John FitzJames

Sir John Fitzjames (c. 1465/70 – c. 1542) was Lord Chief Justice of the King's Bench from 1526 until 1539.

Sir John was a nephew of Richard Fitzjames, Bishop of London during the Hunne case. Sir John had also been Recorder of Bristol, Attorney-General and Chief Baron of the Exchequer.

When in July 1535 the King's chief minister, Thomas Cromwell, wanted to halt the export of coin he decided to consult Fitzjames on whether a proclamation could be used for this. Cromwell asked him what the King could do if "there wer no law nor statute made alreadye for any suche purpose", to which Fitzjames replied that a proclamation was "of as good effecte as any law made by parlyament or otherwyse". Cromwell was "veray gladde to here" Fitzjames' answer.[1]

When the Reformation Parliament was prorogued in 1536 Fitzjames was rewarded £40 by the King.

Notes

  1. Merriman, RB (1902). The Life and Letters of Thomas Cromwell: Volume II. II. Oxford University Press. p. 409.

References

Legal offices
Preceded by
John Ernley
Attorney General for England and Wales
1518 1522
Succeeded by
John Roper
Preceded by
John Scot
Chief Baron of the Exchequer
1522 1526
Succeeded by
Sir Richard Broke
Preceded by
John Fineux
Lord Chief Justice of the King's Bench
1526 1539
Succeeded by
Edward Montagu
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