| Notes |
- The numbering system used going forward reflects the numbering used in the Gascoigne thesis attached. Information before William Sr. (1309-1378) is sketchy at best.
Sir William Gascoigne [I], Lord Chief Justice of England who rendered himself famous by committing the Prince Henry (afterwards Henry V, King of England) to prison for contempt of court (when the king heard of this, he exclaimed, "Happy is the king who has a judge so resolute in administering the law; still happier is having a son who submits to it." This event has been immortalized by Shakespeare in his play of Henry IV, part II, Act V, Scene II) and of whom it has been said that "by resolute and judicious exertion of authority supported law and government in a manner which has perpetuated his name and made him an example famous to posterity. "Lord Campbell writes as follows of this judge: -- "Never was the seat of judgement filled by a more upright and independent magistrate. His refusal to try Archbishop Scrope and Thomas Mowbray, son of the banished Duke of Norfolk, who had died in exile, are noble instances of this. He said, "Much as I am beholden to your Highness and all your lawful commands, I am bound to my allegiance to obey, but over the life of the prelate I have not, and your Highness cannot give me, any jurisdiction. For the other prisoner, he is a peer of the realm, and has a right to be tried by his peers."
BIOGRAPHY: He was born at Gawthorpe Hall, in the parish of Harewood, circa 1350, and educated at Cambridge University; was called to the bar by the Society of Gray's Inn, and his arms may be seen in one of the windows in their hall. He was appointed Chief Justice of the King's Bench by patent dated 15 November 1400. 2 Henry 6, retired in 1413, when an annuity of 20 a year was given him, and a royal warrant was issued, dated 14 November 1444." granting to our dear and well-beloved William Gascoigne, an allowance during the term of his natural life of four bucks and four does out of our forest at Pontefract." He died 17 December 1419, will dated 15, and proved 23 December 1419, buried in the south chapel of All Saints, in the parish Church at Harewood, beneath a splendid altar-tomb, upon which is his effigy and that of his first wife, Elizabeth Mowbray.
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1350 - 1419 (69 years)
