375. 376. PELHAM to MAURICE ROCH, eldest son to the LORD I have received your letter, and as I am most sorry that any of your kind and judgment should run headlong into such danger and mischief, you may repair to me in safety, when I will both do my best to assuage your father's displeasure against you. Limerick, 20 April 1580. Signed. PELHAM to the COUNCIL in ENGLAND. Sent by Sir William Stanlie. I have received your two letters of 25 March and April. Mr. Treasurer (Wallop) will "stay in his hand the due of Mr. Norris' own pay." For the victuals found defective at Cork, I will examine the depth of that loss, and cause due punishment to be ministered to the offenders. Whereas in your second letter you write of my former determination to abstain from attempting of Asketten and Carrigofoill, for want of great ordnance, the cannons sent by you at our encamping at Carrigofoill did dispatch the battery there. After the approach was made to Asketten, that place was abandoned. Intelligence being given me and the Treasurer where the Earl of Desmond was gathering together of some forces, we, for lack of horses, marched towards him on foot, but the Earl had knowledge of it. "We found of their aqua-vitæ, wine, and meat provided for their dinner, which we possessed, and slew sundry found in the woods, and burnt divers places where the rebels had their resort, and brought away a prey of 7 or 800 kine, young and old." I purpose to repair to Asketten. The Green Dragon is arrived here in safety with her lading of victuals. "Great leakage hath chanced to the beer, as the master of that vessel, one Plunkett, hath affirmed, whereby they have been fain to pump much of it out of ship board." This bearer, Sir William Stanlie, has been greatly urged by his father to come over to visit him. He has shewed himself a worthy and painful servitor. I have granted him a passport. Limerick, 21 April 1580. Signed. PELHAM to WALSINGHAM. Thanks for your letter of the 1st, stating that my former plot for the division of the forces in this province was well allowed. As the fear of foreign assistance is abolished, a short end will be made of this war; but "the falling here daily to 1580. April 22. Vol. 597, p. 321a. April 27. Vol. 597, p. 323. 377. 378. the rebels doth signify that some great purpose is intended and great matters expected." I suppose the Lords are not ignorant what ill success the practice hath taken for distressing of the barques at Groine,* by means of Sider's death. The good guard (by the arrival of her Majesty's ships) upon this coast will prevent them, if they bend their course hither. These disorders of Desmond, being thoroughly prosecuted, will do great good to the whole realm. I have laid down "a small collection" how this province might be reduced to her Majesty's most commodity, and to keep the ill-disposed under. The bearer is Sir William Stanlie. Limerick, 21 April 1580. Signed. Postscript.-I have written for a supply of men. I pray you to grant your consent that they be sent over under the conduction of Sir William Stanlie. Contemp. copy. Pp. 23. PELHAM to WALSINGHAM. As the broils here will shortly be determined, I pray to be directed from your Honour what is to be done with this province. I have received a second letter from Ormond, confirming the news of the revolt of Piers Grace. "From Cork I received intelligence that by a letter dated at Plymouth it was advertised that certain English merchants, arriving there from Roan (Rouen), have reported that as well our English as Irish merchants are generally stayed throughout all France, and that they very hardly escaped thence." I am advertised from the Council at Dublin that Turloughe Lenoughe will stay quiet but till the end of May, at which time his cattle will be strong enough to drive. These fires thus breaking out in every place, when there is so great hope of a speedy end in these parts, cannot but signify that some greater purpose than as yet is discovered is expected. I again recommend Mr. Geoffrey Fenton to enjoy the room of Secretary for the State, in reversionof Mr. Challoner; "and also to be sent hither to execute the same presently." Limerick, 22 April 1580. Signed. Contemp. copy. Pp. 21. PELHAM to the LORDS of the COUNCIL. Understanding by the commissioners at Cork that I remained in these parts, and willing to omit no time whereby the service might receive hindrance, Sir William Winter repaired to Smirwicke, a place not only commodious for the * Logroño in Spain (?) 1580. April 28. 379. Vol. 597, p. 325. April 29. 380. Vol. 597, p. 325a. safe keeping of the ships, but also very apt to impedite such foreign aid as might approach to the relief of our western rebels. He had no sooner seen my letters than he prepared to come to me, and arrived in his pinnace on Sunday last at Limerick with 4,000l. We consulted upon his instructions, in which a fit plot was laid down. It was concluded that he should return to his charge and make diligent search, either at the Dingle or in any of those parts, for the situation of such a place to be fortified as might annoy invasion. I shall myself make a journey to view the same, and in the meanwhile he is to begin the fortification with spade and shovel. By the demeanours of the traitors, great suspicion may be conceived that wonderful matters is by them expected, and that they are verily persuaded of foreign assistance to be sent them. And how difficult a thing it is to send a pinnace from hence for discovery (as your Lordships persuade), and how uncertain their report must needs be, that are not able with safety to make inquiry, nor with any possibility to see into every harbour, your Lordships shall therein by the Admiral's letter be advertised." Our extremity for victuals is so great, that when the provision which the ships now have is consumed, I shall not be able to supply them, but must send them away. The Handmaid will join the Admiral's ships. I have returned The Achates into England. Our soldiers must be relieved with money and victuals. A proportion of match should be speedily sent hither. I have cashed such barks as were entertained to serve here, and do return The White Bear and Elizabeth of London. Asketten, 27 April 1580. Signed. Contemp. copy. Pp. 44. PELHAM to MAURICE ROCH. As you dare not come to me without protection for you and your men, I send you the protection you demand. I require that you repair to the Assembly on the 10th of next month, where your father will also be. I will devise some way to employ you. Asketten, 28 April 1580. Signed. II. Protection for Maurice Roch. Signed by the Lord Justice. PELHAM to DONNELL PIPO. I have written to your uncle, Sir Owen,* to be the 10th of next month at the Assembly. I wish your repair also, as I am purposed to employ you. Asketten, 29 April 1580. Signed. Contemp. copy. P. 1. Sir Owen O'Sullivan Beare? 1580. May 2. Vol. 597, p. 326. May 7. Vol. 597, p. 326a. May 7. Vol. 597, p. 327. May 10. Vol. 597, p. 328. 381. 382. 383. 384. PELHAM to DAVID BARRY. You desire protection for yourself, your followers and servants, and goods. As the day of our Assembly is drawing near, where with my Lord of Ormond, your father and others, I mind to have consultation for service to be done against the traitors, I refer you concerning your request until that time, praying you to repair to the said Assembly. I will use your service for your benefit, and promise that your repair and your return shall be in safety. Asketten, 2 May 1580. Signed. PELHAM to the LORD FITZ MORRIS. Perceiving by your letters that the Earl of Desmond had so beset you as you durst not look out of your castles nor be at the Assembly, I prepared to come in person to assist you, and was ready to march. But as he is come on this side the mountain, I pray you to leave your son Patrick to guard your country, and to repair yourself to Limerick either by water or by land, where I will take order for the gallowglas and other requests mentioned in your letter. Asketten, 7 May 1580. Signed. Contemp. copy. P. 3. PELHAM to the MAYOR and CORPORATION of LIMERICK. Your wants are extreme, and your corporation has been greatly burdened, but you perceive that the soldiers have been brought thither to defend you from the malice of your traitorous neighbours. You affirm that your store of victuals is clean wasted. Had you followed my advice, this might easily have been prevented, whilst there remained great plenty of grain to be had for reasonable prices. I will, however, take order for the soldiers to be victualled from her Majesty's store. I trust scarcity will be prevented by the abundance I expect from England. You seem to fear the access of such great numbers as you suppose will come to that city; but the company will not be many, and will bring their victuals with them. The Assembly cannot be removed to any other place. Contemp. copy. Pp. 24. WARRANT to SIR HENRY MALBIE. We have received intelligence from Robert Hartepoole, constable of Caterloughe, that John Burke, son to the Earl of Clanricard, is fostering and maintaining one of the sons of * Viscount Barry. 1580. May 10. Vol. 619, p. 46. 385. the late archtraitor Rorie Oge O'More. As the kinsmen of the said Rorie Oge's son do now mind to send for him into that country and set him up as a chieftain to raise war against her Majesty, we charge you to call the said John Burke before you, and to demand the said Rorie Oge's son at his hands; and if he make any refusal, to stay his person. Limerick, 10 May 1580. Signed by the Lord Justice and Council. SIR HENRY MALBIE to the EARL OF LEICESTER. I have signified to your Honour my proceedings with Rycard Inyren. McWilliam Eughter and O'Ruarck have been with me at Roscoman, with whom I have taken good order. O'Connor Slygo, being also warned to that assembly, did write to excuse him for 9 or 10 days, because he stood in doubt of O'Donnell's invasion, whereby he is driven to fly his cattle into the plains of Connaught. The matter depending between O'Donnell and O'Connor Slygo is the only thing that now is to disquiet this province. The Lord Justice should call them both to Dublin. I have written to O'Donnell to break off his forces, and to seek his right "at the State." "It is told me by McWilliam that by his gathering of forces he hath a second intent to raise war, to withdraw the forces of Munster from thence, by a promise which he had made to Desmond; and O'Neill is joined with him in the same matter. Rycard Inyren did confirm the same unto me, with whom Desmond's messenger was to the same purpose; and McWilliam told me that both O'Donnell and T. Lenaghe have sent sundry messengers to him to join with them, which he hath refused." O'Ruarck is to deliver in his son for a pledge on the 16th, which he was loth to do. "There is not this day one man known of name to be out within this province, nor any that doth keep any companies of men to annoy his neighbour, but every one seeking to have remedy by justice. The wildest sort be now as familiar in repairing unto me as the civilest be in th' English Pale. "O'Donnell and O'Neill have sent their wives into Scotland for Scots, and be daily looked for. This land will never be reformed until order be taken for keeping them out." Direct me how I shall deal with John and Ulicke Burcke, who are in dissension for their legitimacy, and thereby spoil both their father's patrimony and the inhabitants adjoining. I do see what is necessary to be done, but if I should follow that course, I fear home envy there will find fault. Touching the service of Munster, I still continue in opinion that the course must be altered. My Lord Justice is most willing to do well. * In England. |