1583. Further details respecting his Presidentship of Wales, the illness of his wife, his burdensome expenses, &c. * The Queen has made me one of her Privy Council. I have been a Companion of the Order of the Garter now full 19 years. "When I was but 10 years of age, and a while had been henchman to King Henry the 8th, I was by that most famous King put to his sweet son Prince Edward, my most dear master, prince, and sovereign, the first boy that ever he had; my near kinswoman being his only nurse, my father being his chamberlain, my mother his governess, my aunt by my mother's side in such place as among meaner personages is called a dry nurse, for from the time he left sucking she continually lay in bed with him, so long as he remained in woman's government. As that sweet Prince As that sweet Prince grew in years and discretion, so grew I in favour and liking of him, in such sort as by that time I was 22 years old he made me one of the four principal gentlemen of his bedchamber." Sundry times he bountifully rewarded me. He sent me into France and Scotland. Lastly, he died in my arms. "After I had spent some months in Spain,† neither liking nor liked as I had been, I fancied to live in Ireland, and to serve as Treasurer, and had the leading both of horsemen and footmen, and served as ordinarily with them as any other private captain did there under my brother-in-law, the Earl of Sussex, where I served during the reign of Queen Mary and one year after; in which time I had four sundry times, as by letters patents yet appeareth, the government of that country, by the name of Lord Justice, thrice by commission out of England, and once by choice of that country; such was the great favour of that Queen to me and good liking of the people of me." In the first journey that the Earl of Sussex made I killed James Mack O'Nell, a mighty captain of Scots. "The second journey the Earl of Sussex made into those quarters of Ulster, he sent me and others into the Island of Raghlyns, where before in the time of Sir James Croft's deputation, Sir Raulf Bagnall, Captain Cuff, and others sent by him landed little to their advantage, for there were they hurt and taken, and the most of their men that landed either killed or taken, but we landed more politicly and safely, and encamped in the isle until we had spoiled the same, all mankind, corn, and cattle in it." During my government I had sundry skirmishes with the rebels, always with victory. At the very time that Calais "As foul a lady as the small-pox could make her, which she did take by continual attendance of her Majesty's most precious person, sick of the same disease." + ". "Note.-My going to Spain for the liberty of the Earl of Warwick and his brethren." 1583. Vol. 628, p. 318. March 11. 502. Vol. 605, p. 68. Vol. 613, p. 63. Vol. 618, p. 3 a. was lost, I invaded Firkaol, otherwise called O'Meloy's Other particulars respecting his family, debts, and decline Commend me to my good lady, cousin, and sister, your wife; bless and buss our sweet daughter; and bestow a blessing upon the young knight, Sir Philip. Ludlow Castle, 1 March 1582. Signed. Here follow several memoranda, for insertion in different "The coming to me thither (Carrickfergus) of Sir Arthur "The taking of lands by Sir Thomas Smith, then secretary, Copy. Pp. 65. 2. Contemp. copy of the same letter, with omissions at the beginning and at the end. Pp. 53. The QUEEN to the LORDS JUSTICES, the LORD CHANCELLOR Commanding that Nathaniel Dillon, clerk of the Council in Richmond, 11 March 1582, 25 Eliz. Endorsed, "Touching the Patentees." 1583. [April?] 503. Vol. 616, p. 157. EARL OF DESMOND. "Th' Earl of Desmond's instructions to Morish Shighan, wherein he is to crave the aid and advice of the Right Honorable the Earl of Leicester and the Lord Deputy." The said Earl hath sent, to be showed to your Lordships, the exemplification of his tail, and Queen Mary's letter touching Downgarwan, wherein he prays to have your advice. Order was taken about 12 years past by the Lord Deputy, that sequestration should be made of the prize wines of Youghill and Kynsale, which have been always in the quiet possession of the said Earl and his ancestors; "at which time he was apprehended." Since then the Earl of Ormond has taken up the profits of the said prize wines, for the recovery whereof he (Desmond) prays your Lordship's aid and advice. He prays also your aid and advice for the recovery of the baronies of Kylfiekyll, and Kylsielane, the rents of Poble O'Nele, Onoeane, and the chief rent of Clonemell, which are his ancient inheritance, from the said Earl of Ormond. Copy. P. 1. Endorsed. GEOFFREY FENTON to the EARLS OF WARWICK and Since my last, two of the O'Connors were convented before the Council last week to debate such challenges as they had one against the other. The one was called Teige Mc Gill Patrick and the other Connor McCormok. Connor charged Teige that he had slain certain of his followers. Teige denied not the killing of some of Connor's men, but justified the act to be lawfully done, for that he knew them since the granting of their protection to be confederates with Caell O'Connor, the principal rebel of the Pale. Connor sharply reproved Teige, who demanded the combat, which Connor accepted, and the Lords Justices and Council agreed to it. "After] the election of the weapons was given to the defendant, and by him agreed unto, [the] time of the combat was published to be the morrow following by 9 of [the] clock in the inner court of the castle of Dublin. And against that time we assigned patrons to them both to bring them into the lists, and all other officers of the field to grace the action so well as might be in this place, where I think the like hath not been seen at any time before. They both appeared in the place the next morning at the hour appointed; Teige first, being appellant, and Connor after, being defendant. And being set upon two stools at either end of the court, after they were searched by myself, being thereunto appointed, and their weapons delivered to them (being sword * See No. 283 in the preceding Volume; also Nos. 299 and 300. This paper may belong to the same date. 1583. Sept. 15. Vol. 607, p. 100. 505. and target), and after proclamation made for good order, the trumpet was commanded to sound a charge, and [they] commanded at the last sound of the trumpet to put themselves to the fight, which they did assuredly with great valour and resolution. Teige gave to Connor two wounds in the leg, which as they weakened him much by the blood which he lost, so Connor pressing the more in upon Teige, for that he felt his own feebleness, Teige thrust him into the eye, by which Connor finding himself to be sped, bore into the close, thinking likewise to dispatch Teige, but Teige having the advantage of strength so received him into the close, as he first wrung from him his sword and overthrew him. And then pommelling him about the head with the hilts of his sword to astonish him, Connor's murrion, that was fast buckled under his chin, was loosed with that business. So as Teige, presently taking Connor's sword, gave him sundry wounds in the body, and with his own sword cut off his head, and presented it to those that were principal assistants. "I have sent to your L., my L. of Leicester, the same sword, which I could not have got from Teige, but with promise that I would give it to your L., and recommend his service and duty to you, as one that, now professing to be a civil man, desireth to depend upon you. I would her Majesty had the same end of all the O'Connors in Ireland; then might it be hoped for, that no such disturbance would rise again in Leinster as hath done through their quarrels." Dublin, 13 September 1583. Signed and sealed. SIR NICHOLAS MALBIE to the EARL OF LEICESTER. Mr. Barnaby Goodge, the bearer, is repairing to Court. Connaught is very quiet. If any Englishman shall travel there, and be touched or robbed, I will pay for every penny 2d. The chief lords truly are very fearful to offend the law. If any principal lord or chief of a country be ill dealt withal by his own freeholders and such as dwell under him, where the said lords were wont for suppressing such to entertain Scots and kerne and galloglas, they call to me for her Majesty's forces. At such times they give the soldiers their victuals gratis. At every sessions there is a great appearance of the people. There was a late practice to disturb the province. Tirlaghe Lenaghe procured O'Wrourcke to break out, who most disdains English government. I had intelligence of all their doings, but dissembled my knowledge. Three or four times I wrote to O'Wrourcke for the continuing of peace. His answers were, that he meant and would keep the peace usque ad festum Omnium Sanctorum. His meaning thereby was to get in his harvest, and then to break out. As I did assure myself O'Connor Dun's son, who married O'Wrourcke's daughter, would begin this matter, I required 1583. him to repair to me to answer complaints exhibited against him by his neighbours. He refused to come, and set fire on his father's castle, who is blind and 100 years old. Captain Brabazon made haste thither with 30 horsemen, and, had it not been for the favour of a bog, had dispatched the rebels. I caused the house to be repaired, and put a ward in it. This young fellow went away by night into O'Wrourcke's country. Thereupon I proclaimed Hugh O'Connor, and wrote to O'Wrourcke to apprehend him and send him to me. He returned me answer that Hugh O'Connor was his son-in-law, yet would he not keep him; notwithstanding he prayed me to receive him to peace upon certain conditions, or otherwise he had sent for Scots, and would do much hurt. I advertised the Lords Justices of these proceedings, and entertained 500 strangers out of the province. I sent out precepts to the lords and gentlemen to be ready with their rising out on the 15th of this month, with six weeks' victuals. O'Wrourcke, understanding of my disposition to invade his country, sent to me for a perfect peace. The Earl of Thomond and the Baron of Leitrim being then by hap with me, I appointed them jointly with Captain Brabazon to repair to the borders to have parlance with him; "at which parlance upon such a sudden there were about 5 or 6 hundred tall men, the sight of whom pleased O'Wrourcke nothing, and forced him to stoop to any reasonable conditions; and craving two years' peace, hath put in his pledge for performance of the same, and sent his son-in-law Hugh O'Connor unto me." Hugh made his submission, and delivered me his pledge. I should have had 2,000 men together, whereof 1,800 should not have cost her Majesty one penny. I send you the note of them. Mr. Goodge was an actor in this business. O'Wrourcke had entertained 600 Scots. The noblemen and gentlemen of the province were most willing to the suppressing of this rebellion. For all this great number which should have been with me, her Majesty should not have been at any charges for victuals or carriages. This my doing breedeth me much envy of others. "Of Munster it is said that all the rebels be in obedience and the province very quiet, but of Desmond nothing can be heard what is become of him. "In Ulster is some disquietness by the dissension of O'Neill and O'Donnell and the Baron of Dungannon. There be some of the Council now appointed to repair to the Knight Marshal,* who together with them are to do their best to compound that controversy. O'Donnell on th' other side craveth aid of her Majesty to be defended from Tyrlaghe Lenaghe." Dublin, 15 September 1583. Signed. Holograph. Pp. 7. Addressed. Endorsed. * Sir Nicholas Bagnall. |
