Christopher St Lawrence, 10th Baron Howth
Christopher St Lawrence, 10th Baron Howth (c. 1568–1619) was an
Early life
He was born about 1568, the eldest son of
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/21/Howth_Castle.jpg/220px-Howth_Castle.jpg)
Granuaile
According to a celebrated legend, which probably has some basis in fact, in about the year 1576 Granuaile, the so-called
Soldier
Christopher acquired a considerable reputation as a soldier, and was active on the Government side throughout the Nine Years' War, the most serious threat to the authority of the English Crown in Ireland for several generations: the rebellion was led by Hugh O'Neill, Earl of Tyrone.
In 1595 Christopher accompanied his father on an expedition against the O'Byrnes of
Friendship with the Earl of Essex
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/6a/Robert_Devereux%2C_2nd_Earl_of_Essex_by_Marcus_Gheeraerts_the_Younger.jpg/220px-Robert_Devereux%2C_2nd_Earl_of_Essex_by_Marcus_Gheeraerts_the_Younger.jpg)
When
Christopher had already gained a reputation for being quarrelsome and hot-tempered: in 1598 he was rumoured to have murdered Sir Samuel Bagenal over a trifling insult, though the story has no basis in fact.
Service with Mountjoy
In 1600 he was sent to assist
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/cc/Sir_Charles_Blount_c_1594.jpg/220px-Sir_Charles_Blount_c_1594.jpg)
When
He is next heard of in Dublin, and then briefly became governor of
Meeting with no response, either to his demands to be allowed to clear his name or to his request for a sign of royal favour, he decided to seek employment abroad, a decision no doubt made easier by the recent break-up of his marriage to Elizabeth Wentworth. The new Lord Deputy, Sir
Flight of the Earls
In the chain of events which led to the
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/48/ArthurChichester_BaronChichesterOfBelfast_Belfast_Harbour_Commissioners.jpg/220px-ArthurChichester_BaronChichesterOfBelfast_Belfast_Harbour_Commissioners.jpg)
On learning that A.B. was Howth himself, Chichester, who had by now developed a very low opinion of him, was inclined to regard his story as an invention, until the flight of Tyrone and Tyrconnell confirmed that at least a part of Howth's story was true. Since he was clearly involved in the plot to some extent, he was arrested and questioned further; Chichester called his replies "half-witted".
Howth's revelations had an influence on the outbreak of the 1608
Feuds
At home in Ireland, Howth found his reputation in ruins: as he sadly wrote to the King, the favour which James showed him merely deepened his disgrace in the eyes of his neighbours, most of whom regarded him with deep suspicion. He claimed to be in fear of his life, and to be unable to trust even his few remaining friends.
Unwisely, he proceeded to quarrel with several other leading figures of the Pale. Sir Garret Moore, 1st Viscount Moore, was a connection of Howth by marriage and had previously been friendly with him; but Moore now turned against him, (the precise cause of the quarrel is unclear) calling him a coward, a braggart and a liar.[3] Howth in turn accused Moore of plotting treason with Hugh O'Neill, and, bizarrely, of trying to raise the Devil. Although Moore had undoubtedly been friendly with O'Neill, Howth was quite unable to prove the charge of treason, while the charge of necromancy was simply laughed at. Chichester said that no one would condemn a horse-boy, let alone a knight, on such evidence. The case was transferred to England and Moore was cleared of all charges. Howth was however allowed to go to England, and again his personal charm won him the goodwill of James I, whose fondness for attractive young men was the subject of much gossip.[1]
The feud between Howth and Moore soon extended to Moore's in-laws, Thomas Jones, Archbishop of Dublin and the Archbishop's son Lord Ranelagh. Ranelagh's description of Howth as "a brave man among cowards" provoked a violent affray in a tennis court at Thomas St. in Dublin in May 1609, in which a Mr. Barnewall was killed.[1] Howth claimed that Barnewall, who was a cousin of his on his mother's side, was killed defending him: Ranelagh claimed that the dead man had intervened to restore order and was killed by Howth's men. Chichester, who happened to be nearby, heard of the affair: he took Jones's side and had Howth arrested at once.[1] The inquest found a verdict of manslaughter: Howth, under examination by the Irish Council, claimed to be the victim of a conspiracy to murder him whose members included Chichester, Moore and the Jones family. The Council found that Howth had no basis whatsoever for his charges "only talk behind men's backs and loose observations", and that he was acting out of malice towards his fellow nobles. The Council ordered him, as a man who could not control his passions, to remain at home and mend his behaviour, "for his Majesty much disliked his proud carriage towards the supreme officials of the Kingdom".[1] He was strictly forbidden to go to London, but did so. After a brief spell in the Fleet Prison, he obtained a royal audience and yet again gained the King's favour. Chichester was reprimanded for showing undue bias in the Howth-Moore feud, and thereafter made at least an outward show of friendship to Howth.[1]
Last years and death
Howth's later years were peaceful enough, apart from increasing money troubles. He sat in the Irish Parliament of 1613–5: he made some overtures to the Catholic opposition, but the Crown does not seem to have taken them seriously.[1] His relations with Archbishop Jones improved and in 1614 they worked together to raise a free gift in Dublin for the King, Howth as a good example to his fellow nobles contributing £100.[1] He married his eldest son into the powerful "New English" Montgomery family, no doubt hoping to benefit from the Plantation of Ulster, and also to alleviate his money troubles, as his new daughter-in-law was a wealthy heiress. He died on 24 October 1619, but for some reason was not buried until late January 1620.
Family
His married life was unhappy although, unlike his grandfather the 8th Baron, who was notorious for domestic cruelty, he was never accused of ill-treating his wife. She was Elizabeth Wentworth, daughter of Sir John Wentworth of Little Horkesley and Gosfield Hall, Essex, and his first wife Elizabeth Heydon.[1] She was a sister of John Wentworth, High Sheriff of Essex.
The marriage may well have been a love affair, although it was also advantageous to Howth, as the Wentworths were substantial landowners in Essex, and Elizabeth's brother John, though he did not play a leading role in politics, married a granddaughter of
- Nicholas St Lawrence, 11th Baron Howth
- Thomas, who settled in Suffolk and married Elinor Lynne
- Margaret, who married firstly William FitzWilliam and secondly Michael Berford (or Birford).[4]
His widow remarried Sir Robert Newcomen, first of the Newcomen baronets of Keenagh, County Longford, and died in 1627.[4]
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/ab/Gosfield_Hall_-_geograph.org.uk_-_405649.jpg/220px-Gosfield_Hall_-_geograph.org.uk_-_405649.jpg)
Character
Those who knew Christopher St Lawrence best, like Chichester and Moore, often judged him most harshly, describing him as foolish, treacherous, quarrelsome, violent and irresponsible. Clearly, he lacked the political skills of his father, who retained the respect of both his peers and the Crown throughout his career: arguably he inherited a strain of mental instability from his grandfather.[2] On the other hand, Christopher's courage and military skill were never seriously disputed: and a man who gained the friendship of Elizabeth I, James I, Robert Cecil, Essex and Mountjoy cannot have entirely lacked good qualities.
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t Dunlop, Robert (1897). Lee, Sidney (ed.). Dictionary of National Biography. Vol. 50. London: Smith, Elder & Co. p. 160. . In
- ^ a b Clavin, Terry "St Lawrence, Christopher" Dictionary of Irish Biography Cambridge University Press
- ^ a b c d e f Ball, F. Elrington, History of Dublin Volume 5, Alexander Thom and Co. Dublin 1917 pp. 68-107
- ^ a b Pine, L.G The New Extinct Peerages London 1972 p.151