Attorney General for England and Wales

1401-1606

 Office Holder

Year
of
appointment

Thomas Coveley   1401 - 13 Jul 1407
Thomas Dereham   13 Jul 1407 - 17 Aug 1407
Roger Hunt   17 Aug 1407 - 1410
Thomas Tickhill   1410 - 16 Jan 1414
William Babington   16 Jan 1414 - 1420
William Babthorpe   1420 - 28 Oct 1429
John Vampage   28 Oct 1429 - 30 Jun 1452
William de Nottingham   30 Jun 1452 - 12 Aug 1461
John Herbert   12 Aug 1461 - 1461
Henry Sothill   1461 - 16 Jun 1471
William Hussey   16 Jun 1471 - 7 May 1481
William Huddersfield   7 May 1481 - 28 May 1483
Morgan Kydwelly   28 May 1483 - 20 Sep 1485
William Hody   20 Sep 1485 - 3 Nov 1486
Jacob Hubbard   3 Nov 1486 - Apr 1509
John Ernley   Apr 1509 - 26 Jan 1518
John Fitz-James a nephew of Richard Fitzjames, Bishop of London. Sir John had also been Recorder of Bristol, Attorney-General and Chief Baron of the Exchequer. When in Jul 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. When the Reformation Parliament was prorogued in 1536 Fitzjames was rewarded £40 by the King. 26 Jan 1518 - Feb 1522
John Roper   Feb 1522 - 1 Apr 1524
Ralph Swillington Recorder of Coventry and Attorney General to Henry VIII. Swillington was Attorney General for the short period of time between 1524 and his death in the following year. In his will (dated 11 July 1525), he left land in Driffield, Yorkshire, to his nephew, George Swillington. A monument in St. Michael's Church, Coventry, commemorates Swillington, his wife Elizabeth (Babthorpe) and her other husband, Thomas Essex. 1 Apr 1524 - Aug 1525
Richard Lyster   Aug 1525 - 3 Jun 1529
Christopher Hales   3 Jun 1529 - 10 Jul 1535
Sir John Baker   10 Jul 1535 - 8 Nov 1540
William Whorwode   8 Nov 1540 - 8 Jun 1545
Henry Bradshaw   8 Jun 1545 - 21 May 1552
Edward Griffin   21 May 1552 - 22 Jan 1559
Sir Gilbert Gerrard   22 Jan 1559 - 1 Jun 1581
Sir John Popham   1 Jun 1581 - 2 Jun 1592
Sir Thomas Egerton   2 Jun 1592 - 10 Apr 1594
Sir Edward Coke   10 Apr 1594 - 4 Jul 1606
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