Robert Sutton (Irish judge)

William was a clerk in Crown service by 1404, and became Chief Engrosser (copier) in the Court of Exchequer (Ireland) in 1410.

[1] In 1408, the Crown granted him an extra allowance (the amount is no longer known) out of the hanaper in consideration of his "great labours" in the King's service.

He was appointed Master of the Rolls in 1377 and held that office at regular intervals over the next fifty years, at times jointly with Thomas de Everdon: his final warrant of appointment was granted in 1423, and apparently confirmed him in office for life, with a reversion in favour of his nephew William,[4] although Richard Ashwell had succeeded him as Master of the Rolls by 1427.

[6] A detailed set of instructions from the Privy Council to Ashwell in 1427 survives, requiring him to examine the records of a lawsuit in the Court of Common Pleas (Ireland) "in the time of King Henry IV (1399-1410)", as, many years after the hearing, it was now being alleged that an injustice had been done to the defendant, the Prior of Mullingar.

[3] He was reappointed Keeper in 1412, as the Lord Chancellor was wholly occupied with putting down a rebellion in County Wexford.

[2] In 1428, his nephew William Sutton was given a very large gift from the Crown of seventy silver pounds, presumably for services rendered.