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I went into Munster. I found McWilliam very sensible, though wanting the English tongue, yet understanding the Latin. He desired to suppress Irish extortion, and to expulse the Scots. He bound himself, by oath and indenture, to hold his lands of her Majesty, to pay yearly 250 marks sterling, and to find 200 soldiers, horsemen and footmen, for two months by the year. In one of his petitions he "besought (doubting that I would have taken away the bonaght from the Clandonnells which they held of him and his country) that they might (withdrawing it from him) hold it of the Queen." They accepted this overture. "He received his country at my hands by way of seneschalship, which he thankfully accepted, the order of knighthood I bestowed upon him, whereof he seemed very joyous, and some other little trifles I gave him, as tokens between him and me." He was desirous I should send thither an English sheriff; I sent one with him. He is a great man; his land lies along the west north-west coast of this realm, wherein he has many goodly havens. His territory is three times as large as the Earl of Clanricarde's. "He brought with him all his brethren, McPhillipin, who in surname is a Burke, as he is," and others. O'Mayle came likewise with him, who is an original Irishman, strong in galleys and seamen. He earnestly sued to hold of the Queen.

At that instant were also with me McPhaten, of English surname Barrett, McIvilye, of English surname Stanton, McJordan, of the like, Dexter, McCoshtelo, of the like, Nangle, McMaurice, of English surname Prendergast; and these five show matter of some record and credit, that they have not only been English, which every man confesseth, but also Lords and Barons in Parliament," but now they have not three hackneys to carry them and their train home. There were with me many more of lower degree, as the chief of the Clan Andrews and MeThomin, Barrett[s], Cusakes, Linches, and sundry English surnames now degenerate, and all lamenting their devastation, and crying for justice and English govern

ment.

Touching the county of Galway; first, I find the town of Galway much decayed, both in number of expert sage men of years and in young men of war, through the horrible spoil done upon them by the sons of the Earl of Clanricard. 50 householders of that town inhabit under McWilliam Eughter. They had almost forgotten that they had received any corporation from the crown, but I trust they are now revived. The Earl of Clanrickard continually attended on me, and so did the Earl of Thomond, the Archbishop of Tweom, the Bishop of Clonfert and Killmakogh, and the Baron of Athenry, by surname Birmingham (a poor baron, though the ancientest in this land), O'Flaherty, O'Kelly, and many of their surnames, which are very great, O'Madden, and all of any account of that surname, O'Naughton, and many other petty lords and captains of countries, craving to hold their lands immediately

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from her Highness. "These are the principal of this country, saving such as be of my Lord of Clanricard's surname, as O'Heyne, original Irish, and in old time very great, now mean; McOwge, McHubbert, McDavy, McEdmund, McRedmond, all these Burghes and many more, but all holding of the Earl of Clanricard (by due service as he saith), but through oppression say they." Many other there were who durst not show their faces, for that they had been partakers with the Earl's sons in their rebellion.

These two hopeless sons came into the church of Galway on a Sunday at public service, and there craved their pardon. I committed them to my marshal, and have them here prisoners in this castle of Dublin.

I departed from Galway the 22nd of March and passed through Athenry, which was totally burned-college, parish church, and all that was there-by the Earl's sons; yet the mother of one of them was buried in that church. "I took order for the re-edifying of the town, and I have taxed (for the satisfying of the old inhabitants) indifferently upon that country, weighing the ability of each person, and the quality, of the faults, as I thought most reasonable; and the sum of this taxation amounteth unto 2,000l., which shall be confirmed and ratified by order of commissioners authorized under the Great Seal, according to the meaning of her Majesty's letter granted to them; and I doubt not to levy it, and the rather for that the Earl is entered into band of 5,000l., to see as well this performed, as the first order taken at Limericke against his sons in my predecessor's time. I have cut the town almost into equal parts, it being before full as big, with a fair high wall, as the town of Calais. I took from the Earl (the better to answer the expectation of the people) two principal castles and keys of strength, the one called the castle of Ballinesloe, which standeth betwixt Galway and Athenry, and the other called Clare, and seated betwixt Galway and McWilliam Eughter's country." I went from Athenry with the Earl of Clanricard, and was very honourably entertained with him. The next night I lodged in the O'Kellies' country, and the night following in the castle of Roscommon. The county is indifferently manured, by reason of the Earl of Clanricard's force, whose friends and followers fare well, the rest go to wreck. The Bishop of Meath came to me to Galway.

I staid at Roscommon but one night, both for that I had appointed provision at Athlone, as also that I found nothing there laid in, to furnish me withal. During my abode at Roscommon, O'Connor Dun came to me, whose ancestor (they say) was sometimes called King of Connaught. The castle of Roscommon I took from him in my former government. Under his rule there are O'Birne and O'Flin. O'Connor Ro came not at ine, for fear I would compel him to make recompence for his hurts done in the rebellion time. Under him is O'Flanagan. "McDermond was with me, and one under him

1576.

called McManus. These people and some more petty lords inhabit the plains of Connaught, and are all destroyed by the Scots chiefly. The country is large and of excellent soil, the best, and all the rest beggars, desirous to be delivered from the tyranny of their stronger neighbours. They all crave to be subjected to the English government."

At Athlone I remained nine days, in which time was executed a notable rebel of the Burkes.

I daily look for O'Connor Sligo, O'Rwrke, O'Donnell, and Con O'Donnell, his nephew, and doubt not but so to agree with them as the Scots shall be soon banished out of Connaught. As to the Annalye or O'Ferrall's country, and East Brenye or O'Reilie's country, they all attended upon me during my abode in the counties of Roscommon and West Meath. At my being at Athlone I sent commissioners thither to hold sessions. This country was made shire ground by me, by the name of the county of Longford, and the chief lords are bound to pay 400 marks by the year of increase of revenue, whereof albeit they were in arrear for four or five years, yet immediately upon my demand they paid part, and took short days for payment of the rest.

From the East Brenye, or the O'Reillies' country, I received all dutiful offices. The captain of the country is a very honest man, but old, very impotent and bedrid. His death may breed great trouble. The competitors for his place will hazard the destruction of the country. I mean to dissipate it into more captainries than one, if I can.

I left in Connaught Thomas Lestrange and Thomas Dillon, learned in the laws, as commissioners, to determine controversies, and Robert Damport, provost marshal, to apprehend and execute the thieves and destroyers of the country. They of Connaught are willing to bear men of war for the suppression of rebels and outlaws. "The Queen's revenue revived, and that, with casual revenues, will go near to bear the charge of civil magistracy." Connaught may be made to bear its own charges within one year and a half, so as a President and Council be sent thither to reside amongst them.

I am advertised that my Lord of Essex is minded to come again into this realm. He is held of the people of this country both in honourable and dreadful terms. If he be placed as President with a Council in Connaught, it will imprint in their minds the Queen's resolution to reform them. "I will so impart with him, as, without her Majesty's further charge than presently she is contented to be at, he shall be able to live honorably there." While his Lordship and Sir William Druerye join together in the south and west, I will deal with the east and north. If I may not have the Earl of Essex, let me have another.

I departed from Athlone the 2nd of April, and lodged by the way at Mr. Lestrange's, Mollingarre, my Lord of Delvin's, my Lord Bishop of Meath's, and Lawrence Delahide's. On the

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July 13.

Vol. 628, p. 295.

14th I arrived in Dublin, being the first entry I made into it since I landed last in Ireland, which was the 12th of September last. By the way as I went, sessions were held in the counties of West Meath, Louth, Longford, Meath, and Kildare. I could not have wished for better service to be done in my absence, and in especial by my Lord Bishop of Meath,* and such as I joined with him in commission for guarding of the borders of the Pale.

"I write not the names of each particular varlet that hath died since I arrived, as well by the ordinary course of the law, the martial law, as flat fighting with them, when they would take food without the good will of the giver." The number of them is great, and some of the best; and the rest tremble. "They fight for their dinner, and many of them lose their heads before they be served with their suppers."

I beseech you to mark these few heads following.

(1.) The church must be reformed, being deformed and overthrown by the ruin of the temples, the dissipation and embezzling of the patrimony, and most of all for want of sufficient ministers. The means to amend it are easy, whereof I have written to the Queen.

(2.) An army must still be maintained. A garrison of 300 horsemen and 700 footmen may continually be kept here, without any great charge to England. "This charge now must be reared by the new rents of the Irishry, and by an alteration of the old burthen of the English Pale."

(3.) "I heartily wish that it might please her Majesty to send hither four personages, whereof one well acquainted with the course of that grave and wise Council, as it might be Mr. Tremayne; two stout and well learned lawyers, as two of these three; viz., the Master of the Rolls, the Attorney General, and Mr. Bell; some one discreet gentleman, as Sir Edward Mountecute, that were able to argue what might be reaped out of a good soil peaceably possessed."

(4.) That it would please her Majesty to send hither three lawyers, to be Chief Justices of three principal and common benches, and one to be Attorney General of this realm. There is none here so meet for those places as is to be wished, Sir Lucas Dillon excepted, who is Chief Baron.

Castle of Dublin, 27 April 1576.

Signed.

Copy. Pp. 17.

39. The PRIVY COUNCIL to the LORD DEPUTY (SYDNEY).

It seems you conceive that small care is had of your letters sent. If you thoroughly mark the letters which we sent you in January last, you shall find that yourself have not fully answered us; namely, touching Sarleboy, the disposition of Clandeboy, nor to what conclusion you are grown

* Hugh Brady.

1576.

with Tirlough Lenough upon those articles and postilles sent unto you; no, nor yet of McGennes, in such sort as it is to pass for work of such a warrant as we required to be drawn by the learned counsel there and sent hither. And if your L. had sent over those warrants for the grants to be made from her Majesty to Tirlough Lenough, McGennes, O'Hanlon, and others, it might ere now have been granted and perfected; and that thereupon such of them might have been created into degree of honour as your L. moved, the which afore that time we thought not meet to be done."

You complain of time lost and service hindered by the long stay of the Chancellor* and the President of Munster.† The same has not grown in her Majesty's or our default, for the President had his full dispatch here many months before he departed, and the Chancellor after his coming hither tarried not many days for anything belonging to his dispatch. "The stay of the treasure proceeded of the death of [John] Gifford; the same being paid unto him at the day limited by your composition."

Touching the revocation which you required to be made for the grants passed to Malbie and Chatterton of those Irish countries, we caused Malbie to be dealt withal, who seemed contented to yield to anything that should be thought reasonable."

In your letter of the 27th of April you gather certain principal heads requisite for the reformation and good government of that realm. For your better assistance you seem to desire to have certain chosen persons sent over by the midst of September; but it has been thought meeter by her Majesty and us that you should first consult there upon those matters, and send over your opinions by some well instructed persons, such as Sir Lucas Dillon and Mr. Agard (being of each nation one), if they two may be spared from thence.

The sending thither of lawyers is a matter most requisite, but such opinion is conceived of the barbarism there, and so small are the gains and entertainment there, as at all times when any have been chosen to be sent thither, they do ever make some means to her Majesty whereby they may be stayed.

The grant of entertainment for the ward of Athlone passed to Sir Edward Fitton as a matter alleged heretofore to have been from time to time appertaining to such as used the office of Treasurer at Wars in that realm, and hath his grant so long as he shall enjoy the office of Treasurer, and not during her Majesty's pleasure as you take it."

In another letter you declare the inconvenience of putting in execution letters of reprisal against them of St. Maloes. Some composition should be made, for the satisfaction of our merchants that have been damnified.

The captains' bills required by you for the perfecting of the account remain with the Auditor here, as his warrant,