William of Bardfield

He was a substantial landowner in both England and Ireland, though he complained that his Irish lands had been despoiled during the Scottish Invasion of 1315-1318.

[2] By 1379 he had begun practice an attorney, and he became a very successful one, practising in the Royal Courts at Westminster and on the Southern Circuit; he also had an official position in the English Exchequer between 1287 and 1292.

[1] He practised first as an attorney for private clients, and accumulated large retainers, both in cash and, oddly by modern standards, in robes.

[7] In 1308, following the death of John de Ponz, he was appointed puisne (junior) justice of the Common Pleas (which was then known simply as "the Bench").

He referred to his long record of service to the Crown as Serjeant and judge,[9] and pleaded for his reinstatement to the office, and also for compensation "so that he may have something to live on".

[2] He also held lands in County Dublin, including an estate at Oxmantown, and his main residence at Collinstown, Santry.

From his petition to the Crown for redress in 1321, it seems that his Irish lands suffered serious damage during the Bruce Campaign, although it is likely that he exaggerated the extent of his losses.