William Ayloffe (judge) facts for kids

William Ayloffe (born around 1535 – died November 17, 1584) was an important English judge. He served in the Queen's Bench, which was one of the highest courts in England at that time.

William Ayloffe's Life Story

William Ayloffe came from a very old family. They lived in Kent and later in Essex, and their family history goes back to Saxon times. His father, also named William Ayloffe, lived in Hornchurch, Essex. His mother was Anne Barnardiston, whose father was Sir Thomas Barnardiston from Ketton, Suffolk.

Becoming a Lawyer

In 1554, William Ayloffe started studying law at Lincoln's Inn. This was a famous place in London where people trained to become lawyers. Two other relatives with the same name also studied there in the 1500s.

Six years later, in 1560, he became a lawyer. This meant he was officially allowed to argue cases in court. In 1571, he became a "reader" at Lincoln's Inn. This was a special role where he taught law to other students.

Becoming a Judge

In 1577, William Ayloffe was made a "serjeant-at-law." This was a very important step for lawyers, often leading to becoming a judge. At the same time, another famous lawyer named Sir Edmund Anderson also received this honor.

There was a special dinner at the Middle Temple (another law school) to celebrate their new titles. A record of this event is kept in the Ashmolean manuscripts at Oxford.

We don't know the exact date William Ayloffe became a judge. However, we know he was working as a judge in the Queen's Bench by 1579. His decisions from that time are written down in law books. So, 1579 is likely when he started his work as a judge.

A Strange Story from Court

In 1581, Judge Ayloffe was part of a trial for Edmund Campion and other priests. After the trial, a pamphlet (a small book) was published by English Catholics in Paris. This pamphlet, called An Epistle of Comfort, told a strange story about Judge Ayloffe.

According to eyewitnesses, after the other judges had left the courtroom and the jury was deciding their verdict, Judge Ayloffe took off his glove. They said his hand and ring were covered in blood, even though he wasn't hurt. The pamphlet claimed that no matter how much he tried to wipe it away, the blood kept flowing. This was seen by some as a miraculous sign.

William Ayloffe also exchanged letters with the Lord Mayor of London. These letters were about his brother becoming the town clerk in 1580 and 1581. Judge Ayloffe passed away on November 17, 1584.

Family Life

Around 1560, William Ayloffe married Jane Sulyard. She was the daughter of Sir Eustace Sulyard. They had three sons and at least one daughter.

His oldest son, also named William, became a knight in 1603. In 1612, King James I gave him the special title of "baronet." This meant he became the first of the Ayloffe baronets. This title stayed in the Ayloffe family until 1787. Sir William, the first baronet, married three times and had a large family.