1580. May 20. May 20. Vol. 607, p. 54. 397. 398. government that the best disposed of the Irish do make profit of the time to recover their accustomed captainries and extortions. The Mayor of Cork is informed, by a Frenchman in that haven," that James Fitz Morris' men are in a port of Spain, having two great hulks laden with 24,000 men's furniture of arms, pikes, and shot, besides great ordnance and munition, all bent hither." I have sent to apprehend the party. Should the Earl of Clancartie revolt, "his country is a place of such strength as will protract the war to more length; which treachery can be no way requited but with the execution of his son.' "After the departure of our Irish Lords I entered into consideration of your Honour's request, for the plot how the escheated lands should be employed, with Mr. Treasurer (Wallop), Sir Nicholas Malbie, and Mr. Waterhouse, whereupon we collected notes, and have delivered them to him,* at his more leisure to digest into some form." I pray you bring Bellowe to some conformity; I would perform any bargain. Limerick, 20 May 1580. Signed. PELHAM to the MAYOR of CORK. From the Queen's agents in Spain and Portingall I gather that the rumour is maliciously raised to give fire to the flame of rebellion. Arrest the informer and the master of the ship from whence he had the intelligence, and examine them before Sir Warham Sentleger, the Justice (James Meagh), yourself and the Recorder. Limerick, 20 May 1580. Signed. JAMES GOLDE, Attorney of Munster, to the EARL OF The Earl of Desmond is now heartily sorry that he has deserved to be called a traitor upon the subtle means of Saunders and Sir John. But his grief grows because he sees no force come to his succour. Saunders daily affirms upon his life the coming of Spaniards, and yet a number of the traitors be out of hope thereof. Sir John and the Seneschalt seem to have assurance of a great supply of men and treasure. The charge of her Majesty is not much under 5,000l. a month. I will find out such things as may bear some part of the charge. Although the number of the manors and castles be great, yet the commodity of them is but small, neither is it easy to keep most of them. This bearer, Mr. * Secretary Waterhouse? † Of Imokilly; John FitzEdmond FitzGerald. 1580. May 21. Vol. 597, p. 343. 399. May 30. 400. Vol. 597, p. 343a. Fyssher, will declare such other things as I wish your Honour to know. "The McSwynes are joined with the traitors; their number is about 400 galloglasses. They were, and now are, the Earl of Clancare's galloglasses, and it is reported that he is also joined with them." Limerick, 20 May 1580. Signed. Holograph. P. 1. Addressed and endorsed. II. "A Note of the Castles which are to be found for her Majesty by this rebellion now in Munster." Pp. 3. PELHAM to SIR WILLIAM WINTER. So slack was the repairing of those whom I appointed to assemble, as I was urged to spend some longer time here than I purposed. The Lords Barrie and Roche, with their forces, will be in camp on Friday next. My Lord of Ormond is returned to his country to bring his people to the field. I shall march from hence on Tuesday next; but as the traitors are on this side the mountain, I must defer my journey until Ormond be come to me. I am informed that the ships with the munition in Spain were ready to set forward for this country 14 days since. Your watch must be the greater, to suppress them if they attempt to land. We are well provided to welcome them. A bark is to bring beer and biscuit from Dublin to this place. Stay her with you until I come myself Beef 1 will bring with me, and wine, I hope, shall not be wanting. Commendations to you, my cousin Grevell, and the Vice Admiral. PELHAM to SIR WARHAM SENTLEGER. Your letter in cipher, and another jointly from you and Mr. Meaughe, came to one conclusion. But as in your own you specially touched the parties for whom my Lord Barrie is a suitor, I refer his request to yourself. "Whether I have or have not granted to discharge any of those mentioned in the bill, yet do I wish you to defer their enlargement until you hear from me.” As to the disorders in Carbery, take some order therein. I left with Mr. Treasurer, when I departed from Limerick, all the letters and examinations which concern the Spaniards; they shall be sent you, that you may bring them to their trial. Your own letter to Sir Thomas of Desmond will be sufficient to cause the merchant's apprehension. Asketten, 30 May 1580. Signed. Contemp. copy. P. 13. 1580. June 2. Vol. 597, p. 344a. May 31. Vol. 619, p. 22. 401. 402. PELHAM to the EARL OF CLANCARTIE I was informed that you had linked yourself to such as in duty you ought to abhor and detest, but your letter now sent has assured me of your good disposition. Perceiving that your fear to light in their hands has been the cause of your absence, I am purposed to come myself to fetch you, or else will send my Lord of Ormond, in whose company you shall safely repair to our presence. Minding presently to be doing with the traitors, I pray you that against myself and Ormond shall repair towards the borders of your country you be prepared with all your forces, and to take order among your people and followers, that whenever the army shall draw near your country, they do not abandon their habitations, for they shall receive due payment for such necessaries as they bring to the soldiers. Asketten, 2 June 1580. Signed. NICHOLAS WHITE, Master of the Rolls, to the EARL OF I am thankful for your letters in your own hand to my Upon my landing I repaired to my Lord Justice into Munster, whom I found at Limerick, the 10th of May, with the Earls of Ormond and Thomond, Sir Harry Wallope, Sir Nicholas Malby, and Mr. Waterhouse. He told me the Lords of Munster were not then come to him, being led to doubt of her Majesty's intention to prosecute the rebellion of Desmond. But when they came, heard his new patent read, and saw him take his oath, and the sword newly delivered to him by the Earl of Ormond, they agreed to advance with all their forces into the field on the 1st of June. We proceeded then to the creation of the new Baron Burke. We accorded all the private grudges and quarrels betwixt the Lords of Munster, and ended our solemnity with a volley of 300 or 400 shots. The old traitor, Piers Grace, and certain of the Burkes of Muskry, had combined with the Earl of Desmond to invade Ormond's country in his absence. The Baron of Upper Ossory is charged by Ormond to be privy to this practice, and has been commanded to appear before the Council at Dublin. "My Lord Ormond hopes to put these rebels upon some stay till his return, who are become proud of a bruit lately spread abroad here of 6,000 Italians to be in Asturia in Spain upon the Pope's charges, ready to be transported hither for the aid of the traitors, with whom they report Doctor Sanders to be as their paymaster, which in that point must be false, because one of the Burkes which came in to my Lord of Ormond, upon protection, did swear to me that he did see Sanders in Desmond's camp the 20th day of this month. The traitors doth 1580. labour as much as they can to get th' Earl of Clancarthy to join with them, not for the multitude of his people, but for the largeness and fastness of his country to retire unto with their cattle when they shall be driven. It is doubted whether he will yield to them or stand to his duty. Th' Earl of Ormond hath his son as pledge, and hopes that he will not forego his allegiance, which, if he do, th' Earl protests that he will graff his son on the highest tree that he can find in his country." Without victuals the service will quail, and we shall be driven to great extremity. Myself am brought forth without tent or victual, but to live upon devotion, and to lodge near my Lord Justice's tent in the Star Chamber, when I hoped for some rest at home after my long attendance in England." June 5. 403. Vol. 619, p. 33. 66 "Her Highness hath many waste countries, wherein are many castles and piles forsaken of the people and left to her to be planted, in which she hath also plenty of hares* for her money. Certain of the Kavanaghes under the rule of Masterson, who served, upon protection, under th' Earl of Ormond in Munster, were, upon their return home (protected likewise), all slain and hanged by the said Masterson, in revenge whereof their kinsmen keeps a foul stir in Leinster." "The North is very quiet, and the Connors and Mores play but small game in filching and stealing. There is a great quarrel happened between th' Earl of Kildare and Sir Harry Harington, for the hanging of a man whom th' Earl protected." Muskry, in Munster, 31 The BURKES. May 1580. Signed. Articles to be observed by Ulick and John Burke, sons to the Earl of Clanricard.† To keep her Majesty's peace towards all her subjects. To disperse their idle companies. To take meat, drink, coynew, and livery only of such as shall voluntarily call them to their houses or deliver it to them. Not to travel with more than four horsemen, six footmen, and eight boys to either of them. Not to take any cow, caple, garrone, horse, or other distress, except from their own tenants. To deliver into the hands of Nicholas Lynche Fitz Stephen, attorney for the Earl, their father, all such castles, lands, tenements, and tenants as belong to him. To give up all castles, lands, and lordships appertaining to others her Majesty's subjects to the right owners. They and their men to appear at assizes and sessions in the county of Galway. To answer any service when thereto called by the Governor or Council. When any of their men Enclosed in Malby's letter of the 11th of June. 1580. Vol. 611, p. 228. June 11. 404. Vol. 619, p. 32. commit any offence, and are sent for by warrant, they shall bring forth the offenders. Not to disobey any her Majesty's officers or ministers in the execution of their offices. Not to apprehend any of her Majesty's subjects except for criminal offences, and then to commit them to the common jail; nor to imprison or ransom them, but to seek their remedy by order of the laws before the Governor or Council. Not to harbour any evil-disposed persons. To deliver certain pledges (named), who shall be changed monthly. If they come in to answer any matter which shall be ob jected against them, the pledges shall take no hurt nor be put to death. Galway, 5 June 1580. Signed: Nich. Malby; W. Tuamen.*; O'Conor Sligo; [E. Athenry t]; Tho. Dillon; Martin French, mayor; Henry Guldeforde; J. Merbury. We have agreed to observe and perform these articles before written. Signed: John de Burgo, Ulik Burk. "Ex., et est vera copia.-Rowland Argall." 2. Another copy of the same. Pp. 2. SIR HENRY MALBIE to the EARL OF LEICESTER. Since my last letter by Mr. Brysket, I have been at Galway and held the sessions there, where 10 malefactors were executed. I sent for Ulick and John Burcke to come to me thither, who accordingly did so. I commanded them to put away their idle men and to give over their father's castles and lands into the hands of their father's agent. Ulick was more willing than John. Having intelligence that John Burke did foster a son of Rory Og O'More's, I stayed John until he delivered me the boy, whom I have sent to Dublin to the Lord Keeper. I have written at large to Mr. Secretary (Walsingham) of all things done in this late journey. Before releasing John Burke I called " for pledges for his good behaviour, and so like of Ulick; and thereupon did draw out certain conditions to be observed by them, for which their pledges should lie upon penalty of their lives, and yet would not accept of their pledges except they would voluntarily give themselves to the same conditions." The country people joy at this binding of them. "At this sessions a great number of malefactors were indicted for a solemn mass which they were at, which was William Lealy, Archbishop of Tuam. † Edmund Bermingham, Baron of Athenry. This signature is omitted in the copy in vol. 619, and is supplied above from that in vol. 611. |