Gilbert Debenham

Sir Gilbert Debenham (junior) (1432–1500) was an English knight, politician and soldier who served briefly as Lord Chancellor of Ireland.

[4] Edward IV's biographer notes that there were many similar characters in fifteenth-century England, and that in return for their support the King was prepared to tolerate a degree of lawless conduct on their part.

[6] From 1465 onwards the Debenhams were in violent conflict with the Paston family over possession of Caldecott Hall, near Fritton in Suffolk.

He and John Paston junior both began raising private armies to fight the matter out, but the Duke of Norfolk, whom they both served, intervened and bound them to keep the peace.

He went with him into exile, and in March 1471, as Edward attempted to re-invade England, Gilbert was entrusted with the task of reporting whether it would be safe to land in Norfolk, and advised rightly that it would not be.

[10] Despite his strong personality and undoubted political skills, he was no more successful than most English statesmen of the time in the admittedly onerous task of governing Ireland.

His life was spared but he remained in prison until 1499,[13] when his sister Elizabeth Brewes, in return for paying a large fine, obtained a pardon for her brother and a promise that the attainder would be reversed.