1580. Vol. 635, p. 112. 484. son to a bastard Geraldine, and the Earl's horseman, to Feaghe McHughe, with a message willing Feaghe that he would not prey and spoil th' Earl's country in respect of the journey he had made into Feaghe's, for he must make some show of service in the absence of the Deputy, but bade him tell Feaghe the promise he had made he would observe." We sent to have the same apprehended and brought before us, but as soon as he and his father heard of the Earl's commitment, they both fled to the rebels. The Earl's confessions imply the truth of the [Arch]bishop's allegations. "Then is the Earl a traitor by his own confession. I leave him." Pp. 18. Endorsed. THE CESSE. And so "Notes touching the Cesse and Victualling, and how it grew to be burdenous." Of late years it have bred some Cesse is a prerogative royal of the Queen. grew to be so heavy that it was like to troubles, had it not been timely prevented. The number of new freedoms caused the cesse to rise to 107. the ploughland. The redress thereof was taken in hand by Sir Henry Sidney, then Lord Deputy. "The points wherewith the country found themselves aggrieved," are stated. II. "The Proportion of every sort of Victual cessed for the Deputy's Household and the Garrison; what prices they be taken at; and what they be worth in the market." III. "Principal Heads of the Agents' Offers unto the Lords in behalf of the Country." IV. "The Final Agreements in the matters of Cesse set down by the Lords." v. "The Prices of Fresh Acates for the Deputy's House agreed upon by Grand Council in Ao 1580, under the Government of the Lord Graye." VI. "A Conjecture what the several Counties may rise unto, according to the Plows;" i.e., what money they might be made to yield. VII. "A Note of the Agreement passed between the Gentlemen of the Pale with Lanye and Gren for victualling, whereby it may appear what gain they should have received thereby." VIII. A Note in what Places 2,000 Beeves and 1,000 Swine are to be cessed; as also where the Grain taken for the Garrison or Deputy's Household is to be charged." 1580. Vol. 635, p. 78a. Ibid., p. 82. Ibid., 1581. Jan. 29. Vol 619, p. 42. 485. 486. IX. " "The Cesse laid upon the country during the during the Earl of Sussex."* X. "Orders prescribed by the Earl of Sussex, then Lord Deputy, and the Council, for cessing the Soldiers anno 1560. Copies. Pp. 7. THE CESSE, &c. "A Note of the Port Corn due to the State in Ireland," from farmers of the demesne lands, tithes, and spiritualities formerly belonging to certain hospitals, monasteries, parsonages, &c. in cos. Dublin, Kildare, Meath, Westmeath, Louth, Waterford, Kilkenny, and Cork. Copy. Pp. 4. 2. "An Estimate what Benefit the Cesse of the Country, being answered by Prerogative, in provision of the several natures ensuing, did yield to the Governor of former times." Copy. P. 1. 3. "A Note, taken out of the ancient Records in Dublin, of the number of all the Ploughlands in every province in Ireland." In Sir G. Carew's hand. P. 1. SIR NICHOLAS MALBIE to the EARL OF LEICESTER. I received your letter by Garland. This land is generally infected. The principal practisers are discovered, who should be duly used in their deserts, "and that with severity without sparing." Tyrlaghe Lenaghe every month assembles his forces, threatening to invade the Pale, according to his promise to Desmond, in order that the Governor shall not attend the prosecuting of Desmond. He is the only pillar to all the rebels of the land. My Lord Deputy, hearing of his late assembling of forces, contrary to his former promise, wrote to him to break his forces, without which he would impute him as a breaker of her Majesty's peace; "upon which he so did, and stood in awe." The revolt of the Earl of Clanrycard's sons has disquieted Connaught; "but they and the rest have felt the smart of their follies, for many of their people have been slain, and the rest that took part with them do leave them. They dare not look abroad, but like wild wolves keep the woods and the mountains. It is written hither to me that Ulicke Burcke is dead de morbo Gallico, which I trust will consume them all. "O'Wrourcke, coming into the county of Roscoman, was set upon with 25 horsemen of mine and Captain Brabazon's, he * See p. 60. 1581. March 23. 487. Vol. 607, p. 58. having 80 horsemen in his company, and was put to flight, lost 18 horsemen slain of his best men, and 20 horses taken and himself unhorsed, and saved by the help of a bog and a wood. He had also 500 Scots, which were set upon by 70 of Mr. Treasurer's band of footmen, who slew the captain of the Scots and 30 more of his company and put them to flight, and of th' English footmen but 6 slain and 5 or 6 wounded. O'Wrourcke never looked behind him until he came to his own country, and now seeketh for peace; and so do all the rest, finding themselves not able to hold out any longer. "Th' Earl's sons have written to me for protection, which I have denied unto them without sufficient pledges, which they cannot give, because I did execute a pledge of theirs, who was for them before their revolt. They have broken all their father's castles. "Mr. Thomas Norrys, whom I left in Conaught in my absence as chief over the rest, hath slain divers of the rebels, and very narrowly missed William Burcke, th' Earl's youngest son, which came lately out of England, and is the worst of the three; and a sister of his also escaped very hardly. Since which time also a man of mine hath slain 7 or 8 principal traitors." Dublin, 29 January 1580. Signed. Holograph. Pp. 2. Addressed. Endorsed. SIR NICHOLAS MALBIE to the EARL OF LEICESTER. My Lord Deputy, in a general letter to the Council, has signified the whole estate of this realm. I have delivered him a large discourse of my proceedings, which he now sends to you. The Earl of Clanrycard's most wicked sons wrought the whole province to combine and confederate with them. I made head against them and brought them to good terms. I hold them now for nobody. "Had the soldiers been such as I could wish, I had ended all those matters before I would have left the field, but our new come country men can endure no travail." Besides, the numbers are so shortened by sickness, as for 800 which should have been I could not have to the field above 460, and had to deal with above 3,000 rebels. Order should be given to send over no vagabonds or lewd persons. "Of Ulster, we look for nothing but all ill at Tyrlaghe Lenaghe's hands. Touching Munster, your Honour may perceive how it goeth by a letter of my L. of Ormond's." For Leinster men, "they stand upon the same stay they did." Dublin, 23 March 1580. Signed. The sheriff of the county of Slygo signifies to me that he saw a letter from Tyrlaghe Lenaghe to O'Connor Slygo, in the Irish language, with these words only: "Commendations 1581. April 28. 488. Vol. 605, p. 66. June 7. Vol. 619, p. 20. 489. from O'Neill to O'Connor; and as long as you live, live or stand fast, and be stout and live." Holograph. Pp. 2. Addressed. Endorsed. LORD DEPUTY GREY to GEORGE CAREWE, Esquire. Commission to have conference with the Cavenaghes under his rule in the county of Catherloughe, and to receive, upon good assurances by pledge, as many of them as you shall think good for furtherance of her Majesty's service. Also, to promise life to any that are now out in rebellion, if by service they shall first deserve their pardon. Dublin, 28 April 1581. Signed at the beginning. P. 1. Endorsed. The BARON OF UPPER OSSORY to the EARL OF LEICESTER. I have been in prison six months, through the malice and hate of my great enemy the Earl of Ormond. "By his means I was indicted within the county of Kilkenny; which is, that I should receive into my house of Coulkill th' Earl of Desmond and Pyers Grace, when the said Earl made escape from Dublin. The second, that now in the time of this rebellion I should keep with me a son of Sir John of Desmond's. The third, that I should require my said enemy to forsake his duty towards her Majesty, and hold with the said Earl in his rebellion." My enemy has surprised and kept my manor houses and castles of the Beallaghe More and castle of the Bridge, wasted my country with preyings, burnings, and spoilings, and killed divers of my tenants and followers, besides the taking away of all my own proper goods and chattels Though divers and sundry complaints have been exhibited to the Lord Deputy and Council of the hurts as they were committed from time to time, no manner redress hath been had in them as yet. I beseech you to deal so for me as I be not in perpetual prison, but that with expedition I may come to my trial, either here or there, for I understand there is no trial of Lords here, for want of number. I will prove myself an honest and a clean man, as I hope the opinions of my Governors may partly testify. Also I dare undertake unto your Honour, if my said enemy himself might be so narrowly searched and put to trial as I am, there should be apparent and true matter proved against him, and of more weight than any wherewith I am charged, which is not utterly unknown to the Governor and Council here." Dublin, 7 June 1581. Signed: B. Upper Oss'. Holograph. Pp. 2. Addressed. Endorsed. 1581. July 18. Vol. 619, p. 40. Sept. 21. Vol. 619, p. 52. 490. 491. SIR NICHOLAS MALBIE to the EARL OF LEICESTER. A great conflict is happened between O'Neill and O'Donnell, for Tyrlaghe Lenughe entered O'Donnell's country with all his forces. O'Donnell encountered him, but had the worst part, for he lost about 600 men, and O'Doherty and McSwyne O'Duyn, the chief captains of his galloglasses, were taken prisoners. O'Donnell has sent to my Lord Deputy for aid. My Lord has appointed me to repair to O'Donnell with such forces as I have in Connaught. My Lord himself will draw down to the Blackwater, and from thence proceed to the Lyffer. Munster is in as ill terms as it was. Our mountain men in these parts are declining fast, and are daily killed and spoiled by Captain Russell, Sir William Stanley, and Captain Mays terson. The bearer is Robert Jhonson, an old follower of your Honour's. He will excuse himself touching the loss of the house of Loughreagh. I thank you for extending your favour to Justice Dillon. I live in the great disgrace of her Majesty, but have deserved nothing but well. I beseech you to work her Majesty's good liking of me. Dublin, 18 July 1581. Signed. Holograph. Pp. 2. Addressed and endorsed. SIR NICHOLAS MALBIE to the EARL OF LEICESTER. Shane Og O'Neill and Con O'Neill, sons to the late Shane O'Neill, came with 120 horsemen and 200 footmen into O'Reilly's country, called the Brenye, and took away 300 kine and other spoils. Shane O'Reilly and Philip O'Reilly, sons to O'Reilly, rose out with 40 horsemen and 30 footmen only, and killed Shane Og O'Neill, who was Shane O'Neill's eldest son, and took Con O'Neill prisoner. This is a very good service, for they were the best next to Tyr. Lenaghe. One of Henry McShane's sons was slain, and one of Tyrlaghe Breslaghe's sons; which four be of the very best of Tyrone. Con is a very good pledge for that country. The Lord Chancellor and the Council here have written to O'Reilly and his sons to send the prisoners hither. Tyrlaghe Lenaghe is assembling all his forces to invade O'Reilly's country. O'Reilly has hereof written to the Council, who will give him all the assistance they can. "My Lord of Ormond's agents in Connaught, whom he hath sent to make collection of my doings, do apply it very well; and, as I am secretly informed, he hath suborned Robert Fowle, one of mine own advancement." I doubt not but your Honour will lay a Caveat that nothing shall pass there for Connaught that shall not come recommended by me. I mind tomorrow to return towards my charge; and if Tyr. Lenaghe do come into O'Reilly's country, I will draw towards those |