# Richard de Wirkeley

> Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Richard_de_Wirkeley
> Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Richard_de_Wirkeley.md
> Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_de_Wirkeley
> Source revision: 1285378660
> License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)

**Richard de Wirkeley** (died after 1357) was an English-born cleric who was Prior of the Order of [Hospitallers](/source/Knights_Hospitaller) in Ireland and held office very briefly as [Lord Chief Justice of Ireland](/source/Lord_Chief_Justice_of_Ireland).

Little is known of his early years. De Wirkeley was a fairly common name in [Yorkshire](/source/Yorkshire) in that era; it may indicate a connection with the town of [Wakefield](/source/Wakefield). He had entered the Order's English house by 1353. In 1354 he was sent to Ireland as Prior of the Order's Irish house at [Kilmainham](/source/Kilmainham).[1] In 1356 he was chosen to replace [John de Rednesse](/source/John_de_Rednesse) as Lord Chief Justice, on the grounds that Rednesse had given offence to the Crown, by going to England "without the King's licence";[2] but King [Edward III](/source/Edward_III) quickly changed his mind and reappointed Rednesse. Wirkeley seems to have resented his removal from office, since the King issued an [injunction](/source/Injunction) ordering him not to meddle in the matter any further.[3]

The incident suggests that de Wirkeley was a somewhat turbulent individual. This is confirmed by an episode which occurred the following year, when the King appointed a commission to investigate an allegation that Simon Warde, a servant to [John Gynwell](/source/John_Gynwell), [Bishop of Lincoln](/source/Bishop_of_Lincoln), had been assaulted by Wirkeley and other members of his Order, including [John Paveley](/source/John_Paveley_(died_1371)), Prior of the Order's English house from 1358, on whom Warde had been attempting to serve a [summons](/source/Summons) to appear in a [lawsuit](/source/Lawsuit). It is notable that the commission included two men, [Henry de Motlowe](/source/Henry_de_Motlowe) and [William de Notton](/source/William_de_Notton), who like Wirkeley served as Lord Chief Justice of Ireland.[4] As often in this era, the result of the inquiry seems to have been inconclusive.

In fairness to Wirkeley, it should be remembered that the Hospitallers were a fighting Order. The Prior was as much a soldier as a cleric, and accustomed to taking firm action to defend his Order's interests, and a Prior who failed to display sufficient martial spirit was open to criticism.

His date of death is unknown.

## References

1. Ball, F. Elrington *The Judges in Ireland 1221-1921* John Murray London 1926 Vol.1 p.81

1. *Calendar of Patent Rolls 30 Edward III 9 May 1356*

1. *Calendar of Patent Rolls 30 Edward III 20 June 1356*

1. *Calendar of Patent Rolls 31 Edward III 9 May 1357*

---
Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Richard de Wirkeley](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_de_Wirkeley) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_de_Wirkeley?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.