1578.

The next day we came to Cashel, where Edward Butler met us again. As the causes between him and the Archbishop and others were many and weighty, we appointed them to meet us at Kilkenny. From Cashel we went to Clonmell, and there stayed all Sunday the 2nd inst. We departed thence on the 3rd to Callan, and on the 4th came to Kilkenny. There, the jail being full, we caused sessions immediately to begin. Thirty-six persons were executed, "among which some good ones, two for treason, a blackmoor, and two witches by natural law, for that we found no law to try them by in this realm."

To that town came to us, simply to submit themselves and to crave pardon, first, Geoffrey FitzPatrick, brother to the Baron of Upper Ossory, a notable malefactor, that brake prison out of the Castle of Dublin; Walter Galdey, one of the Cavanaghes of the county of Wexford; Conell McGilpatrick O'More, "and with him Shane Grany, one of the principal men of Rory's in his last rebellion, and that received 12 wounds at the time of Rory's killing, whereof he bare seven yet unhealed;" and one Bryan McWilliam Mc Fur of the county of Catheloghe; who all gave their submissions in writing, and put in their pledges. We bound many suspected persons of Kilkenny and Tipperary in recognizances for their dutifulness; and the Lords Mountgarrett and Upper Ossory for the bringing to Dublin of such of their brethren as came not thither. The latter being indicted with certain of his men by the sheriff of that county for killing two of the sheriff's men, we bound him with four sureties in 2,500 marks and himself in 1,000, to appear with his men when called upon. John Brenagh, who was appointed to come to put in his sureties at Kilkenny, came to town, but brought not his sureties before us till Monday morning, when we were ready to depart. As his sureties stood upon certain points of the recognizance, I, the Justice, committed him to the sheriff, and commanded the Commissioners to proceed against him by order of law. Afterwards, upon very earnest suit, I was content that he should put in sureties for 1,2007.

Having had notice from the Bishop of Ossery "that not only the chiefest men of that town (as for the most part they are bent to Popery) refused obstinately to come to the church, and that they could by no means be brought to hear the divine service there with their wives and families (as by her Majesty's injunctions they are bound to do), but that also almost all the churches and chapels or chancels within that his diocese were utterly ruined and decayed, and that neither the parishioners nor others that are bound to repair them and set them up could by any means be won or induced so to do," we therefore directed a commission to the Bishop and other principal gentlemen, authorizing them either to compel such as ought to do it

1578.

.

to repair and build them, or else, in case they should refuse, to take their distresses so refusing, and with the money thereof growing to set the reparation in hand. We bound the chief men of the town in recognizance of 40l. ster. a piece, that they and their wives should duly every Sunday and holiday frequent the church and hear the divine service therein. Since our coming thence we hear from the Bishop of the good conformity of some of them.

We departed Kilkenny on the 10th inst., taking along with us Edward Butler, against whom many complaints had been exhibited. That night we came to Catheloghe, where all the principal of the Cavenaghes met us. Cahir Duff, who was lately with Feaghe McHughe in this last time of his disorder and at the burning of Fernes and other outrages, exhibited his submission, and all the chief men of his sept for him and his followers put in such pledges as we, by the advice of Peter Carew, Henry Davells, Thomas Masterson, and Robert Harpole, demanded. The Keatings promised likewise to put in their pledges. "They are now upon no man, nor have any entertainment, going as they do wandering." The next day we came to Castle Mastin, and so from thence to Dublin on the 12th, where we received advertisements that one James Brenaghe, a companion of the above named John Brenaghe, and a disturber of cos. Kilkenny and Waterford, was apprehended, and in his company one Edmond Walshe. They were apprehended by Colby, guydon of my band of horsemen. He with four more have been executed at a private sessions at Waterford. "There are come unto us those which we appointed of the Lords Mountgarrett and Upper Ossory's brethren, of which one Callogh McGilpatrick, the Baron of Upper Ossory's brother, being a notable disturber of that country, we have thought fit to keep safe in the Castle of Dublin," as also a son of O'Carrol's, and two sons of the Viscount of Baltiuglas for some hurts lately done by them.

While we were in the west, the north was under the oversight of Sir Nicholas Bagnall, the Knight Marshal. Having regard to the great exclaiming of the country of the grievous burthen which they seemed to bear by the repair of the Governors heretofore into any place, we took with us only our household servants, and in every place we kept our horses and horseboys, without dispersing them or sending them to cesse, and paid ready money for them everywhere. Our company was but small, either to have attempted any force or resisted any violence, yet after we had met the band of me; the Justice, though it were but of 100 men, we stood in small doubt of any force.

In all this journey I utterly refused to grant the suit of any person for protection.

Dublin, 20 November 1578.

Signed: W. Drury, Edw. Fyton.

Contemp. copy. Pp. 13.

1578. Dec. 2.

Vol. 628, p. 127.

110.

Dec. 11. 111. Vol. 628, p. 375.

Vol. 628, p. 123 a. 112.

Vol. 628, p. 146. 113.

[FORM of LETTERS sent by] the LORD JUSTICE and COUNCIL [to various persons.]

As the country, by composition with us, has agreed to yield 38. 4d. ster. upon every plough, you are to call before you all persons complained of by the collectors for refusing payment, and commit them to gaol.

Dublin, 2 Dec. 1578.
Contemp. copy. P. 1.

[LORD CHANCELLOR GERRARD to the WIFE of TURLOGHE LYNAGHE O'NEIL.]

The Knight Marshal (Bagnall) has made good report to me of your travail and good offices with your husband to remain the Queen's loyal subject, the good success of which I made known to her Highness at my late being in England. Her Majesty has sent you a token by me, which I will deliver to you at your husband's and your coming to the Newry. I have attended upon the Lord Justice thither.

Draft. P. 1. Endorsed: Minute of the letters to Turlaghe and his wife, 11 Dec. 1578.

"The COMPOSITION for the CESSE."

Dublin, 200; Meath, 400; Westmeath, 200; Louth, 200; Kildare, 200; Tipperary, 250; Kilkenny, 150; Katherlaghe, 100; Wexford, 150; The King and Queen's County, 150. Total, 2,000 [beeves ?].

Contemp. copy. P. 1.

THE CESSE.

I. "A note in what shires and places 2,000 beeves are to be cessed and levied for the furniture of 1,000 soldiers in Ireland."

The Irish Pale, 840; the English Pale, 1,160.

11. "The cesse of grain laid upon the English Pale with the consent of the nobility."

Total, 7,800 pecks.

III. "Where the beeves and swine are cessed upon the Irishry."

Beeves, 1,340; swine, 620.

Contemp. copy. P. 14.

The Town of KNOCKFERGUS.

"A Note as well of the Great Losses as also of the Good Service that the poor Inhabitants of Knockfergus have had and done."

They killed Brian Balloughe, Lord of Clandeboye, who continually annoyed the townsmen, with divers of his men. In revenge his son burned the town. They were glad to compound with him for 40l. yearly, which has been paid ever

1578.

The Lord of Killholtoughe, a traitor, took away all the cattle belonging to the town. The mayor and 24 aldermen and freemen were slain, and 32 taken, who were glad to pay all their goods for their ransom.

"When the King's Majesty (Henry VIII.) was at wars with France and Scotland, there went a great navy of ships out of Scotland, with the number of 10,000 men, to aid the French King, and their governors were the Earl of Arran, whose name was the Lord of Hamilton, and the Lord Flemmynge with him," who landed at Knockfergus and attempted to win the town, but without success. The Lord Flemmynge's brother was slain, with 40 of his men. Not passing twelve days after, the mayor with 200 men landed at Loughrean in Scotland, burned and spoiled much corn and many houses, and killed 60 men, besides a number of cattle.

At the same time the Lord of the Out Isles, Donell Mc Donell was agreed to serve the King for 600l., and came to Knockfergus with 4,000 men in 60 galleys. The money being not ready, the mayor and others gave him 300 beefs, and went in pledge for the payment of the 600l.; after the paying whereof they were forced to pay 401. ere they were released.

The lord of the country, Con O'Neale, took away 400 kine, and slew the mayor and the constable of the King's Castle, with 24 of the townsmen.

There came also Rorey McQuylen, who brought with him McLane's brother, with 600 Scots, meaning to sack the town, and they set fire in four parts of it. The townsmen killed

one of the chiefest captains and 20 men.

By crafty means, William Wallis, the mayor, and Mr. Corbett were carried away by Con O'Nell, and were forced to pay 5407. for their ransoms. An alderman was also taken and

most cruelly handled by him.

Hugh McBoye O'Nell, being after him lord of that country, compelled one of the aldermen to pay a ransom of 2001.

Hugh McNeale Oge, being a traitor, and lord of the country after him, came to Knockfergus with 1,000 Scots, and set fire in four parts of the town. Not long after, when Mr. Powell was discharged with his band from Knockfergus, and the abbey was given to the said Hugh, the latter challenged a wrong custom, and said, if he had it not, he would suffer neither man nor child to come out of their houses but he would kill them; so they agreed to give him five tuns of wine and 101. yearly.

Con McNeale Oge took away 100 neat and other cattle. Not passing 20 days after he placed 200 men by night in the middle of the town to kill Sir Brian McFellomy and then to win the town. Perceiving they were hardly beset by him, they gave to Sorolaboye McDonell 20l. sterling in wine, silk,

and saffron to assist them.

Brian Balloughe laid a strain in the corn, and took all their

1578.

Vol. 621, p. 12.

115.

cattle, to the number of 600. They wrote to Sorolaboy for restitution, but he made excuse. Not long after the said Brian Balloughe took all their cattle, and they gave him certain silk, saffron, and wine to have their cattle again; "and the said traitor drunk the same wine, and received the said silk [and] saffron, and restored not one of the neat back again, but cruelly handled the poor men that went with the same unto him, and stripped them, and took all their clothes from them." Captain William Piers was then constable of the King's Castle.

Con McNeale Oge, in O'Nell's first wars, took all their cattle divers times.

Hugh McFellomy, lord of that country, demanded the 401. beforetime paid to his ancestors. It was paid until Sir Henry Sydney, by force of the Queen's garrison, did cause the same to be stayed and withholden.

The town has been paved and environed with "stagnes " of water. Sydney gave them 20l. towards the repair of the church. The inhabitants have increased from 20 to 200. Above 40 fishermen daily frequent the seas, and there are above 60 ploughs belonging to the town. But if order be not taken for the thorough victualling of the Queen's soldiers there, so as the inhabitants be not burdened therewith, "the townsmen came not so fast thither, but will faster depart thence, as no few of them already be wearied and ready to depart."

II. "Money lent by the Mayor and Townsmen, not yet answered."

To Sir William Sellenger and Mr. Parker, 241. sterling To Mr. Roger Brookes, 201. To Walter Flody, constable of the King's Castle, 181. Owing for the victuals of 100 men for a fortnight, 461. 13s. 4d. Other costs and charges, 1007.

ster.

Copy. Pp. 11.

CREATIONS of KNIGHTS.

"Knights made from anno 1566 to the year 1578, tempore H. Sydneij, Dep."

Sir Thomas Butler, Earl of Ormonde; Sir Owen MacCartemore, Earl of Clancarte; Sir James Barry, Lord Barry; Sir David Roche, Lord Roche.

Limerick, March: Sir Thomas Gerald, Lord Fitz Maurice, of Kerry.

Drogheda, 1566: Sir Christopher Nugent, Lord Baron of Delvyn.

Drogheda, 9 Feb. 1569: Sir Christopher St. Laurence, Lord of Howthe.

1566: Sir Robert Barnewell, Baron of Tremeleston.

1566: Sir Tho. Plunket, Lord of Lowthe.

Sir Barnaby FitzPatrick, Lord of Upper Ossery.