 1590. Two months later, he was sent to England. He was also removed from the Irish Council.

In March 1591, White was put in the Tower of London. He asked the Privy Council for a servant to help him because of his age and poor health. He died in 1592. It is not clear if he was still in prison when he passed away. On February 12, 1593, the Privy Council allowed White's son to bring his body back to Ireland for burial.

Family Life

White's first wife was from the Sherlock family of Waterford, but not much is known about her. He and his second wife, who was a niece of Arthur Brereton, had two sons. Thomas, the older son, studied at Cambridge University. He died in November 1586. The younger son, Andrew, took over White's estates after finishing his education at Cambridge. Another Sir Nicholas White, whose daughter Anne married Christopher Fagan, was likely Andrew's son.

White also had two daughters. One daughter married Robert Browne of Mulcranan, County Wexford. Robert was killed by Fiach MacHugh O'Byrne in 1572. His other daughter, Mary, was the second wife of Nicholas St Lawrence, 9th Baron Howth. She had six children with him. It is also said that Sir Nicholas Walsh, a very important judge, grew up in White's home.