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Edward Fitz-Symon (''c.'' 1530–1593) was a leading Irish barrister and judge of the Elizabethan era. He held the offices of Attorney General for Ireland, Serjeant-at-law (Ireland) and Master of the Rolls in Ireland. Despite holding these senior offices, he was derided by his contemporaries as being a man of "mean learning". ==Biography== Fitz-Symon was born in Dublin. Little seems to be known of his family; an earlier bearer of the name was the explorer Symon Semeonis (aka Simon FitzSimon or Simon FitzSimmons). Walter Fitzsimon, son of one Robert Fitzsimons of Dublin, was Archbishop of Dublin 1484-1511. Edward entered the Inner Temple in 1555, but had returned to Ireland to practice at the Irish Bar by 1563.〔Ball, F. Elrington ''The Judges in Ireland 1221-1921'' John Murray London 1926 Vol.1 p. 219〕 He was justice of the Liberty of Wexford and Commissioner for Munster. In 1570 he was made Attorney General, and in 1574 he became Serjeant-at-law, holding that office until his death in 1593.〔Ball p.219〕 In 1578 when the controversial judge Nicholas White was removed from office as Master of the Rolls, Fitz-Symon replaced him. He was an unusual choice since serjeants in that era rarely became judges, due largely to Queen Elizabeth's low opinion of her Irish law officers. In any case the appointment was only a temporary one since White was restored to office within a few months.〔Ball p.219〕 We have some glimpses of Fitz-Symon's official work: in 1577, during the height of the "cess" controversy, concerning the power of the Crown to levy taxes for the upkeep of military garrisons, the Lord Chancellor of Ireland, Sir William Gerard, called on him to give an important opinion on the royal prerogative.〔Crawford, Jon G. ''A Star Chamber Court in Ireland- the Court of Castle Chamber 1571-1641'' Four Courts Press Dublin 2005 p.113〕 On another occasion he was asked to advise on a commission to reform the customs at Chester, but refused on the ground that he did not have adequate time.〔Hart, A. R. '' History of the King's Serjeants at law in Ireland'' Four Courts Press Dublin 2000 p.43〕 Gerard is said to have been unimpressed by his abilities, calling him a man "of mean learning".〔Kenny, Colum ''King's Inns and the Kingdom of Ireland'' Irish Academic Press Dublin 1992 p.57〕 Fitz-Symon pleaded regularly before the Court of Castle Chamber, the Irish equivalent of Star Chamber, and often sat in a quasi- judicial capacity. In 1572 he sat on a commission to inquire into the extent of the former lands of the O'Doyne clan, and decide whether they should be incorporated into Queen's County.〔''Deputy Keeper of Public Records in Ireland'' 13th Report p.74〕 Later the same year he sat on the commission to oversee the muster of troops in Dublin. In 1584 he served on a commission to inquire into all persons who had been attainted for treason in seven counties, and in 1588 sat on a commission to inquire into what lands in Sligo were held from the Queen by the Clan O'Connor Sligo.〔Hart, p.39〕 Fitz-Symon is said to have made a considerable fortune: he owned the manor of Baldoyle, and in 1575 he sent £100, then a very large sum, to his son Christopher, who was a student in London.〔Hart p.44〕 He died in 1593.〔Ball p.219〕 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Edward Fitz-Symon」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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