Laurence Merbury

O'Flanagan suggests that his record as Deputy was subject to criticism: when Cranley was asked to present a memorial to the Crown on the state of Government in Ireland, Merbury caused controversy by refusing to affix the Great Seal of Ireland to it, apparently on the ground that some of the complaints were directed against him personally.

As acting Chancellor of Ireland, Sir Laurence held the Great Seal, with the attendant authority.

Merbury was a supporter of the Talbots (naturally enough since he grew up on a Talbot manor), and as such was strongly attacked by the Ormond faction, including James Cornwalsh, the Chief Baron of the Irish Exchequer, whom Merbury accused of grossly slandering him before the English Privy Council.

Cornwalsh was suspended from office for a time, but the fact that Merbury left Ireland soon after suggests that he was unable to withstand the attacks on his integrity, whether these were justified or not.

Since Laurence apparently had no children, presumably his estates passed to John's daughter and heiress Elizabeth and her husband Sir Walter Devereux, a future Lord Chancellor of Ireland.