John Alan

Sir John Alan (also spelt Alen or Alleyn; c. 1500 – 1561) was a leading English-born statesman in sixteenth century Ireland. He was a member of the Irish House of Commons, and held the offices of Master of the Rolls in Ireland, Chancellor of the Exchequer of Ireland and Lord Chancellor of Ireland. Though he was childless himself, one of his brothers, William, founded a prominent landowning dynasty in County Kildare. The family's holdings included lands at Celbridge, St. Wolstan's and Kilteel, County Kildare, as well as substantial lands in County Dublin. They also acquired a baronetcy.

Family

He was born at Coltishall in Norfolk, son of Thomas Alen. The Alens were a numerous family and five of his brothers, of whom we know most about William and Thomas, also settled in Ireland. John Alen, Archbishop of Dublin, who was murdered in the Silken Thomas rebellion of 1534, was a close relative, probably a first cousin, of the Lord Chancellor.

Early career Alen studied law at Gray's Inn, and then entered the service of Cardinal Thomas Wolsey who sent him to Ireland in 1528 to promote the Cardinal's authority as legate and to act as secretary to Alen's cousin the archbishop, although he and Wolsey had quarrelled. The murder of their cousin Archbishop Alen was the most notorious act of the rebellion, but neither John Alen nor his brothers seem to have suffered any harm. Though by his own admission John was "not a soldier" he played some part in suppressing the rebellion. Thomas and Mary had at least one daughter, Eleanor, who married Robert Dillon, Chief Justice of the Irish Common Pleas and had one son. Kilteel also remained in the Alen family for centuries: the Castle survives and is an excellent example of a medieval tower house.

Lord Chancellor, removal from office and return to power In 1538, on the death of John Barnewall, 3rd Baron Trimlestown, Alen became Lord Keeper of the Great Seal of Ireland, and subsequently Lord Chancellor of Ireland. Even his enemies acknowledged that he was a hard-working and conscientious judge. However he quarrelled with the Lord Deputy of Ireland, Sir Anthony St. Leger, who wrote to London complaining of Alen's conduct. Alen was summoned before the English Privy Council in 1546 and accused of corruption, as well as the rather vague charge of "promoting discord". Alen strongly defended himself, saying he was the "cleanest-handed Chancellor in the memory of man"; William made his own will in 1558, and died a year or so later. In his will, he made provision for his widow Margaret, and their seven children, five sons including John, and two daughters (it seems that none of the children were yet married). the lease for 21 years granted by Henry VIII in 1541 has Alan at the head of the list of lessees; and in 1542 he joined in the petition to the King urging the grant of the property to the lessees in perpetuity.

Character O'Flanagan praises Alen as an honest and honourable man, notes the high opinion of him held by three successive English monarchs and remarks that he was capable of magnanimous behaviour even to bitter political opponents like St Leger. Elrington Ball admits his good qualities but adds that he was quarrelsome and undiplomatic, and was suspected of corruption.