This Robert Dillon must not be confused with Bartholomew's grandson Sir Robert Dillon (died 1597), who became Chief Justice of the Irish Common Pleas a year after his grand-uncle's death.[4] The confusion is understandable since their judicial careers overlapped to a large degree, and as Kenny (1992) points out the records of the King's Inns for the relevant period do not always make it clear which Robert Dillon is being referred to.[5]
Dillon married Genet (also called Elizabeth) Barnewall, daughter of Edward Barnewall of Crickstown and Elizabeth Plunket, daughter of Sir Thomas Plunket, Chief Justice of the Common Pleas.
Dillon followed his father and brother into the legal profession and became Attorney General for Ireland in 1534.[14] In 1536-7 he accompanied Patrick Barnewall, the Solicitor General for Ireland, on a crucial diplomatic mission to England.[15] One purpose of the mission was to prevent the Dissolution of the Monasteries from being extended to Ireland. They were successful in the short run, but Dillon, like Barnewall, quickly dropped his opposition to the suppression and was duly rewarded with his share in the spoils. In 1638 Dillon received St. Peter's Priory at Newtown, near Trim, County Meath.[16] The former priory became the seat of his branch of the family, which was henceforth called the Dillons of Newtown. in 1646 he received the former Carmelite Abbey at Athnecarne (also called Ardnacrany) in County Westmeath,[17] and the monastery of Kilkenny West. He served as seneschal of Kilkenny and Governor of Athlone. Like Barnewall he played an active part in establishing the King's Inn, Ireland's first law school, and was one of the original lessees, who held the Inn from the Crown.[18]
In 1555 he was made a justice of the Court of King's Bench (Ireland) and on 3 September 1558 was promoted Chief Justice of the Common Pleas (also called of the Common Bench).[19][20] His promotion was described as being a reward for his discretion and learning.[21] He had then the reputation of being an efficient administrator. He was, however, at least sixty when he became Chief Justice; Elrington Ball thought that he was probably nearer seventy. In 1567 he was knighted.[22] By 1575 complaints about his age and incapacity had reached the point where Elizabeth I was actively seeking a suitable replacement for him.[23] Sir Henry Sidney, the Lord Deputy of Ireland, described Dillon as "much spent in years, decayed in both sense and body".[24] He was accused of neglecting his official responsibilities; he rarely attended meetings of the Privy Council of Ireland, while he neglected his judicial duties entirely, and had effectively deputised his role as chief justice to the second justice.[25] Sidney's ally Sir William Gerard, the Lord Chancellor of Ireland, referred to Dillon as a "scarecrow", and lobbied strongly for his removal from office.[26] It seems however that no suitable replacement could be found as Dillon remained in office until his death in 1579, when, by Ball's reckoning, he may have been ninety years old.[27]
Death and timeline
In a letter of the 5 July 1579 Gerard reported Dillon's death to Francis Walsingham.[28] Dillon therefore probably died shortly before the 5 July 1579.[29] Older sources give his year of death as 1580.[30][31]
Timeline
As his birth date is uncertain, so are all his ages.
^Cokayne 1895, p. 410, line 15. "1. James Dillon, s. [son] and h. [heir] of Sir Lucas Dillon of Newtown and Moymet co. Meath, Chief Baron of the Exchequer [I.[Ireland] ] and Senechal of the Barony of Kilkenny West, by Jane da. [daughter] of James Bathe, also Chief Baron of the Exchequer [I.] ..."
^ abShaw 1906, p. 73. "1567 Dec. Robert Dillon (de Lion) of Newtown, co. Meath, lord chief justice of the Common Pleas (ibid.) [in Ireland]."
^Pollard 1901, p. 135, left column, line 41. "On 1 March 1574-5 Elizabeth expressed her intention of sending over an Englishman to supply Dillon's place ..."]