Thomas Fleming, 10th Baron Slane
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Thomas Fleming (died 1601) was an Irish peer, and a member of the
Parliament of Ireland The Parliament of Ireland () was the legislature of the Lordship of Ireland, and later the Kingdom of Ireland, from 1297 until the end of 1800. It was modelled on the Parliament of England and from 1537 comprised two chambers: the Irish Hou ...
of 1585. He was the son of James Fleming, and great-grandson of James Fleming, 7th Baron Slane. His mother was Ismay Dillon, daughter of Sir Bartholomew Dillon,
Lord Chief Justice of Ireland The Court of King's Bench (or Court of Queen's Bench during the reign of a Queen) was one of the senior courts of common law in Ireland. It was a mirror of the Court of King's Bench in England. The Lord Chief Justice was the most senior judge ...
and his first wife Elizabeth Barnewall; after his father's death she remarried Sir Thomas Barnewall of Trimlestown.Cokayne ''Complete Peerage'' p.12 He succeeded to the barony after the death of his cousin James Fleming, 9th Baron Slane, whose marriage to Alison Dillon, daughter of Sir Robert Dillon, failed to produce an heir. He was the only Irish nobleman to serve with
Walter Devereux, 1st Earl of Essex Walter Devereux, 1st Earl of Essex (16 September 1539 – 22 September 1576), was an English nobleman and general. From 1573 until his death he fought in Ireland in connection with the Plantations of Ireland, most notably the Rathlin Island ...
against
Turlough Luineach O'Neill Sir Turlough Lynagh O'Neill (also known as Turlough Luineach) ( Irish: ''An Ridire Toirdhealbhach Luineach mac Néill Chonnalaigh Ó Néill''; – September 1595) was an Irish Gaelic lord of Tír Eoghain in early modern Ireland. He was inau ...
, head of the
O'Neill dynasty The O'Neill dynasty ( Irish: ''Ó Néill'') are a lineage of Irish Gaelic origin that held prominent positions and titles in Ireland and elsewhere. As kings of Cenél nEógain, they were historically one of the most prominent family of the N ...
and the effective ruler of
Ulster Ulster (; or ; or ''Ulster'') is one of the four traditional or historic provinces of Ireland, Irish provinces. It is made up of nine Counties of Ireland, counties: six of these constitute Northern Ireland (a part of the United Kingdom); t ...
, in March 1574. Despite his family's history of Catholicism, the Baron was also reluctantly involved in the
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religious persecution Religious persecution is the systematic oppression of an individual or a group of individuals as a response to their religion, religious beliefs or affiliations or their irreligion, lack thereof. The tendency of societies or groups within socie ...
of the strictly illegal and underground
Catholic Church in Ireland The Catholic Church in Ireland, or Irish Catholic Church, is part of the worldwide Catholic Church in communion with the Holy See. With 3.5 million members (in the Republic of Ireland), it is the largest Christian church in Ireland. In ...
. While sheltering at
Slane Castle Slane Castle () is located in the village of Slane, within the Boyne Valley of County Meath, Ireland. The castle has been the family seat of the Conyngham family since it was built in the late 18th century, on land first purchased in 1703 by ...
, Archbishop Dermot O'Hurley, who would become one of the most celebrated of the 24 formally recognized Irish Catholic Martyrs, was recognised by the Baron's first cousin, Sir Robert Dillon, who immediately informed
Dublin Castle Dublin Castle () is a major Government of Ireland, Irish government complex, conference centre, and tourist attraction. It is located off Dame Street in central Dublin. It is a former motte-and-bailey castle and was chosen for its position at ...
. Baron Slane was immediately summoned by Lord Justices Adam Loftus and Henry Wallop and, under pain of being charged with
high treason Treason is the crime of attacking a state authority to which one owes allegiance. This typically includes acts such as participating in a war against one's native country, attempting to overthrow its government, spying on its military, its d ...
, the Baron agreed to arrest Archbishop Dermot O'Hurley. While staying in Ormonde Castle at
Carrick-on-Suir Carrick-on-Suir () is a town in County Tipperary, Republic of Ireland, Ireland. It lies on both banks of the River Suir. The part on the north bank of the Suir lies in the Civil parishes in Ireland, civil parish of "Carrick", in the historical B ...
as a guest of
Thomas Butler, 10th Earl of Ormond Thomas Butler, 10th Earl of Ormond and 3rd Earl of Ossory PC (Ire) (;  – 1614), was an influential courtier in London at the court of Elizabeth I. He was Lord Treasurer of Ireland from 1559 to his death. He fought for the crown in th ...
, Archbishop O'Hurley, was met there by his former host, Baron Slane, in September 1583. The Baron explained the imminent danger to both himself and his family and in return, the Archbishop voluntarily agreed to travel back with him and surrender at
Dublin Castle Dublin Castle () is a major Government of Ireland, Irish government complex, conference centre, and tourist attraction. It is located off Dame Street in central Dublin. It is a former motte-and-bailey castle and was chosen for its position at ...
. Meanwhile, despite his own militant
Protestantism Protestantism is a branch of Christianity that emphasizes Justification (theology), justification of sinners Sola fide, through faith alone, the teaching that Salvation in Christianity, salvation comes by unmerited Grace in Christianity, divin ...
, the Earl of Ormond was greatly offended and distressed at the trickery used in the arrest of a guest in his house, and afterwards he did everything he could in vain to rescue Archbishop O'Hurley from the executioners. He was one of the leaders of the opposition to the policies of Sir John Perrot, the
Lord Lieutenant of Ireland Lord Lieutenant of Ireland (), or more formally Lieutenant General and General Governor of Ireland, was the title of the chief governor of Ireland from the Williamite Wars of 1690 until the Partition of Ireland in 1922. This spanned the K ...
, in the 1580s. Despite this he was regarded as a loyal servant of the
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, and enjoyed the personal regard of
Queen Elizabeth I Elizabeth I (7 September 153324 March 1603) was Queen of England and Ireland from 17 November 1558 until her death in 1603. She was the last and longest reigning monarch of the House of Tudor. Her eventful reign, and its effect on history ...
.''Burke's Peerage'' He married Catherine Preston, daughter of Jenico Preston, 3rd Viscount Gormanston and Lady Catherine FitzGerald, daughter of
Gerald FitzGerald, 9th Earl of Kildare Gerard FitzGerald, 9th Earl of Kildare (1487 – 12 December 1534; Irish: ''Gearóid Óg Mac Gearailt'', meaning "Young Gerald FitzGerald"), was a leading figure in 16th-century Irish history. In 1513 he inherited the title of Earl of Kildar ...
. They had three daughters, Katherine, Margaret and Eleanor. Later Barons of Slane were descended from Eleanor, who married her father's heir, her cousin William, 11th Baron Slane, son of George Fleming, another descendant of the 7th Baron, and his wife Mary Cusack. Her sister Katherine married Piers FitzThomas Butler, illegitimate son of Thomas Butler, 10th Earl of Ormonde. Their descendants held the title Viscount Galmoye. Margaret married John D'Arcy.


Sources

*''Burke's Peerage'' Third Edition London 1846 *George Edward Cokayne, ed. Geoffrey F. White. ''The Complete Peerage''. (London: St. Catherine Press, 1953) Vol. XII, Part 1, p. 11=13.


References

1598 deaths People of the Tudor period Members of the Irish House of Lords Politicians from County Meath Priest hunters Barons in the Peerage of Ireland 16th-century Irish nobility Year of birth unknown {{Ireland-pre1801-MP-stub