Hibernia anglicana, or, The history of Ireland, from the conquest thereof by the English, to this present time with an introductory discourse touching the ancient state of that kingdom and a new and exact map of the same / by Richard Cox ...

THE REIGN OF HENRY VIII. KING OF England and France, Lord (and afterward King) of IRELAND. (Book Henry VIII)

HENRY the Eighth, the only, surviving Son of his Father, succeeded, peaceably, to the Throne of his Ancestors,* 1.1 in the eigh∣teenth Year of his Age: In him both Roses were united, for by his Father he was Heir to the Lancastrian Line, and by his Mother to the House of York; and so being without Com∣petitor, was the more capable to effect those great Designs, which he afterwards undertook. He found in the Govern∣ment of Ireland Gerald Earl of Kildare, whom he continued Lord Justice, (and the Year following made him Lord Deputy) and on good Reasons, for though Kildare was counted Rash and Unpolitick, yet he was a Man of great Interest and Cou∣rage, and his Name was more terrible to the Irish than an Army. And here let me observe, once for all, That no Na∣tion in the Word is more governed by Reputation and Ap∣pearance than the Irish, the Common People are dejected by a Trifle and elevated for less than nothing: And this Obser∣vation is manifestly justified by their frequent Submissions,

and their as frequent Rebellions; and if any object their con∣tinued Obstinacy to the Irish Interest and Popish Religion, it is easily answered; That as their Fears are without Cause, so their Hopes are without Reason, and that their Hopes ex∣ceeded their Fears, is partly to be attributed to the Nature of Man, (facile credimus quod volumus) but chiefly to the Noblemen and Clergy, whose Interest and Business it was to keep the Mobile always in Expectation, and to make them believe, That one Day or other the Popish Interest would prevail.

The King unwilling to disturb an infant Government, by unnecessary and disobliging Changes, did likewise continue all the Officers of State in their Dignities; who together with the Deputy, and the Mayor, Aldermen and Citizens of Dublin, immediately proclaimed him, King of England and France and Lord of Ireland, with as much Formality and State as the time could afford; which was followed with the Shouts of the People, ringing of Bells and Bonfires, as is usu∣al; and the like was done in the other chief Cities and Towns: After which, on the twenty fourth Day of June, the King and the Queen were crowned at Westminster, by Warham Archbishop of Canterbury.

Kildare being now made Deputy, designed an Expedition into Munster,* 1.2 he levied an Army in the Counties of Dublin, Louth, Meath and Kildare, and was also assisted by Hugh O Donel, Lord of Tyrconnel, they marched into Desmond with∣out Opposition, burning and spoiling all as they went, and there they took some Castles; but as they returned slow∣ly, being loaden with Prey, at Monetrar, in the County of Limerick,* 1.3 they met with a great number of their Enemies, led by James, eldest Son of the Earl of Desmond, Tirlagh O Bryan, Chief of Thomond, and Mac William, a Lord of the Burks; both Sides were resolved to fight, which they did desperate∣ly, to the great loss of both Parties, especially of the Roya∣lists, who were tired with long Marches, and overburthened with too much Prey; and perhaps it had been fatal to them, if the Night had not ended the Conflict, which gave Kildare the Opportunity to make a safe Retreat the next Day, with∣out further Damage.

This Year there were so great Floods and Inundations,* 1.4 that Trees, Houses and Bridges were overturned in several Places. Cahir O Connor, Prince of Offaly, was murdered by his own Followers, near the Abby called Monasterpheoris, in the King's County: And this Year began the Lateran Council under Ju∣lius II, which ended under Leo X, anno 1518.

Kildare having the last Year put himself into a Condition of appearing early and formidably abroad this Spring,* 1.5 under∣took

an Expedition into Ʋlster; the Castle of Belfast (which he had demolished nine Years since) was now again repaired, but unable to resist the Power of the Deputy, it was again the second time taken and destroyed. It is not recorded that Kildare met with much opposition, so that he had little to do but to burn and waste the Country, and to gather the Preys together; most part whereof he divided among his Soldiers.

Rokeby Archbishop of Dublin held a provincial Synod at Dublin, but what they did non constat, for the Canons are lost: And the Lord Deputy built the new Chappel, in the Choir of Christ Church, Dublin, where himself was afterward buried.

About this time the Citizens of Dublin did assault the Earl of Ormond in S. Patrick's Church, and shooting at random, defaced Images, &c. For which Sacrilege they were enjoyn∣ed this Penance, by a Legate sent on purpose, viz. That the Mayor should go barefoot through the City, before the Eu∣charist, on Corpus Christi Day, which was performed accord∣ingly. But because of the manner of Expression used in those Days, and some other Curiosities in the Story, I will insert it at large, in the Words of Holingshead.

Between Gerald Earl of Kildare and James Butler,* 1.6 Earl of Ormond (their own Jealousies, ••ed with Envy and Ambi∣tion, kindled with certain lewd factious Abetters on either side) as generally to all Noblemen, so especially to both those Houses very incident, ever since the ninth Year of Henry the Seventh, bred some trouble in Ireland: The Plot of which mutual Grudge was grounded upon the factious Dissention, which was in England between the Houses of York and Lancaster, Kildare cleaving to York and Ormond re∣lying to Lancaster; to the upholding of which Discord, both these Noblemen laboured with Tooth and Nail to overcrow, and consequently to overthrow one the other: And for so much as they were in Honour Peers, they wrought by Hook and by Crook, to be in Authority Superiors. The Govern∣ment therefore, in the Reign of Henry the Seventh, being cast on the House of Kildare, James Earl of Ormond, a deep and far reaching Man, giving back like a butting Ram, to strike the harder Push, devised to inveagle his Adversary by Sub∣mission and Courtesie, being not then able to over-match him with Stoutness or Preheminence: Whereupon Ormond ad∣dressed his Letters to the Deputy, specifying a Slander raised on him and his, That he purposed to deface his Government, and to withstand his Authority: And for the clearing of him∣self and his Adherent, so it stood with the Deputy his Plea∣sure, he would make his speedy Repair to Dublin, and there, in an open Audience, would purge himself of all

such odious Crimes, of which he was wrongfully Su∣spected.

To this reasonable Request had the Lord Deputy no sooner condescended, than Ormond with a puissant Army marched towards Dublin, incamping in an Abby in the Suburbs of the City, named S. Thomas Court; The approaching of so great an Army, of the Citizens suspected, and also of Kil∣dare's Counsellors, greatly disliked. Lastly, the Extortion that the lawless Soldiers used in the Pale, by several Com∣plaints detected. These three Points, with divers other su∣spicious Circumstances laid and put together, did minister occasion rather of further Discord, than of any present Agree∣ment: Ormond persisting still in his humble Suit, sent his Messenger to the Lord Deputy, declaring, That he was prest, and ready to accomplish the Tenor of his Letters, and there did attend (as became him) his Lordship his Pleasure; and as for the Company he brought with him from Munster, al∣beit suspicious Brains did rather of a malicious craftiness sur∣mise the worst, than of charitable Wisdom did judge the best; yet notwithstanding, upon Conference had with his Lordship, he would not doubt to satisfie him at full, in all Points, wherewith he could be with any Colour charged, and so to stop up the Spring, from whence all the envious Suspicions gushed.

Kildare, with this mild Message intreated, appointed the Meeting to be at S. Patrick his Church; where they were ripping up one to another their Mutual Quarrels, rather re∣counting the Damages they sustained, than acknowledging the Injuries they offered: The Citizens and Ormond his Army fell at some jar, for the Oppression and Exaction with which the Soldiers surcharged them; with whom as part of the Ci∣tizens bickered, so a round knot of Archers rushed into the Church, meaning to have murthered Ormond, as the Cap∣tain and Bell-Wether of all this lawless Rabble. The Earl of Ormond suspecting that he had been betraied, fled to the Chapter-House, put too the Door, sparring it with Might and Main. The Citizens, in their Rage, imagining, That every Post in the Church had been one of the Soldiers, shot hab nab, at random, up to the Rood-Loft, and to the Chan∣cel, leaving some of their Arrows sticking in the Images.

Kildare pursuing Ormond to the Chapiter-House-door, un∣dertook on his Honour, That he should receive no Villany. Whereupon the recluse craving his Lordships Hand, to as∣sure him his Life, there was a Clift in the Chapiter-House-Door pierced at a trice, to the end both the Earls should have shaken Hands and be reconciled. But Ormond surmising that this Drift was intended for some further Treachery, that if

he would stretch out his Hand, it had been percase chopt off, refused that Profer, vntil Kildare stretch'd in his Hand to him, and so the Door was opened, they both embraced, the Storm appeased, and all their Quarrels for that present rather discontinued than ended. In this Garboil one of the Citizens, surnamed Blanchfield, was slain. This latter Quarrel being like a green Wound, rather bungerly botcht than soundly cured, in that Kildare suspected, That so great an Army (which the other alledged to be brought for the Guard of his Person) to have been of purpose assembled, to outface him and his Power, in his own Country, and Ormond mistrusted, That this tracherous Practice of the Dublinians, was by Kildare devised. These and the like Surmises, light∣ly by both the Noblemen misdeemed, and by the continual twatling of Fliring Clawbacks in their Ears, whispered, bred and fostered a Malice betwixt them and their Posterity, many Years incurable; which caused much Stir and Unquietness in the Realm, until the Confusion of the one House, and the nonage of the other, ended and buried their mutual Quarrels.

Ormond was nothing inferior to the other in Stomach, and in reach of Policy far beyond him. Kildare was in Govern∣ment mild, to his Enemies stern, to the Irish such a Scourge, that rather for despite of him, than for Favour of any part, they relyed for a time to Ormond, came under his Protection, served at his Call, performed by Starts (as their manner is) the Duty of good Subjects. Ormond was secret, and of great forecast, very staid in Speech, dangerous of every Trifle that touched his Reputation. Kildare was open and plain, hardly able to rule himself, when he was moved to Anger; not so sharp as short, being easily displeased and sooner appeased; being in a Rage with certain of his Ser∣vants, for Faults they committed, one of his Horsemen of∣fered Master Boice (a Gentleman that retained to him) an Irish Hobby, on condition, That he would pluck an Hair from the Earl his Beard. Boice taking the Profer at rebound, stept to the Earl (with whose good Nature he was through∣ly acquainted) parching in the Heat of his Choler, and said, So it is, and if it like your good Lordship, one of your Horsemen promised me a choice Horse, if I snip one Hair from your Beard. Well, quoth the Earl, I agree thereto, but if thou pluck any more than one, I promise thee to bring my Fist from thine Ear.

But after all, this simple Story is founded on a Mistake, for the Earl of Ormond (whose Name was Thomas) lived in England, in great Repute, all the Reign of Henry the Seventh, and afterwards until his Death, anno 1515, and therefore the Person intended by the Story must by Sir James Or∣mond,

formerly Lord High Treasurer, whom I have often mentioned in the Reign of the last King.

But this digression has been too long,* 1.7 let us therefore re∣turn to the Lord Deputy, whom we shall find animated with the last Years Success, and resolved to invade Ely O Carol early in the Summer; but his Preparations being great, took up more time than he thought they would require; but at last they were got ready, and he began his March in August, but at Athy he fell sick, and from thence was removed to Kildare, where on the third Day of September he died, and was buried in Christ Church in Dublin, to which he had been a liberal Benefactor: And thus were the great Designs of this mighty Lord defeated, even in the midst of his Career, and at the very time when he promised himself most Glory and Success.

Gerald Earl of Kildare, Son of the deceased Earl, and Lord Treasurer, was by virtue of the Act of Parliament formerly mentioned anno 10 Hen. 7. and by reason of his Place of Trea∣surer,* 1.8 made Lord Justice by assent of the Council: But it seems, that afterwards, viz. 32 Hen. 8. there was a Statute made, intituled, An Act for the electing of the Lord Justice; which restrained the Council from electing any body but an Englishman born, and not in Orders.

The Lord of Slane was made Lord High Treasurer, and Sir William Crompton Lord Chancellor, and all other publick Matters were ordered as well and expeditiously as they could; nevertheless, so much time was taken up in these Alterations, and in the Formalities of State, that the Season was too far spent for any military Action this Year, so that Daniel Mac william met with little Interruption in taking the Castle of Dunluce; nor did the rest of the Irish find any Opposition this Winter, but ravaged over the Country as they pleased: However, they paid dearly for it the next Spring.

For the valiant Earl of Kildare,* 1.9 who was Heir to his Fa∣thers Courage, as well as to his Honour, grew impatient at the Insolencies of O More and O Reyly, and therefore resolved to attack them successively: He began with O More, and in∣vaded the county of Leix, and beat that Rebel and his Party into the Woods; which being done, he turned aside into the Brenny, and took the Castle of Cavan, and having slain Hugh O Reyly and many of his Followers, he chased the rest into their inaccessible Fastnesses, and then burnt and destroyed the Country, and returned loaden with Booty.

William Viscount Gormanstown was the thirteenth of June made Lord Justice,* 1.10 probably in the Absence of the Earl of Kildare, who might then go to England to confer with the King about the Parliament designed to be holden in the

Spring: But however that be, it is certain▪ That

Girald Earl of Kildare was by the King made Lord Deputy, and on the twenty fifth Day of February held a Parliament at Dublin, which by several Prorogations continued until the Thursday after Michaelmas, 1517.* 1.11 This Parliament gave the King a Subsidy, and made one good Act for those times, viz. That no Man shall be compelled by Privy Seal to answer any Complaint in England, until the Accuser enters into Re∣cognizance in the Chancery of Ireland, to pay the Defendant his Costs and Damages, if he be acquit; which very much abated that vexatious Course of Proceeding, so that it is now obsolete and quite out of use.

On the third Day of August,* 1.12 died Thomas Earl of Ormond, at London; he had been Embassador into France, Privy-Coun∣sellor in England, and had Place in the English Parliament above all the Barons: He was the richest Subject the King had, and left forty thousand Pound in Money, besides Jewels, and as much Land to his two Daughters in England, as at this Day would yield thirty thousand Pound per annum; but he left no Issue Male to enjoy his Irish Estate, which therefore descended to his Kinsman, Sir Pierce Butler Earl of Ormond.

The Lord Deputy to repress the Incursions of the bordering Irish,* 1.13 and to shew himself as fit for War as Peace, invaded Imaly, and slew Shane O Toole in Battle, and sent his Head to the Mayor of Dublin: Thence he marched into Ely O Carol, where he was joyned by several Noblemen of Munster and Leinster of English Extraction, and particularly by Pierce Earl of Ormond, and James, eldest Son of the Earl of Desmond; and being strengthned with this Supply, he undertook the Seige of Lemevan-Castle, which the Garrison defended for a Week, and then by Night deserted, and left it to be demo∣lished (as it was) by the Lord Deputy. With this good Success he was encouraged to attempt the Town of Clonmel; which he did with so much celerity, that the Townsmen (being surprized) immediately surrendred upon Conditions: And so the Deputy ended this Campeign, and returned loa∣den with Hostages, Prey and Glory.

It is worthy observation, That the Irish had great Expecta∣tions of Advantage this Year, by reason of a blind Prophecy, generally believed among them,* 1.14 That the poorest and weak∣est Sept in Ireland should this Year prove the most Powerful and Warlike: It is probable that they were encouraged there∣by to provoke the Lord Deputy to the aforesaid Expedition: But however that be, this is certain, That Superstition hath been often fatal to the Irish Nation.

But Kildare finding it necessary to advance his Victorious Arms in Ʋlster,* 1.15 reinforced his Troops, and marched into

Lecale, where he took the Castle of Dundrum, which had been very offensive to the neighbouring English; thence he marched against Fylemy Macgenis, whom he easily conquered and took Prisoner, with the Slaughter of many of his Fol∣lowers: And so having wasted that Country, he marched into Tyrone, where he took and burnt the Castle of Dungan∣non, and preyed and burnt all the Country thereabouts.

But the Citizens of Dublin had not so good luck, for a Company of them (thinking that the very Name of the King's Forces, could obtain Victories over the Irish) made an Incursion into Imaly; but being (as we say) Fresh-Wa∣ter Soldiers, upon the Slaughter of a few of them, the rest were frightned back to their Shops.

The Winter this Year was exceeding Cold, and the Ice strong enough to bear all manner of Carriages, which is very unusual in Ireland: And this Winter Queen Mary was born, whose Superstitious Zeal proved as extream Hot, as the Wea∣ther was Cold.

The Fortune and Victories of the Lord Deputy, influenced the Irish to be quiet this Year, and the Reputation of the Government was somewhat augmented, by the Honourable Peace which the King made with the French,* 1.16 in September, which was afterwards proclaimed in Dublin.

In the mean time,* 1.17 great were the Dissentions in Ireland, between Sir James Ormond, a Man of great Courage and Re∣putation, and Sir Pierce Butler, a valiant Gentleman, about the Earldom of Ormond; the former was a Natural Son of John (by some called Earl of Ormond) elder Brother of Thomas, the last Earl; and the other was Son of Sir James Butler, Son of Sir Edmund, Son of Sir Richard Butler, who was Brother to James, the Fifth Earl of Ormond, so that Pierce his Grandfather (Sir Edmond) was Cozen German to the Deceased Earl Thomas.

Hereby it appears that the Right to that Earldom, was in Sir Pierce, who had married the Lady Margaret Fitz-Girald, the Lord Deputies Sister; nevertheless, Sir James, having formerly been Lord Treasurer, and a very popular Man, and probably the Manager of this Estate, for his Unkle Thomas, who always resided in England, by the help of the Tenants, got into possession, and by the same assistance, and his own vigor, he kept what he had got, without allowing any thing to the right Heir towards his maintenance; whereby that No∣ble Pair (Sir Pierce and his Wife) were reduced to great extremity.

It is scarce credible that Persons of that Quality, and so well allied, should be forced to lurk in Woods, and want a Bottle of Wine for their Refreshment;* 1.18 and yet Stanyhurst

reports a formal Story, That the Lady Margaret Fitz-Girald, (Wife of Sir Pierce Butler) being great with Child, com∣plained to her Husband, and their Servant James White, that she could no longer live on Milk, and therefore earnestly de∣sired them to get her some Wine; whereto Sir Pierce replied, That she should have Wine enough within twenty four hours, or feed alone on Milk, for him; and immediately he went away with his Page, to lie in wait for his Competitor, whom he met the next day (riding with six Horsemen At∣tendants) between Drumore and Kilkenny,* 1.19 and upon a sud∣den Sir Pierce rushed in upon him, and kill'd him with his Spear, and thenceforward enjoyed the Estate in quiet.

This Year Rokeby, Archbishop of Dublin (who was like∣wise Lord Chancellor) held a Provincial Synod at Dublin, the Canons whereof are to be found in the Registry of the Bishop of Clogker: And this Year or the next Art O Neal invaded and wasted O Dogherty's Island of Inisowen in the County of Donegal.

The Enemies of the Earl of Kildare, had the last year done what they could underhand to disgrace him in England; but he had so well defended himself by his Friends there,* 1.20 that their Design was ineffectual; wherefore they address'd themselves to Cardinal Wolsey, and by his means procur'd Kildare to be recalled, to answer Articles exhibited against him for Male-administration.

First,* 1.21 That he had enriched himself and Followers by the King's Revenue and Land.

Secondly, That he had Alliance and Correspondence with several Irish; he had the King's Leave to substitute a Depu∣ty; so he appointed

Sir Thomas Fitz-Girald of Lackagh, a Knight of his own Family, Lord Justice; in the mean time Kildare marries in England with Elizabeth Grey, Daughter of the Marquess of Dorset; by whose means he got favour in England, and was dismiss'd; but Cardinal Wolsey suggesting the King had neg∣lected Ireland too long, and that some worthy man ought to be sent over, that was impartial to any Faction or Party, and was able to keep them not only more peaceable amongst themselves, but also more serviceable to the King, to the end that the Blood and Vigor, which else would be spent in their Civil Dissentions, might be opposed to the common Enemy, he procured to be sent into Ireland,

Thomas Howard, Earl of Surrey, Lord Admiral of Eng∣land, Wales, and Ireland, Knight of the Garter, Lord Lieu∣tenant,* 1.22 he came over the Wednesday before Whitsontide, with an hundred of the Guards, and a thousand others, Horse and Foot; by this the Cardinal obtained a double Advantage;

first, In disappointing his Enemy, the Earl of Kildare of the Government of Ireland; and secondly, In removing the Earl of Surry from the Court of England, where he was a great Favourite.

On Whitsunday the Lord Lieutenant was alarum'd with a Report, That Con Buckah O Neal (who by Popular Election succeeded his Brother Art) had invaded Meath (with four thousand Horse, and twelve thousand Foot, says Paulus Jo∣vius, but falsly:) Surry was in haste to encounter the Rebel, not doubting but that the Victory would be an honourable and happy Omen of his future Government; and therefore adding to his small Army such of the Militia (called The Risings out) of City and Country, as he could get on so short warning, he marched to Slane; but O Neal was fright∣ned with the Name of this General, and retir'd so fast, that the Lord Lieutenant could neither find him nor his Army; but not long after, O Neal sent Letters to implore Pardon; which was granted him, on promise of future Obedi∣ence.

On the sixth of September, the Lord Lieutenant wrote to the Cardinal, That some Soldiers had seized on a Boat, with design to be Pyrates; but being prevented and apprehended, they continued in Gaol, because they could not be capitally punished by the Common Law, and he had no Clause of Martial Law in his Commission (as indeed he had not, nor of conferring Knighthood, which is strange) and the better to ingratiate with the Cardinal, he added, That the Earl of Kildare will be found guilty of sending Letters to O Carol, to raise a Rebellion; and that if Kildare should be suffered to come to Ireland, the whole Kingdom will be undone; and he concludes, That there is so great a Scarcity and Dearth in Ireland, that the Soldier cannot live on four pence a day, and therefore desires that a penny a day may be added to their Pay.

In October,* 1.23 the King wrote to the Lord Lieutenant, That there will never be a thorough Reformation in Ireland, until all the Irish are amesnable to Law, and have the Benefit of it; and not long after a Commission of Martial Law, and of conferring Knighthood, was sent to the Lord Lieutenant; and he was ordered to Knight O Neal and other Irish Poten∣tates, and the King sent a Collar of Gold to O Neal, and or∣dered the Lord Lieutenant to prevail with them (if possible) to visit the King and Court of England, in hopes to inure him to Civility, and a regular way of Living; and the same Letter orders Surry to propose a Match between the Earl of Ormond's Son, and Sir Thomas Bullen's Daughter.

In the mean time, the Earl of Kildare was set at liberty on Bail, his Adversaries not being able to prove any thing to the purpose against him; and soon after he was received into Favour, and attended the King into France, and was pre∣sent at the Interview of both Kings, near Calice.

Maurice Fitz-Thomas of Lackagh, was basely murdered by the O Moors in Leix, and Maurice, Earl of Desmond, being dead, his Son and Successor, James, soon after met the Lieu∣tenant at Waterford, where the Earls of Ormond and Desmond, by his means were reconciled, and mutually perfected In∣dentures of Agreement, and gave Hostages for the perform∣ance of them.

The Earl of Surry was brisk upon the Birns,* 1.24 and in Octo∣ber drove them from place to place, into their Fastnesses and lurking holes; which gave Quiet to the rest of the Pale; and it had need of it; for by the wetness of the Harvest, Corn became very scarce. This Lieutenant was resolved to make the Army serviceable, and as an instance of his Disci∣pline, he disbanded Sir John Bulmer's Troop, for their Inex∣perience or Cowardize.

Surry calls a Parliament, which met at Dublin, the fourth of June, and Enacted many good Laws, viz.

1. That wilful Burning of Houses or Reeks of Corn, be Treason.

2. That the Transporter of Wool or Flocks, shall forfeit double Value.

3. Because there are but few Free-holders in the four Shires where the King's Law is used, therefore he that has ten Marks per annum, may be Juror in Attaint.

This Parliament ended (after several Prorogations) the twenty first of May, 1522, and not in March, as it is in Sir James Ware's Annals 102.

Whilst Surry was at Dinner in the Castle of Dublin, News was brought him, that the O Mores, who had confede∣rated with the O Conners, O Carol, and other Irish, against the English, (which they counted the common Enemy) were on the Borders of the Pale; wherefore, as well to re∣pel them, as to revenge the aforesaid Murder of Maurice Fitz-Thomas, the Lord Lieutenant, accompanied with the Mayor of Dublin, and a choice Band of Citizens, and seve∣ral of the Nobility, and their Attendants, invaded Leix, (which is a Country full of Woods and Bogs.) The Irish di∣vided their Forces into several Parties, and having Intelli∣gence, that the Carriages and Baggage of the Army was slenderly guarded, they took their opportunity to attack that part, and did it so briskly, that several of the Lord Lieu∣tenant's Soldiers fled; but the Valour of Patrick Fitz-Simons

is recorded by the Historian, to have preserved that necessary Concern of the Army, and to have cut off, and brought to the Mayor's Tent two of the Rebels Heads.

Nor perhaps had so small a thing been known to the Lord Lieutenant, or recorded in History, but by the means of Fitz-Simons's his Enemies; for the cowardly Soldiers that fled, laid the blame on Fitz-Simons; who, to justifie him∣self, produced the two Heads, and retorted the Crime of Cowardise upon his Accusers, and so obtained both Reward and Honour, by a great, but frequent Providence of Divine Justice, that turns even the Malice of our Enemies to our Advantage.

It must be observed, That in these Irish Wars, it was harder to find the Enemy than conquer them. O More's Army, that was just now in a Body formidable to the Pale, is now divided into small Parties, and those sculking in thick Woods and deep Bogs.

Whilst the Lord Lieutenant marched through these Wil∣dernesses, a Rebel that lay in Ambush on the side of a Wood, shot at him, and struck the Vizor off his Helmet, but did not hurt him. Much ado they had to find the stubborn Tory, but at last they got him, and Fitz-Williams and Bedlow were forced to hew him to piecs; for he would not yield.

This Accident manifested the Danger of the March, and turned their Arms into Offaly, where they besieged Monaster-pheoris, but after a Day or two, the Garrison frightned with the great Guns, ran a way by Night: So Surry left a Garri∣son there, and burnt the Country till the twenty third of July. But O Conner had not only removed the Corn and Cattle beforehand, to deprive the English of Sustenance and Prey, but very wisely invaded Meath, hoping by that Diver∣sion to preserve his Country.

But whether Surry's Expedition and Intelligence occasioned it, or that the Rebels designed to fight him, it matters not, since it is certain that they met,* 1.25 and that whatever they re∣solved or bragged of beforehand, when it came to the Tryal their Hearts failed them, and Surry got a Victory almost without Blow, and made great Slaughter in the Pursuit, his only Loss being the valiant Lord of Dunsany, who (probably) was too eager in the the Chase of the Rebels.

O Carol pretended that the Earl of Kildare had instigated him to this Rebellion. However, (as Surry phrases it in his Letter to the King) he made Peace with the King and his Lieutenant, and gave his Son and Brother Hostages for the performance of it.

In the mean time Cardinal Wolsy, who was Legate de latere in England, sent over Bulls and Dispensations into Ireland, by his Factor and Register John Allen;* 1.26 but it seems they did not turn to account, for Allen, in his Letter to the Cardinal, complains, they went off but slowly, because the Irish had so little sense of Religion, that they married within the Leviti∣cal Degrees, without Dispensations, and also because they questioned his Grace's Authority in Ireland, especially out of the Pale.

O Donel was lately returned from Rome, and by Letters and Messages promised great Matters, as well from his own People as the Scottish Islanders, if he might be received into Favour;* 1.27 wherewith the Lord Lieutenant was so wheedled, that he not only granted his Pardon, but highly commended his Loyalty, in a Letter to the King. And in confidence of O Donel's Integrity, the Lord Lieutenant, accompanied by O Neal, and four hundred Horse, four hundred Gallowglasses and eight hundred Kerne, undertook an Expedition into Ma•• Mlaghlins Country, but O Donel most perfidiously took the Opportunity of O Neal's Absence to invade him and Mac Genis, and burnt seventeen Villages in their Countries, and took considerable Preys; whereupon O Neal was forced to return, and Surry's Expedition was Fruitless.

This Lord Lieutenant wrote a notable Letter to the King, on the thirtieth of June,* 1.28 to this effect, That the Irish were not to be reduced but by Conquest, and that if the Army undertook but one Province at once, then two thousand five hundred Men would suffice; but their Con••ederacies would make it necessary to attack them in several Places at once, and then less than six thousand would not do the Business, all which must be paid and victualled out of England: That Ireland is five times as big as Wales, and therefore the Con∣quest would not be perfected in ten Years: And that when it is conquered it must be inhabited by a new Colony of Eng∣lish, for the Irish will relapse, do what you can.

In Munster there were great Fewds between James Earl of Desmond and Cormock Oge Lader Mac Carthy of Muskry;* 1.29 the Archbishop of Dublin and other Commissioners went to Wa∣terford to appease them, but in vain, for Desmond persisted to burn and prey Mac Carthy's Lands. And Cormock Oge was not backward to revenge the Injury, for being Confederate with Sir Thomas Desmond, the Earl's Unkle, and yet implacable Enemy, they fought a Battle with the Earl in September, kil∣led one thousand of his Men, put himself to Flight, and took two of his Unkles (John and Gerard) Prisoners.

But the Lord Lieutenant,* 1.30 being weary of the Government, or indisposed in his Health, obtained the King's leave to re∣turn;

and left behind him a good Reputation, and (by the King's Orders) his intimate Friend

Pierce Earl of Ormond,* 1.31 Lord Deputy, who fearing the De∣fection of the Irish, because the Earl of Surry had carryed with him all the Forces he brought out of England, whereby the Army was left exceeding weak. And being also doubt∣ful of an Invasion from the Scots, he desired of the Cardinal, That six of the King's Ships might be ordered to cruise be∣tween Ireland and Scotland.

I have seen a Patent of Denization, to Charles Mac Carthy of Castlemore, too long here to be recited, though there are many things observable in it, particularly the Proviso, Quod idem Cormacus homagium ligeum nobis faciet ut est justum: And I suppose the like Proviso was in all other Patents of that sort, and imported that the should have the Benefit of the Law no longer than they persisted in their Allegiance.

But though the King's Army was not in Action,* 1.32 yet O Neal's and O Donel's were, for the last Years Injury manet alta mente repositum: However, they managed their Wars rather like Tories than Soldiers, for after some light Skirmishes, O Neal pretending a Retreat, on a sudden rushed into Tyrconnel, where he burnt and demolished all he could find, and parti∣cularly O Donel's best Castle (of Ballyshanon): Which he in the mean time revenged, by an incursion into Tyrone, and thence returned, loaden with Prey and Prisoners. And thus these valiant Princes made War, almost fatal to both sides, without Blows or Battle.

But let us leave the Camp and a while turn to the Court,* 1.33 where we shall find an Irishman, sent by Mac Gilpatrick, Chief of Ʋpper Ossory, to the King, to complain against the Deputy: He met the King going to Chapel, and delivered his Embassie in these Words, Sta pedibus Domine Rex, Domi∣nus meus Gillapatricus me misit ad te, & jussit dicere, Quod si non vis castigare Petrum Rufum, ipse faciet bellum contra te.

This Year was fatal to Ireland, no less by the Plague than the Sword, it raged especially at and about Limrick, the Mayor whereof died of that Distemper. And about this time died the famous Poynings, and at Christmas the City of Rhodes was forced by the Turk.

The Earl of Kildare (who returned in January last) got leave of the Deputy to invade the Country of Leix;* 1.34 and being accompanid with Jons Fitz-Simons, Mayor of Dublin, and some Citizens, he entred the Country, and burnt a few Villages; but he was intercepted by an Ambush, and lost a great many of his Followers, and with some Difficulty made his Retreat.

And now Jealousies and Discords began to arise between the Earls of Ormond and Kildare, which were so maliciously fomented by evil Instruments, that the Affinity between them was little considered, nor did their Animosities deter∣mine otherwise, than by the Ruine of one Family, and the Infancy of the other.

Among all their Followers James Fitz Gerald had most Credit with Kildare; and Robert Talbot of Belgard, was the chief Favorite of Ormond: This Talbot was going to keep his Christmas at Kilkenny, with the Deputy, but being met by James Fitz Gerald near Ballymore, was by him slain, or ra∣ther murdered; which so exasperated the Earl of Ormond, that he immediately sent to England an Impeachment against Kildare.

Hereupon a Commission issued to Sir Ralph Egerton,* 1.35 Sir An∣thony Fitz-Herbert, and James Denton, Dean of Litchfield, to examine that Matter; with Instructions, That if the Earl of Kildare purged himself of the Crimes objected, that then they should depose the Deputy, and place Kildare in his room. This Commission and Instructions were procured by the Marquess of Dorset, Kildare's Father-in-Law, and the Success was according to his Desire, for after a slight Enquiry into this Affair, the Commissioners made a formal Agree∣ment between both Earls, by an Indenture dated the twenty eighth of July, and in a little time after deprived Ormond of the Government; and placed in his stead

Gerald Earl of Kildare, Lord Deputy. It seems that his Patent, and other necessary Circumstances were prepa∣red beforehand, for the Indentures made between the King and this Earl bear date the fourth of August, 16 Hen. 8. and import, That he took the Government as from Midsummer before, and that the Earl of Ormond should receive the Reve∣nue till that time.

That the Earl shall support the Government of Ireland with the Revenue of the Country, and shall not take Coyn and Livery,* 1.36 but at Hostings, and then his Soldiers shall be con∣tent with Flesh, Bread and Ale on Flesh-Days, or two Pence in lieu of it, and Fish or Butter on Fish-Days, or two Pence in lieu of it; the Foot Soldiers shall be content with three half Pence a Day, in lieu of the said Allowance; and Boys shall be content with what they can get, or a Penny in lieu of it; and each Trooper shall take but twelve Sheaves of Oats a Night, or two Pence in lieu thereof.

The Day this Lord Deputy was sworn Con O Neal carried the Sword before him to Thomas-Court, where he entertained the Commissioners at a splendid Banquet.

And so these Commissioners having determined this great and some lesser Controversies, returned into England, and ac∣cording to their Instructions, carried with them the aforesaid James Fitz-Gerald, as a Prisoner. The Cardinal (Wolsy) the implacable Enemy of the Giraldines, was glad of this occasion to affront that Noble Family, and therefore caused this James Fitz-Gerald, to be carried through the City of London, to Prison, with a Rope about his Neck. Nevertheless, it so happened afterwards, that by the Intercession of the Dean of Litchfield, James obtained his Pardon, and was sent back home, in spight of the Cardinal.

James Earl of Desmond, a Man of great Power and Estate in Munster, had for some time designed a Rebellion, and to that end, by his Agent Anthony Doily, had solicited Francis the First, the French King for Assistance, and entred into Covenants with him, anno 1523. however, it came to no∣thing, because of the Peace that ensued between both Kings, upon which this Intrigue was fully discovered.

The Deputy had Orders to apprehend Desmond, and to that end did march into Munster; but either that Earl's In∣telligence, or Kildare's Correspondence with him prevented the Arrest; the latter was vehemently suspected, and not without Reason, because of the great Friendship and the Con∣sanguinity between them.

After this, the Earl of Kildare and Con O Neal, invaded Tyrconnel; but upon notice, That Hugh O Neal (Competi∣tor with Con) was up in Tyrone, they clapt up a Peace with O Donel, and turned their Forces against O Neal, whom they totally defeated and slew.* 1.37 Maurice Cavenaugh, Arch-Deacon of Leighlin had barbarously murdered his Diocesian, Maurice Doran, at Glanreynold, for which he and his Complices were hanged and their Bowels burnt.

The last Year there was a great Dearth, by reason of a Wet Autumn, and this Year there was a great Plague, especially about Dublin, by reason of a Hot Summer.

Con O Neal and Manus O Donel,* 1.38 repaired to Kildare, to reconcile their Controversies;* 1.39 but after many Altercations and Disputes, they returned re infecta.

But Kildare had not only engaged the Birnes to serve the Earl of Desmond,* 1.40 but also by his Letter of the eighteenth of July, invited Desmond to meet him in Ossory; and this Letter being intercepted by the means of the malicious Cardinal, Kildare was sent for to England, to answer an Impeachment against him; and particularly,

I. That he did not obey the King's Orders, to apprehend Desmond.

II. That he had contracted Alliance with several of the King's Irish Enemies.

III. That he had executed several good Subjects, only be∣cause they were Dependants upon the Family Ormond.

IV. That he had made private Confederacies with O Con∣nor, and other Enemies, to invade the Territories of Ormond, when he was Deputy.

Upon this, Kildare was imprisoned in the Tower of Lon∣don; and being brought to the Council-Table, Cardinal Wolsy, then Lord Chancellor, as the Mouth of that Ho∣nourable Board, spoke to him as followeth.

I wot well (my Lord) that I am not the meetest at this Board to charge you with these Treasons, because it hath pleased some of your Pew-fellows to report, That I am a professed enemy to all Nobility, and namely to the Giraldines; but seeing every shrewd Boy can say as much when he is controlled, and these Points so weighty, that they should not be dissembled of us, and so apparent, that they cannot be denied of you; I must have Leave (notwithstanding your stale Slander) to be the Mouth of these Hononrable Lords, at this present, and to trump your Treasons in your way, howsoever you take me. First, You re∣member how the lewd Earl of Desmond, your Kinsman, (who passeth not whom he serveth, might he change his Master) sent his Confederate with Letters of Credence unto Francis, the French King; and having but cold Comfort there, went to Charles the Emperor, proffering the Help of Munster and Con∣naught, towards the Conquest of Ireland, if either of them would help to win it from our King: How many Letters, what Precepts, what Messages, what Threats have been sent you to apprehend him, and yet not done? Why so? forsooth I could not catch him: Nay, nay, Earl, forsooth you would not watch him. If he be justly suspected, why are you partial in so great a Charge? if not, why are you fearful to have him tried? Yea, for it will be sworn and deposed to your Face, that for fear of meeting him, you have winked wilfully, shunned his Sight, al∣tered your Course, warned your Friends, stopped both Ears and Eyes against his Detectors; and whensoever you take upon you to hunt him out, then was he sure aforehand to be out of your Walk. Surely this jugling and false Play little became either an honest Man, called to such Honour, or a Nobleman put in so great Trust: Had you lost but a Cow or a Horse of your own, two hundred of your Retainers would have come at a Whistle, to rescue the Prey from the uttermost edge of Ulster: All the Irish in Ireland must have given you the way. But in pursuing so needful a Matter, as this was, merciful God, How Nice, how Dangerous, how wayward have you been? one while he is from

Home, and another while he keepeth Home, and sometimes fled, sometimes in the Borders, where you dare not venture. I wiss, my Lord, there be shrewd Buggs in the Border, for the Earl of Kildare to fear; the Earl, nay the King of Kildare: For when you are disposed, you Reign more like than Rule, in the Land. Where you are pleased the Irish Foe standeth for a just Subject; Hearts and Hands, Lives and Lands are all at your Courtesie; who fawneth not thereon, cannot rest within your Smell; and you smell so rank, that you track them out at Plea∣sure.

Whilst the Cardinal was speaking, the Earl chafed and changed Colour; and at last brake out, and interrupted him thus.

My Lord Chancellor, I beseech you pardon me, I am short-witted, and you, I perceive, intend a long Tale; if you proceed in this order, half my purgation will be lost for lack of Carriage. I have no School-tricks, nor Art of Memory; except you hear me, while I remember your Words, your second Process will hammer out the for∣mer.

The Lords associate, who for the most part loved Kildare, and knew the Cardinal's manner of Taunts so ready, being inured therewith many years together, humbly besought his Grace to charge him with Particulars, and to dwell in some one Matter, until it were examined throughly.

That granted, it is good reason (quoth the Earl) that your Grace bear the Mouth of this Board: But (my Lord) those Mouths that put these things into your Mouth, are very wide Mouths, such as have gaped long for my wreck; and now at length for want of better Stuff, are fain to fill their Mouths with Smoak. What my Cozen Desmond hath compassed, as I know not, so I beshrew his naked Heart for holding out so long. If he ••an be taken by mine Agents, that presently wait for him, then have mine Ad∣versaries bewrayed their Malice, and this heap of heinous Words shall resemble a Scare crow, or Man of Straw, that seemeth at a Blush to carry some proportion, but when it is felt and poized, discovereth a Vanity, serving only to fear Crows; and I verily trust your Honours shall see the proof by the thing it self within these few days. But go too; suppose he never be had; What is Kildare to blame for it, more than my good Brother of Ossory, who, notwithstand∣ing his high Promises, having also the Kings Power, is yet

content to bring him in at leisure? Cannot the Earl of Desmond shift, but I must be of Council? Cannot he hide him, except I wink? If he be close, am I his Mate? If he be befriended, am I a Traytor? This is a doughty kind of Accusation, which they urge against me, wherein they are gravell'd and mir'd at my first denial. You would not see him (say they:) Who made them so familiar with mine Eye-sight? Or, when was the Earl within my view? Or, who stood by when I let him slip? Or, where are the Tokens of my wilful Hoodwink? But you sent him word to beware of you: Who was the Messenger? Where are the Letters? Convince my Negatives; see how loose this idle Gear hangeth together. Desmond is not taken; well, you are in fault: Why? Because you are: Who proveth it? No body: What Conjectures? So it seemeth: To whom? To your Enemies. Who told it them? They will swear it. What other Ground? None. Will they swear it, my Lord? Why then of like they know it; either they have my hand to shew, or can bring forth the Messenger, or were present at a Conference, or privy to Desmond, or some body bewrayed it to them, or they themselves were my Carriers or Vicegerents therein: Which of these Parts will they chuse? For I know them too well; To reckon my self convict by their bare Words, or heedless Sayings, or frantick Oaths, were but meer Mockery. My Letters were soon read, were any such Writing extant; my Servants and Friends are ready to be sifted: Of my Cozen Desmond, they may lie loudly, since no man here can well contrary them. Touching my self, I never noted in them so much Wit, or so fast Faith, that I would have gaged on their silence the Life of a good Hound, much less mine own. I doubt not, may it please your Honours, to oppose them, how they came to the knowledge of these Matters, which they are so ready to depose; but you shall find their Tongues chained to another mans Trencher, and as it were, Knights of the Post, suborn'd to say, swear and stare, the utmost they can, as those that pass not what they say, nor with what face they say it, so they say no truth: But on the other side, it grieveth me, That your good Grace, whom I take to be wise and sharp, and who, of your blessed dis∣position, wisheth me well, should be so far gone in credit∣ing these corrupt Informers, that abuse the ignorance of your State and Countrey, to my peril. Little know you, (my Lord) how necessary it is, not only for the Govern∣or, but also for every Nobleman in Ireland, to hamper the uncivil Neighbors at discretion, wherein, if they waited for Process of Law, and had not those Lives and Lands you

speak of, within their reach, they might hap to lose their own Lives and Lands without Law. You hear of a Case, as it were, in a Dream, and feel not the smart that vexeth us. In England there is not a mean Subject that dare extend his hand to fillip a Peer of the Realm: In Ireland, except the Lord have Cunning to his Strength, and Strength to save his Crown, and sufficient Authority to take Thieves and Varlets when they stir, he shall find them swarm so fast, that it will be too late to call for Justice. If you will have our Service take effect, you must not tie us always to those judicial Proceedings, wherewith your Realm (thanked be God) is inured. Touching my Kingdom, I know not what your Lordship should mean thereby: If your Grace ima∣gine, that a Kingdom consisteth in serving God, in obeying the Prince, in governing with Love the Commonwealth, in supporting Subjects, in suppressing Rebels, in executing Justice, in bridling blind Affections, I would be willing to be invested with so Vertuous and Royal a Name; but if therefore you term me a King, in that you are perswaded that I repine at the Government of my Sovereign, or wink at Malefactors, or oppress civil Livers, I utterly dis∣claim that odious Term, marvelling greatly, that one of your Graces profound Wisdom, would seem to appropri∣ate so sacred a Name to so wicked a thing: But howsoever it be (my Lord) I would you and I had changed King∣doms but for one Month, I would trust to gather up more Crumbs in that space, than twice the Revenues of my poor Earldom; But you are well and warm, and so hold you, and upbraid not me with such an odious Term. I slumber in a hard Cabin, when you sleep in a soft Bed of Down; I serve under the King's Cope of Heaven, when you are served under a Canopy; I drink Water out of my Skull, when you drink Wine out of Golden Cups; my Courser is train'd to the Field, when your Jennet is taught to Am∣ble; when you are Graced, and Belorded, and Crouched, and Kneeled unto, then find I small Grace with our Irish Borderers,

except I cut them off by the Knees.

Hereupon the Cardinal finding that Kildare was no Fool, adjourned the Cause till farther Proof could be produced; however, being fretted at this Speech, he remanded the Earl to the Tower, contrary to the Opinion of most of the Coun∣cil;* 1.41 it seems he was afterwards Bayl'd on the Recognizance of the Duke of Norfolk, and was again imprisoned upon some Light the Cardinal had gotten of the Message to O Neal and O Connor, which Kildare had sent by his Daughter the Lady Slane. It is reported, That whilst the Earl and the

Lieutenant of the Tower were at Play together at Slide-groat, a Mandate was sent by the Cardinal to execute Kildare the next day: Whereupon, he changing Countenance, the Earl swore by S. Bride, That there was some mad Game in that Scroll; but fall how it will, this Throw is for a huddle, says he:* 1.42 And being told of the Contents of the Letter, he desired the Lieutenant to know the King's Pleasure therein; which he did, and the King was surpriz'd at the thing; for he knew nothing of it: and to controll the Sawciness of the Priest (as he phrased it) gave the Lieutenant his Signet for a Countermand; whereat the Cardinal stormed: But it seems to me that this Story is a meer Fiction, because I find not one Word of Kildare's Trial; and it is not credible that they would execute a Man of his Quality, before he was le∣gally Tried and Condemned: Afterwards this Earl was a∣gain enlarged out of Prison on very considerable Bayl, viz. the Marchioness Dowager of Dorset,* 1.43 the Marquess of Dorset, the Lords Fitz-Walter and Mountjoy, the Bishop of S. Asaph, Richard Lord Grey, John Lord Grey, Leonard Lord Grey, Sir Henry Gilford, Sir John Zouch, and John, Abbot of Vale-Royal, and was, not long after restored to the King's Fa∣vour.

When the Earl of Kildare went to England, he substitu∣ted his Brother

Thomas Fitz Girald of Leixlip, Lord Deputy; but he in a very little time was forced to quit the Sword to

Richard Nugent,* 1.44 Lord Baron of Delvin, Lord Deputy, who could the easier keep the Kingdom quiet, because the great Enemies and Competitors, the Earls of Kildare and Ormond, were both in England; and about this time it hap∣ned, that the Title of Ormond was taken from Sir Pierce Butler; who, in lieu thereof, was with great Pomp crea∣ted Earl of Ossory,* 1.45 at Windsor the 23d of February. And whoever is curious to see the Copy of the Patent,* 1.46 and a large and full Account of the whole Solemnity, may find it, Lib. G. 121,* 1.47 in the Library at Lambeth; and particularly, that he gave the Trumpeters twenty Pounds; whereas the great Earl of Tyrone gave them but forty Shillings.

About the same time, Sir Thomas Bullen (who had mar∣ried one of the Daughters and Co-heirs of Thomas Earl of Ormond) was (as it were,* 1.48 in her Right) Created Earl of Wiltshire and Ormond; and though there is but one Patent for both Titles, yet there are several Clauses of Investiture, several Habendums, and several Grants of Creation-Mo∣ney.

It has been already observed, That many Irish Potentates had received Pensions for many years, on the account of

giving Protection to the King's Subjects, or at least, of spa∣ring them from Plunder; and although this scandalous and dishonourable Tribute was duly paid, yet the Irish did not perform their Engagements, but made frequent Sallies and Incursions as they had opportunity, and particularly this very Spring, O Connor made an irruption into the Pale,* 1.49 and carryed away much Prey and Plunder into Offaly; it seems the L. Deputy was too weak to revenge this Outrage by force,* 1.50 all that he could do, was to withold O Connor's Pension; which he did: Hereupon the Rebel complained, as if he had received the greatest Injury, and desired to have a Parly with the Lord Deputy about it on the 12th of May; the Lord Deputy con∣sented, and came at the time appointed, not doubting but that he should convince all the World, and even O Connor himself, of the unreasonableness of his Demand; but alas, he was mistaken; O Connor did not intend to argue the Mat∣ter fairly, but was resolved to help himself by a Stratagem, (as they call it) for he perfidiously set upon the Deputy, and took him Prisoner, and killed and wounded many of his At∣tendants: And thereupon the Council chose

Pierce Earl of Ossory, Lord Deputy; who being returned from England, came to Dublin, accompanied with O More, O Carol, and one of the O Connors, and a numerous Train: The first thing he did, was to send a Message to O Connor to enlarge the Lord Delvin; but he received a flat Denial, and therefore the Lord Deputy and Council did by Act of State suspend the aforesaid Pension, and not long after, all those Pensions, and the like Irish Exactions were suppressed, and for ever extinguished by Act of Parliament.* 1.51

The Sweating Sickness (called Sudor Anglicus) was fa∣tal to many of the Irish this Year; amongst the rest, the Lord Chancellor died of it, and was succeeded by the afore∣said Alan, a Creature of Wolsy's, raised by him to this Of∣fice, purposely to oppress the Earl of Kildare.

That unfortunate Earl, continuing his Enmity against the Earl of Ossory, sent his Daughter (the Lady Slane) from Newington into Ireland, to excite his Brothers and Friends O Neal and O Connor, and whomsoever else she could, to oppose the Lord Deputy; and she was unhappy in being successful in her Negotiation; for she procured much Mischief to the Lord Deputy, and great Devastations on his Lands, which afterward occasion'd great Trouble and Danger to her Father, as aforesaid.

The Famous Emperor Charles the Fifth, sent his Ambassa∣dor Gonzagues, to the Earl of Desmond, to stir him to Rebel∣lion: The Emperor's Instructions bear Date at Tol••do, Feb. 24. and are,* 1.52 to treat with Illustrissime il Conde de Desmond, &c.

But this Embassie was ineffectual, because that Earl died at Dingle the eighteenth of June, 1529. He left one only Daughter, who was afterwards married to James (the sixth of that Name) Earl of Ormond; so that he was succeeded in the Earldom of Desmond, by his Unkle and Enemy Thomas Moyle.

And now was the King's Divorce publickly ventilated in England, and the Pope revoked his Legates, and resumed the Cause to himself, which enraged the King, and was the Ruine of Cardinal Wolsy.

In the mean time the King made his Natural Son, Henry Fitz-Roy, Duke of Richmond and Somerset, Lord Lieutenant of Ireland; and sent over

Sir Willian Skeffington, Lord Deputy; he arrived in August with Mony, and with two hundred Horse, accompanied by the Earl of Kildare, freed from all his Troubles, and were received by the Citizens of Dublin with great Joy: His In∣structions were,

• I. To preserve the Peace between the Earls of Kildare, Desmond and Ossory; that so they might be the better able to assist the Deputy and the common Cause.
• II. To be on the Defence only.
• III. To make no Hostings without Advice of Council.
• IV. To assist the Earl of Kildare (privately, I suppose) in his Designs against the Irish.
• V. To moderate the Exactions of the Soldiers.
• VI. To subject the Lands of the Clergy to their part of the Publick Charge.
• VII. To call a Parliament. And,

Lastly (which is the strangest of all) to endeavour to get a Subsidy before the Parliament sit.

About the same time Edmond Butler, Archbishop of Cashel, indicted a Provincial Synod at Limerick; at which were pre∣sent Nicholas Bishop of Lismore and Waterford, John Bishop of Limerick,* 1.53 and James Bishop of Killaloo; they gave Power to the Mayor of Limerick to imprison Ecclesiastical Debtors until they pay their Debts, without incurring any Excom∣munication, of which Constitution or Canon the inferior Clergy grievously complained; alledging, That it was a Breach of their Priviledge.

But let us return to the Lord Deputy, who invaded the Territory of Leix,* 1.54 to suppress the Insolencies of O More and O Connor, and their Confederates; he destroyed O More by slight but frequent Skirmishes: And so having preyed the Country, he returned with these happy First-Fruits of his Government.

In the mean time the great Minster of State, Cardinal Wol∣sy, came to Disgrace in England, and died the last Day of November: And about the same time great Jealousies and Misunderstandings began to arise, in Ireland, between the Lord Deputy and the Earl of Kildare.

Nevertheless, The Lord Deputy took that Earl to his Assistance, in his Expedition into Ʋlster, and there they took the Castle of Kinard, and returned loaden with Prey and Plunder, according to the Custom of those Times. And with this Atchievment Hugh O Donel was frighted into a Submission; which (being himself sick) he performed by his Delegates Con O Faghil Abbot of Derry, and Richard O Craghan,* 1.55 who, in the behalf of their Master, perfected In∣dentures, and swore Fealty to the King, in presence of the Lord Deputy,* 1.56 at Tredagh, on the sixth of May, 1531. And at the same time, it is probable, he made the Proposal, men∣tion by Sir John Davis, Quod si Dominus Rex velit reformare Hiberniam, He and His would gladly be governed by the Laws of England.

O Sullevan tells us a Story,* 1.57 with great Ostentation, That an English Ship took a Spanish Vessel that was fishing on the Coast of Ireland, near the Dursies: And that his Grand-Father, Dermond O Sullevan, Prince of Bear and Bantry, hav∣ing notice of it, manned out a small Squadron of Ships, and took both the Englishman and the Spaniard, and hanged the English Captain, but set the Spaniard at Liberty: By which may be easily perceived, What sort of Inclinations that sort of Men bear to an Englishman, and what kind of Loyalty they paid to their King, when they murdered his Subjects and cherished his Enemies.

But the Animosities and Feuds between the Lord Deputy and the Earl of Kildare did every Day increase, and at length came to that height, that they reciprocally impeached each other in England; and Kildare did wisely to sail thither, and personally solicite his own Affairs, which he managed so successfully, that Skeffington was superseded, and

Girald Earl of Kildare made Lord Deputy in his stead: He also procured Alan, the Lord Chancellor (a Creature of Wolsies) to be removed, and Cromer, Primate of Armagh, to be placed in the Chancery,* 1.58 in his room. Nevertheless, lest Kildare should grow too powerful, the King, to ballance him, gave the Lord High Treasurers Staff to James Lord Butler; who, notwithstanding that he was Kildare's Ne∣phew, was nevertheless his bitter Enemy, and heartily espoused the Quarrels of his Father, the Earl of Ossory, as it was his Interest and Duty to do.

But the Earl of Kildare having again gotten the Supreme Power into his Hands, little valued the Opposition of his Enemies. On the contrary, he was transported with the Contemplation of the prodigious Success he had hitherto met with, and presumed so far on its continuance, that he preci∣pitated himself into many vain and unaccountable Actions; for he not only married two of his Daughters, to O Connor and O Carol (obstinate Enemies to the Crown of England), but also with his Forces invaded Kilkenny, and destroyed all he found belonging to the Earl of Ossory and his Friends; he also persuaded his Brother, John Fitz-Girald and O Neal, to invade the County of Louth; which they burned and preyed, without Resistance: And all these Extravagances contributed to the Destruction of a Noble Family, and to leave this Earl of Kildare an Example to Posterity, of the great folly of using Power immoderately.

On the nineteenth of May, 25 Hen. 8. which was anno 1533 (and not 1534, as is mistaken in the printed Statutes) the Parliament met and enacted,

• I. That sturdy Beggars should not leaze Corn, nor any Body out of his Parish: And that no Body should give Sheaves of Corn for Reaping or Binding: And in all these cases the Corn may be taken away from the Transgressor.
• II. That the Parsonage of Galtrim should be appropriated to the Priory of S. Peter's near Trim.
• III. That the Royal Fishing of the Banne be resumed into the King's Hands:* 1.59 But this last Act is not printed.

At this Parliament the Controversie was renewed between Cromer, Primate of Armagh, and Allan Archbishop of Dub∣lin, about Precedency in Dublin, which was determined in favour of the Primate.

O Carol, that married Kildare's Daughter, was Tanist and Brother to the deceased O Carol, and by the Law of Tanistry claimed the Signiory; but the Son of the Desunct (being of Age and a brisk Man) would not be so served, and there∣fore as Heir to his Father, he seized on the Castle of Bir, which the Lord Deputy, in favour of his Son-in-Law, un∣dertook to besiege, and did so, but it was in vain, for at that Siege he received a Shot in his Head, which sent him back faster than he came out; and though he regained his Health, yet he never recovered his Intellectuals, but was ever after (as we say) A little crackbrained.

It is reported, That when he was wounded he sighed deeply; which a Soldier (that was by) observing, he told his Lord∣ship, That himself had been shot three times, and yet was reco∣vered: To whom the Earl replyed, Would to God thou hadst also received the fourth Shot in my stead.

About this time John Allen, who had been Clerk of the Council, and was now Master of the Rolls, (a Creature of the deposed Chancellor Alans) was sent by the Council into England about Publick Affairs:* 1.60 His Instructions were, To acquaint the King with the Decay of the Land; and that neither English Order, Tongue or Habit, nor the King's Laws are used above twenty Miles in compass: That this Decay is occasioned by the taking of Coyn and Livery, with∣out Order, after Men's own sensual Appetites; and taking Cuddees, Garty and Caan for Felonies, and Murder, Alte∣rages, Bienges, Saults and Slanciaghs, &c. And that they want English Inhabitants, who formerly had Arms and Ser∣vants to defend the Country; but of late, the English Propri∣etor hath taken Irish Tenants, that can live without Bread or good Victuals; and some for Lucre, to have more Rent; and some for Impositions and Vassalage, which the English cannot bear, have expelled the English, and made the Coun∣try all Irish, without Order, Security or Hospitality. For∣merly, English Gentlemen kept a Retinue of English Yeo∣men, according to the Custom of England, to the great Se∣curity of the Country, but now they keep Horsmen and Kernes, who live by oppressing the poor People. The great Jurisdiction of the Nobility is another Cause of destroying the King's Subjects and Revenue: And the Black Rents, which the Irish exact, enriches them, and impoverisheth the Englishman. Also the making of a Native chief Govern∣our, and often change of the Lord Deputy are great Faults: And ill keeping of the King's Records, and putting unskilful Clerks in the Exchequer, do occasion much Mischief: But the Alienation of the Crown Lands, so that the King's Re∣venue is not sufficient to defend the Realm, is the greatest Grievance of all.

It is probable that these Instructions were kept secret from the Lord Deputy; for it cannot be imagined, That he would have consented, that Articles, which in effect were an Im∣peachment of himself, should be communicated to the King; and in truth Allen's Errand was to accuse the Deputy, and he was imployed so to do by the Archbishop of Dublin, the Earl of Ossory,* 1.61 Sir William Skeffington and others; and he performed his Commission so effectually, that the Lord De∣puty was sent for (by the King's Letter) to repair to Eng∣land, and answer the Crimes that were objected against him.

Kildare did all he could to evade, or at least procrastinate that Voyage which was to be fatal to him and his Family; he sent his Wife to use the Interest of her Friends, in Eng∣land, and to alledg several vain Pretences; and particularly,

That the ill Posture of Affairs, in Ireland, could not permit his Absence: But all these Contrivances proving ineffectual, at last he seriously prepared to begin the Voyage.

But before he went, he furnished all his Castles, especially Minooth and Ley, with Guns and Ammunition out of the King's Store, although he had the King's express Command to the contrary, imparted to him by the Master of the Rolls (Allen) in the presence of the Bishop of Meath and others; and the Act of Attainder also mentions, That he furnished the Wild Irishmen, being the King's Mortal Enemies, with Arms and Ammunition out of his Majesty's Stores; which is not improbable, because of his Allyance with O Connor and O Carol.

It is certain, That, Quos Deus vult perdere dementat; and the brave Earl of Kildare is a plain Example of it, for being ordered by the King to leave a Deputy, for whose Fidelity he would answer, he substitutes his own Son, Thomas Fitz-Girald,* 1.62 a forward rash Youth, scarce one and twenty Years old; who nevertheless had Qualities worthy of his House, and perhaps would, in time, have exceeded all his Ancestors, if by laying this too great Burthen on his weak Shoulders, so early, they had not broken his Back in the beginning.

It seems the Earl had some Jealousies of what afterwards hapned, and therefore to qualifie his Son's youthful Passions, in some measure, before he delivered him the Sword, he spoke to him as followeth, before the Council, at Drogheda, where he presently after imbarqued, and set sail for Eng∣land.

Son Thomas,* 1.63 I doubt not, but you know, That my Sovereign Lord the King hath sent for me into England, and what shall betide me God knoweth, for I know not; but howsoever it fal∣leth, both you and I know, That I am well stept in Years: And as I may shortly dye, for that I am Mortal, so I must in haste decease because I am old: Wherefore, insomuch as my Winter is well near ended, and the Spring of your Age now buddeth, my Will is, That you behave your self so wisely in these your Green Years, as that to the Comfort of your Friends, you may enjoy the Pleasures of Summer, glean and reap the Fruits of your Harvest, that with Honour you may grow to the catching of that hoary Winter, on which you see me your Father fast pricking. And whereas it pleaseth the King his Majesty, That upon my Departure here hence, I should substitute in my room such a one for whose Government I would answer: Albeit I know that your Years are tender, your Wit not setled, your Judgment not fully rectified; and therefore I might be with good cause reclaimed from putting a naked Sword in a young Mans Hand: Yet notwithstanding,

forsomuch as I am your Father, and you my Son, I am well as∣sured to bear that Stroke with you, in steering your Ship as that upon any Information, I may command you as your Father, and correct you as my Son, for the wrong handling of your Helm.

There be here that sit at this Board, far more sufficient Perso∣nages, for so great Charge than you are; But what then? If I should cast this Burthen on their Shoulders, it might be, That hereafter they would be so far with Envy carried, as they would percase hazzard the loss of one of their own Eyes, to be assured that I should be deprived of both mine: But forsomuch as the case toucheth your Skin as near as mine, be∣cause (as I said before) I rest in the Winter, and you in the Spring of your Years, and now I am resolved Day by Day to learn rather, How to die in the Fear of God, than to live in the Pomp of the World. I think you will not be so brain-sick, as to stab your self through the Body, only to scarifie my Skin with the Point of your Blade; wherefore, my Son, consider, That it is easie to raze and hard to build; and in all your Affairs be ruled by this Board, that for Wisdom is able, and for entire Affection it beareth to your House, will be found willing, to lesson you with Sound and Sage Advice; for albeit in authority you rule them, yet in Council they must rule you. My Son, you know that my late Maims stifle my talk, otherwise I would have grated lon∣ger on this Matter, for a good Tale may be twice told, and a sound Advice, eftsoons iterated, taketh the deeper Impression in the attentive Hearer's Mind. But although my fatherly Affe∣ction requireth my Discourse to be longer, yet I trust your good Inclination asketh it to be shorter: And upon that Assurance, here in the presence of this Honourable Assembly, I deliver you this Sword.

Thus he spake for his last Fare-well, with trickling Tears; and having ended, he rose up, imbraced the Council, com∣mitted them to God, and immediately after imbarked, leaving

Thomas Fitz-Girald Lord Deputy;* 1.64 to whom both the Allens were bitter Enemies: One of them being Master of the Rolls, told the Lord Deputy, at a Banquet where they were, discoursing of Heraldry, That his Lordships House gave a Marmoset, whose Property it was to eat her Tail: To whom the Deputy replyed, That he had been fed by his Tail, and should take care, that his Tail did not eat him. Ano∣ther time the Council waited three or four Hours for the Lord Deputy's coming; whereat the Archbishop being dis∣satisfied, he asked the Lords, Whether it were not a pretty Matter, that all they should stay so long for a Boy? Which Words the Lord Deputy over-heard, being just coming up Stairs; and as soon as he entred, he told their Lordships, He

was sorry they should stay so long for a Boy; whereat the Archbishop was somewhat out of countenance.

The Enemies of the Giraldines had spread abroad a Report, that the Earl of Kildare was Beheaded in the Tower, and that the same Fate was designed for the Lord Deputy and all his Unkles, and Letters were purposely spread abroad to that effect; one of which, by a strange Accident came to the hands of James de la Hide, Principal Counsellor to the Lord Deputy; by whose perswasion the Lord Deputy conse∣derated with O Neal, O Connor, and others, and on the ele∣venth day of June rode through the City of Dublin to Dams∣gate, accompanied with seven score Horsemen in their Shirts of Mayl, and there crossed the River, and went to S. Mary Abby, where the Council, according to Appointment, wait∣ed his coming; and whilst he was sitting in Council, some of his Followers rudely rush'd into the Council-Chamber, Armed as they were, and fell to talking aloud; until at length, Silence being commanded, the Lord Deputy spake as fol∣loweth;

Howsoever injuriously we be handled,* 1.65 and forced to defend our selves in Arms, when neither our Service, nor our good Mean∣ing towards our Prince's Crown, availeth; yet say not hereafter, but in this open Hostility which here we profess and proclaim, we have shewed our selves no Villains nor Churls, but Warriors and Gentlemen. This Sword of Estate is yours, and not mine; I received it with an Oath, and used it to your Benefit; I should stain mine Honour if I turned the same to your Annoyance: Now have I need of mine own Sword, which I dare trust. As for the common Sword, it flattereth me with a painted Scabbard, but hath indeed a pestilent Edge already bathed in the Giraldines Blood, and now is newly whetted in hope of a farther destruction. Therefore save your selves from us, as from open Enemies; I am none of Henry's Deputies, I am his Foe: I have more mind to Conquer than to Govern, to meet him in the Field, than to serve him in Office: If all the Hearts of England and Ireland, that have Cause thereto, would joyn in this Quarrel (as I hope they will) then should he soon be made sensible (as I trust he shall) of his Tyranny and Cruelty, for which, the Age to come may lawfully score him up among the Ancient Tyrants, of most abominable and hateful Memory.

Having added to this shameful Oration,* 1.66 many other slan∣derous and foul Terms, which, for divers respects I spare to mention, he would have surrendred the Sword to the Lord Chancellor; who, being provided for the Lord Thomas his coming, and also being loth that his Slackness should seem

disloyal in refusing the Sword, or his Frowardness over-cruel in snatching it upon the first Proffer, took the Lord Thomas by the Wrist of the Hand, and requested him for the Love of God (the Tears trickling down his Cheeks) to give him Audience for two or three Words; which granted, the Re∣verend Father spake as ensueth;

My Lord, although Hatred be commonly the Handmaiden of Truth, because we see him that plainly expresseth his Mind, to be for the more part of most men disliked; yet notwithstanding I am so well assured of your Lordship's good inclination towards me, and your Lordship so certain of my entire Affection towards you, as I am emboldned (notwithstanding this Company of Armed Men) freely and frankly to utter that, which by me declared, and by your Lordship followed, will turn (God willing) to the Avail of you, your Friends, Allies, and this Country. I doubt not (my Lord) but you know that it is Wisdom for any man to look before he leap, and to sound the Water before his Ship hull thereon; and namely where the Matter is of weight, there it behoveth to follow sound, sage and mature Advice: Wherefore (my Lord) sith it is no May-game for a Subject to levy an Army against his Prince, it lieth your Lordship in hand to breath longer on the Mat∣ter, as well by forecasting the hurt, whereby you may fall, as by revolving the hope by which you are fed. What should move your Lordship to this sudden Attempt, I know not: If it be the Death of your Father, it is as yet but se∣cretly mutter'd, not manifestly publish'd; and if I should grant you, that your Zeal in revenging your Father's Execu∣tion, were in some respect to be recommended; yet Rea∣son would you should suspend the Revenge until the Cer∣tainty were known. And were it that the Report were true, yet it standeth with the Duty and Allegiance of a good Subject (from whom, I hope in God, you mean not to dissever your self) not to spurn and kick against his Prince; but contrariwise, if his Sovereign be mighty, to fear him; if he be profitable to his Subjects, to honour him; if he command, to obey him; if he be kind, to love him, if he be vicious, to pity him; if he be a Tyrant, to bear with him; considering, that in such case it is better with patience to bow, than with stubbornness to break: For sacred is the Name of a King, and odious is the Name of a Rebellion; the one from Heaven derived, and by God shielded; the other in Hell forged, and by the Devil exe∣cuted: And therefore whoso will observe Histories, or weigh the Justice of God, in punishing Malefactors, shall

easily see, that albeit the Sun shineth for a time on them that are in Rebellion, yet such sweet beginnings are at length clasped up with sharp and sour Ends. Now that it appear∣eth, you ought not to bear Armour against your King, it resteth to discuss whether you be able (though you were willing) to annoy your King: For, if among mean and private Foes, it be reckoned for Folly, in a secret Grudge, to profess open Hatred, and where he is not able to hinder, there to shew a willing mind to hurt; much more ought your Lordship in so general a Quarrel as this, that con∣cerneth the King, that toucheth the Nobility, that apper∣taineth to the whole Commonwealth, to foresee the King's Power on the one side, and your Force on the other; and then to judge if you be able to cock with him, and to put him beside the Cushion; and not whilst you strive to sit in the Saddle, to lose (to your own undoing) both the Horse and the Saddle.

King Henry is known to be in these our days, so puissant a Prince, and so victorious a Worthy, that he is able to conquer Foreign Dominions, and think you that he cannot defend his own? He tameth Kings, and judge you that he may not rule his own Subjects? Suppose you conquer the Land, do you imagine that he will not recover it? Therefore (my Lord) flatter not your self overmuch, re∣pose not so great Affiance either in your Troop of Horsemen, or in your Band of Footmen, or in your multitude of your Partakers, what Face soever they put now on the Matter, or what Success soever for a season they have; because it is easie for an Army to vanquish them that do not resist; yet here∣after, when the King shall send his Power into this Coun∣try, you shall see your Adherents, like slippery Changlings, pluck in their Horns, and such as were content to bear you up by the Chin as long as you could swim, when they espy you sinking, they will by little and little shrink from you, and percase will duck you over head and ears. As long as the Gale puffeth full in your Sails, doubt not but divers will cleave unto you, and feed on you as Crows on Car∣rion; but if any Storm happen to bluster, then will they be sure to leave you post alone sticking in the Mire or Sands, having least help when you have most need. And what will then ensue of this? The Branches will be pardoned, the Root apprehended, your Honour distained, your House attainted, your Arms reversed, your Mannors razed, your Doings examined; at which time, God knoweth what an Heart-burning it will be, when that with no colour may be denied, which without shame cannot be confessed. My Lord, I pour not out Oracles as a Soothsayer; for I am nei∣ther

a Prophet nor Son of a Prophet: But it may be that I am some frantick Cassandra, being Partner of her Spirit in telling the Truth, and Partaker of her Misfortune, in that I am not (when I tell the Truth) believed of your Lord∣ship, whom God defend from being Priamus.

Weigh therefore (my Lord) the Nobility of your An∣cestors; remember your Father's late Exhortation; forget not your Duty to your Prince; consider the Estate of this poor Country; with what heaps of Curses you shall be loa∣den, when your Souldiers shall rifle the poor Subjects, and so far endamage the whole Realm, as they are not yet born that shall hereafter feel the smart of this Uproar. You have not gone so far, but you may turn home; the King is merciful, your Offence as yet not over-heinous; cleave to his Clemency, abandon this headlong Folly; which I crave in most humble wise of your Lordship, for the Love of God, for the Duty you ow to your Prince, for the Af∣fection you bear the Country, and for the respect you have to your own Safety, whom God defend from all traiterous and wicked Attempts.

Having ended his Oration, which he set forth with such a lamentable countenance, as his Cheeks were all blubber'd with Tears, the Horsemen, namely, such as understood not English, began to divine what the Lord Chancellor meant with all this long Circumstance, some of them reporting that he was preaching a Sermon, others said, that he stood ma∣king some Heroical Poetry, in the praise of the Lord Thomas; And thus as every Ideot shot his foolish Bolt at the wise Chancellor's Discourse, who, in effect, did nought else but drop precious Stones before Hogs,* 1.67 one Bard de Nelan, an Irish Rithmer, and a rotten Sheep, able to infect a whole Flock, was chatting of Irish Verses (as though his Tongue had run on Pattens) in commendation of the Lord Tho∣mas, investing him with the Title of Silken Thomas, because his Horsemens Jacks were gorgeously embroidered with Silk; and in the end, he told him, That he lingred there over-long: Whereat the Lord Thomas being quickned, did cast his Eye towards the Lord Chancellor, and said thus;

My Lord Chancellor, I come not hither to take Advice what I should do, but to give you to understand what I mind to do. It is easie for the sound to counsel the sick; but if the Sore had smarted you as much as it festereth me, you would be percase as impatient as I am. As you would wish me to honour my Prince, so Duty willeth me to reverence my Father: Wherefore he that will with such Tyranny execute my innocent Parent, and withal

threaten my destruction, I may not, nor will not hold him for my King. And yet in truth he was never our King, but our Lord, as his Progenitors have been before him. But if it be my hap to miscarry, as you seem to prognosticate, catch that catch may; I will take the Market as it riseth, and will chuse rather to die with Valiantness and Liberty, than to live under King Henry in Bondage and Villany. And yet it may be, as strong as he is, and as weak as I am, I shall be able like a Flesh-worm, to itch the Body of his Kingdom, and force him to scratch deeply before he be able to pick me out of my Seam: Wherefore, my Lord, I thank you for your good Counsel; and were it not that I am too crabbed a Note in descant to be now tuned, it might be, that I would have warbled sweeter Harmony than at this instant I mean to sing.

With these Words he rendred up the Sword, and flung away like a Bedlam, being guarded with his bruitish Drove of Brain-sick Rebels.

Mr. Sullevan blames him very much for surrendring the Sword,* 1.68 and says it was foolishly done; for under pretence of Authority (had he kept it) he might have held what Castles and Fortifications he pleas'd, and put in what Gover∣nours he would; he might have seduced many of the King's Subjects, and have cut the Throat of Alan, and the rest of his Enemies; but I suppose that Author did not duly consi∣der the Perfidiousness and Treachery of the Action he ad∣vises.

The Council sent private Orders to the Mayor to appre∣hend the Lord Thomas; but the City being depopulated by the Plague, was too weak for such an Attempt; and there∣fore Archbishop Alan, and Chief Baron Finglass, for their security, got into the Castle, under the Protection of the Constable thereof, John White, who was afterwards Knight∣ed for his Service in this Uproar.

Now was the Sword drawn, and the Scabbard flung a∣way, and no room left for an Accommodation; and there∣fore Fitz Girald did all he could to strengthen his Party; and thinking that if his Cozen, the Lord Butler, could be perswa∣ded to enter into the Confederacy, that all the Kingdom would either side with them, or fall before them, he wrote a pressing Letter, stuffed with large Premises, to invite the Lord Butler into the Association; to which, the Loyal But∣ler returned this unexpected Answer.

Taking Pen in hand to write you my resolute Answer,* 1.69 I muse in the very first Line by what Name to call you, My Lord, or My Cozen; seeing your notorious Treason hath distain'd your

Honour, and your desperate Lewdness shamed your Kindred, you are so liberal in parting Stakes with me, that a man would ween you had no Right to the Game, so importunate in craving my com∣pany, as if you would perswade me to hang with you for good Fel∣lowship: Do you think that James was so mad as to gape for Gudgeons, or so ungracious, as to sell his Truth for a piece of Ire∣land? Were it so (as it cannot be) that the Chickens you reckon, were both hatched and feathered; yet be thou sure, I had rather in this Quarrel die thine Enemy, than live thy Partner: For the Kindness you proffer me, and good Love in the end of your Letter, the best way I can propose to requite that, is in ad∣vising you, though you have fetch'd your Feaze, yet to look well ere you leap: Ignorance and Error, with a certain Opinion of Duty, have carried you unawares to this Folly, not yet so rank but it may be cured: The King is a Vessel of Bounty and Mercy; your Words against his Majesty, shall not be counted Malicious, but rather belched out for Heat and Impotence, ex∣cept your self, by heaping Offences, discover a mischievous and wilful meaning.

Netled with this round Answer, Fitz-Girald designs to in∣vade the County of Kilkenny; but first he forces an Oath of Fidelity on the Inhabitants of the Pale; and those who re∣fused, he imprisoned as fast as he caught them, and sends Charles Rynold, Arch Deacon of Kells, his Ambassador to Pope Paul the Third, and Dominick Poer to the Emperor Charles the Fifth; to whom he sent twelve great Hawks, and fourteen fair Hobbies; but these Ambassadors came too late, and not till their Master was executed.

And so great was this Rebellion, and the King's Authority so weak, that even the Territory of Fingal, which was wholly a Stranger to Depredations, now lay exposed to the Tools and other Irish; wherein they were assisted by John Burnel, a Gentleman of good Estate in Fingal who favoured this Re∣bellion.

But the City of Dublin could not suffer this without their own Destruction; for Fingal was their Granary, and most of their Provision came from thence; wherefore a Body of the Citizens sallied to intercept a Prey at the Bridge of Kil∣mainham; but in the Skirmish, near the Wood of Salcock, (overpowered either in Number or Valour) they were beaten, and fourscore of the Citizens killed.

Fitz-Girald makes the best of this Victory, and whilst the Consternation is on the City, he sends them word, that although he could destroy their City, yet he will do them no harm, if they will permit him to besiege the Castle. The Citizens wisely send one of their Aldermen (Francis Herbert)

to the King, to know his Pleasure; and another to the Con∣stable of the Castle, to have his Advice. The Constable made a virtue of Necessity, and not thinking it possible to defend the City, consented to the Demand, provided he were first furnished with Men and Victuals, which was done, and Alderman John Fitz Symons sent into the Castle twenty Tun of Wine, twenty four Tun of Beer, two thousand dry Ling, sixteen Hogsheads of Beef, twenty Chambers, and an Iron Chain for the Draw-Bridg.

But the unfortunate Archbishop afraid of the Success of this Siege, got on board a Ship that Night, near Dames gate, in order to pass for England; but the Vessel was stranded at Clantarfe, and the Archbishop was forced to a Village hard by, called Tartain, thither came Thomas Fitz-Girald, and his Unkles John and Oliver, Sir James Delahide and many others, early the next Morning, having first had notice of the Archbishops being there: The Lord Thomas commands John Teling and Nicholas Wafer to bring out the Archbishop; whom they haled out of his Bed, naked in his Shirt, as he was, bare-footed and bare-headed. The poor Bishop, on his Knees, and with a pitiful Voice and Countenance, begged Pity for the Love of God, on a Christian and an Archbi∣shop.

The Noble Fitz-Girald was too generous to behold that Spectacle without Compassion, and therefore turned aside, saying, Ber owm a Buddagh, (which is, Take away the Clown) intending to imprison him; but the Servants wilfully mis∣construing their Master's Words, knockt out the Bishop's Brains, and left a Revenge on themselves, which overtook them all, for Teling afterwards Died of the Leprosie, and Wafer of the French Pox, and Fitz Girald and all his Unkles were publickly executed by the Common Hangman.

Nor is it to be omitted, that all the Murderers were ex∣communicated; and in the Excommunication are these strange Passages, That no man may be merciful to them, but their Memory to be forgotten: That God would rain Flames of Fire and Sulphur on them: That they may cloath them∣selves with the Malediction and high Curse, as they daily put on their Garments: That the Water of Vengeance may be in their inner Parts, as Marrow in their Bones: Be they girded with the Girdles of Malediction, and Partakers with Pharoah, Nero, Herod and Judas, the Proditors of Jesus Christ, and with Dathan and Abiram descend into Hell quick: Good Lord send them Hunger and Thirst, and strike them with Pestilence, that they may be consumed, and their Generation clear eradicate: Strike them with Leprosie, Mad∣ness, Blindness, &c. And we Interdict all the Places where

they go, and the Place where the Archbishop was murdered. But to proceed,

The Rebels took Prisoners from their own Houses, the Lord of Howth, and Luttrel, Chief Justice of the Common Pleas; and the Castle being furnished, the Citizens of Dub∣lin consented to Fitz Girald's former Demands, Of Liberty to besiege the Castle.

Whereupon he sent James Field of Lusk, Teling, Wafer, Broad, Rouks and Purcel, with one hundred Soldiers each, attending on them as their Captains; they planted two or three Falcons near Preston's Innes, over against the Castle, and entrenched themselves with strong Ramparts, threatning to place the Youth of the City thereon, if they in the Castle should shoot that way.

In the mean time Fitz-Girald, accompanied with O Neal, Sir Richard Walsh, Parson of Loughsewdy, Burnel of Bally∣griffin, and several others, invaded and burnt the County of Kilkenny, even to Thomas Town: The Earl of Ossory and his Party were at the same time near Jeripont, consulting what to do; and during their Consultation, one of the Butlers stole away with sixteen Horse to make a Bravado; Fitz-Girald espying them, sent an equal number, which were soon followed with one hundred and forty Horse; the Butlers re∣treated to their main Body, which was surprized by this un∣expected Accident, and easily scattered: The Lord Butler was hurt, but made shift to escape to Dunmore, where he was cured.

In the mean time Alderman Herbert returned with an Answer from the King, encouraging the Citizens to a manly Defence, and promising Aid immediately: Whereupon it was resolved by the Citizens, That Faith was not to be kept with Traytors; That their League with Fitz-Girald was void: And they ordered their Gates to be shut; And that the Traytors that besieged the Castle should be apprehended.

Captain Field and his Companions having Notice hereof, began to shift for themselves, some swam over the River, but the most of them were taken Prisoners.

Immediately Fitz-Girald leaves Kilkenny, and summons the Pale to meet him, with all their Power, near Dublin— And in his way he seized upon several Dublin-Children, that were at School in the Country, and particularly Fitz-Simons and Stainhurst; and sent Doctor Traverse, Peter Linch of the Knock, and Oliver Grace, to the Citizens, to expostulate the Breach of the League, and to require, That it might be re∣newed, or at the least the Prisoners enlarged; but they met with a cross Answer to all their Demands.

Whereupon Fitz-Girald began in Sheep-street to besiege the Castle, but was driven thence by the Ordnance, and the Houses being thatcht were burnt by Wild-Fire, cast in from the Castle; he stopt all the Rivers about the Town, and re∣moved to Thomas-Court, pulled down that Street, and made a sort of a Gallery to shelter his Men; he also burnt the New Street, and planted a Gun against Newgate, which pierced that Gate, and killed an Apprentice of Alderman Stephens's, fetching Water from the high Pipe.

Richard Stanton, Goaler of Newgate, being an excellent Marksman, did great Damage to the Enemy, and particu∣larly, perceiving one of the Rebels level his Gun at the Loop-Hole where he stood, he was so nimble, that he pre∣vented him, and shot the Rebel in the Forehad, and was so hardy, as to issue out at the Wicket and to strip the Varlet, and brought in with him his Gun and his Cloaths. This enraged the Rebels and excited them to Revenge; wherefore they immediately brought Fire and Faggot to the Gate, in hopes to burn it.

The Citizens wisely considered, That Expectation of Spoil would encourage the Rebels to enter the City, and ani∣mate them more to fight within than without the Walls; and they also believed, That very many of Fitz-Girald's Army (being Inhabitants of the Pale, and forced to the Camp) were in their Hearts for the City; and this they were induced to believe, because most part of the Arrows shot over the Walls were unheaded. Upon these Considera∣tions they resolved to sally, and gave out from the Walls, That new Succours were come from England, and as if it had been so, immediately rushed out through Fire and Flame, and the Enemy believing they were new-arrived Soldiers, and that the Citizens durst not adventure so briskly, immediately fled, leaving one hundred Gallowglasses slain, and their Fal∣con taken. Thomas Fitz-Girald himself lurked at the Grey-Fryers, in Francis-street, till next morning, and then he got to the remainder of his shattered Army.

In the mean time the Earl of Kildare was committed to the Tower,* 1.70 because he had contrary to the King's express Command furnished his Castles out of his Majesty's Stores: And though he answered, That it was done to defend the Pale against the Borderers; and that if he designed Treason, he was not such a Fool as to fortifie his Castles, and at the same time to adventure his Person into their Hands; how∣ever he stuttered so much, and delivered his Speech in such staggering and maffling manner, that they concluded him Guilty, and committed him: And now hearing of his Son's Extravagancies, he broke his Heart, and died in the Tower in September.

Fitz-Girald being in great want of Artillery and Ammuni∣tion, and somewhat cooled by the late defeat, sent James Delahide and others to treat with the City upon these Articles,

• (I.) That his Men that were Prisoners, should be enlarged.
• (II.) That the City should pay one thousand Pound in Mony, and five hundred Pound in Wares.
• (III.) To furnish him Ammunition and Artillery.
• (IV.) To interceed with the King for his Pardon and his Followers.
• Mr Fitz-Symons, Recorder, was appointed to answer to the
• I. That if he would deliver their Children, they would enlarge his Men. To the
• II. That they were impoverished with his Wars, and could not spare either Wares or Mony. To the
• III. If he intended to submit he had no need of them; if he did not, they would not give him Rods to whip themselves: That they expected he would request good Vellam Parchment to ingross his Pardon, and not Artillery to withstand his Prince. To the
• IV. They promised all Intercession they could, by Word or Letter.

Whilst they were treating thus, one William Bath, of Dol∣lars-Town, a Lawyer, stepped forward, and said, My Masters, What need all these Circumstances? Let us all drink of one Cup: Which Words cost him his Life the next year.

It seems Fitz-Girald agreed with the Citizens on their own Terms, and Hostages being given on both sides, he raised his Siege, and sent his Artillery to Houth, but went himself to Minnooth, to see that Castle fortified and furnished.

In the mean time the two Hamertons, with one hundred and eighty Soldiers, arrived out of England at Houth, and on their March to Dublin were encountred near Clantarf by Thomas Fitz-Girald, and two hundred Horsemen; and though they fought valiantly, and one of the Hamertons wounded Fitz-Girald in the Forehead, yet being over-powered, they were all slain or taken Prisoners; and their Ships were forced from Houth, and a Vessel freighted with choice English Geld∣ings, was also taken by Captain Rouks, Fitz-Girald's Pirate, and the Horses were sent to Fitz Girald.

And not long after landed both the Eglebees and Dacres, with their Horsemen, at the Skerries; and Sir William Brere∣ton and his Son John, with two hundred and fifty Soldiers, well appointed; and Captain Salisbury, with two hundred Archers, lastly Landed at the Slip, near the Bridge of Dub∣lin.

Sir William Skeffington, Lord Deputy, he was Master of the Ordnance in England; and therefore was by the Irish, (who put Nick-names upon every Body, even of themselves, as Dermond Buckagh, Tiege Mauntagh, &c.) in derision, called, The Gunner; he was received with great Joy by the City, and had the Sword delivered to him by the Lord of Trimletstone, who was made Chancellor in the place of Archbishop Cromer; Baron Finglass (who wrote a M. S. Treatise of the Decay of Ireland) was made Chief Justice of the King's Bench, as Luttrel was of the Common Pleas, and Girald Ailmer Chief Baron of the Exchequer, and William Brabazon Vice-Treasurer. This Deputy also brought with him Leonard Lord Grey, (designed Marshal of Ireland) and Gracious Letters from the King to the City of Dublin.

That part of the English Fleet, which sailed near Tredagh, met with Brode the Pyrate, and forced him a Ground, so that he and nine of his Men were taken at Tredagh, and sent Pri∣soners to Dublin; whereat Fitz-Girald was so much enraged, that he threatned to besiege Tredagh, and it is probable he marched that way, for it was averr'd at Dublin, That he was actually before the Town: And therefore the Lord Deputy immediatly, viz. the twenty eighth of October, marched out, to raise the Siege of Tredagh; and he staied in and about that Town, till the fourth of November, and then finding no Enemy near that Place, he returned to Dublin, having first proclaimed Fitz-Girald Traytor, at the High Cross of Tredagh.

The Lord Deputy would have pursued Fitz-Girald and his Confederates, but that the Winter was too near, and him∣self was indisposed; moreover, he daily expected Supplies of Men and Mony from England; and he knew that Fitz Girald had strengthned his Party by a new Confederacy with O Neal and O Connor: And therefore being necessitated to postpone his Designs till the Spring, some say he made a Truce with Fitz-Girald until January; but that seems improbable, be∣cause the Pale suffered exceedingly this Winter, the Preser∣vation of which, must have been the chief Consideration for a Truce, if there were any.

Fitz-Girald had in his Possession six principal Castles, viz, Minooth, Portlester, Rathingan, Catherlagh, Ley and Athy; and having well manned and furnished them, he took a Journey into Connaught, not doubting but that his Castle of Minooth would hold out till his Return; but he was very much out in his Calculation, for the Lord Deputy on the fif∣teenth of March, laid Siege to that Castle, and placed his Battery on the North Side of the same, towards the Park, and Sir William Brereton, who had slain one hundred of

Fitz-Girald's Men on the sixth of March, did now summon the Castle of Minooth, with Offers of Pardon and Reward; to which a scoffing and ludibrious Answer was returned, with much boasting, after the Irish manner: Whereupon the Ar∣tillery began to play, but made no considerable Breach in a Fortnights time; and therefore though it was so closely be∣sieged, that there was neither egress or regress from or to the Castle; yet being sufficiently provided of all Necessaries, and particularly of a good Garrison of an hundred choice men, it might have held out until Fitz Girald could come to re∣lieve it.

But the perfidious Governor Christopher Parese (Fitz-Gi∣rald's Foster-Brother) a white-Liver'd Traytor, resolved to purchase his own security with his Lord's Ruine; and to that end, got Letters conveyed to the Lord Deputy, import∣ing, that he would surrender the Castle upon certain Arti∣cles by him propos'd, all which concerned only his own Pro∣fit, without mention of his Safety. The Lord Deputy rea∣dily accepted of the Offer, and agreed to the Conditions re∣quired: Whereupon, Parese, after some small Advantage they had got in a Sally, caus'd the Garrison to rejoyce and carouse to that degree that they were all dead drunk; and then upon a Signal given, the English scaled the Walls, and entred the Castle; Captain Holland being one of the first, hapned to leap down into a Pipe of Feathers, and there stuck, and Sir William Brereton being got in, cried out, S. George, S. George; whereat one of the Garrison awakened, and shot at Captain Holland; but he being rescued out of the Fea∣thers by his Companions, killed the Souldier: After that, there was little or no resistance; and Sir William Brereton soon advanced his Standard on the Top of the Turret: The Spoil and Plunder of this Castle was exceeding great and rich, this being accounted the best furnished House belonging to any Subject in the Kings Dominions.

The Lord Deputy entred in the Afternoon, before whom, two Varlets, James de la Hide and Hayward, both Choristers, prostrated themselves, warbling a sweet Sonnet, call'd Dul∣cis Amica; their Melody sav'd their Lives, which, at the re∣quest of Chief Justice Ailmer, the Deputy pardoned.

Parese expecting some great Reward, with abundance of Confidence and Familiarity presented himself before the De∣puty; who told him, That he was to thank him, on the King's behalf, for his Service, which saved much Charge and many Lives, and doubted not, when the King was ac∣quainted therewith, he would provide for him during his Life; and the better to advise the King how to reward him, he desired to know what Fitz-Girald had done for him: Pa∣rese

set agog with this Discourse, recounted the most minute instances of Fitz Girald's Liberality to him; upon which, the Deputy reply'd; And how Parese, couldst thou find in thy heart to betray the Castle of so kind a Lord? And turning to his Officers, he bids them pay him the Mony, and then to chop off his Head. Had I known this, quoth Parese, your Lordship should not have had the Castle so easily. Whereupon, one Mr. Boyse being by, cried out, Auntraugh, i. e. too late; which occasion'd the Saying often us'd in Ireland, Too late, quoth Boyse.

In the mean time, Fitz-Girald, by the aid of O Connor and others, had got an Army of seven thousand Men, with which he design'd to raise the Siege of Minooth; but upon News of its Surrender, his Army deserted him daily, and mouldred away almost to nothing (Reputation, as I observed before, much governing the Irish, and perhaps all the World be∣side;) with the few that were left, he marched to Clane, and the Deputy (leaving Brereton Governor of Dublin) marched to Naas, where he took sevenscore of the Rebel Gallowglasses, whom, (upon notice of Fitz-Girald's Ap∣proach) the Deputy commanded to be slain, only Edmond Oleme escaped stark naked to his Master Fitz-Girald. There was a Bog between both Armies, so that the Horse could not skirmish; but the Deputy, with his Artillery easily broke and scattered Fitz-Girald's inconsiderable Troops, put them to flight, slew many, and took some Prisoners.

After this Defeat,* 1.71 Fitz-Girald never appeared at the Head of any considerable Army; but by small Parties would now and then make some slight Excursions, and particularly, af∣ter the Surrender of Rathingan (which hapned in the be∣ginning of the Year) he caused a Drove of Cattel to ap∣pear near the Town early in the Morning, and the English believing that the Cattel strayed that way, and might easily be made Booty, most of the Garrison sallied to that intent, and were intercepted by an Ambush, and slain. Another time he burnt a Village near Trim, and sent two or three of his Men, clad like the English Soldiers, to Trim, and pretend∣ing that they were Captain Salisbury's Men, they told the Garrison that the Rebel Fitz-Girald was burning the Village: Whereupon, most part of the Soldiers sallied out, and were killed.

On the 11th of May, the Lord Butler was created Viscount Thurles, and Admiral of Ireland, and on the twenty first his Father (the Earl of Ossory) and he were made Gover∣nors of the Counties of Kilkenny, Waterford and Typerary, and the Territories of Ossory and Ormond, and they promi∣sed to do their utmost endeavour to recover the Castle of Dun∣garvan,

and to resist the Ʋsurpations of the Bishop of ROME,* 1.72 which is the first Engagement I have met with of that kind.

It seems that the Lord Grey had been sent to England for Supplies, and that he now returned with Horsemen and Ar∣chers under Sir William Senlo, Sir Rice Mansel, and Sir Ed∣ward Griffith, who were conveniently garrisoned in the Pale; for I find by a Letter of the twenty first of August, to the Lord Cromwel, from Chief Justice Ailmer, and Allen Master of the Rolls, that the Lord Grey Landed the twenty ninth of July, and that they came on shoar the first of August, and were exceedingly surpriz'd at the alteration they found in the Country; for that six of eight Baronies in the County of Kildare, were burnt and depopulated; and so likewise was part of Meath, and that Sir William Brabazon at the Naas, was the Man that prevented the total Ruine and Desolation of the Country: That Powerscourt, which cost five thousand Marks was ruin'd by the Birns and Tools: That Fitz-Girald had regain'd Rathingan, by the Treachery of the Ward; but that he quitted it upon approach of the Army, and the Lord Deputy might have surpriz'd him in it, if he would, or had been as diligent as he ought: That O More (who joyn'd with the English) had so posted his own Men and the Kings, that the Rebels were surrounded, and Fitz-Girald could not have escaped, if a Brigade of the English had not quitted their Station; however, Burnel of Balligriffin, was taken, (and was afterwards hang'd at Tyburn:) That the Pesti∣lence raged at Dublin; and that the Lord Deputy designed to quarter a thousand Kerns for three Months on the Pale, which would ruine it; but their Arrival with Money, alter'd that to a Cess for this Expedition only, whereunto the Peo∣ple chearfully consented: That they had engaged Cahir O Connor against his Brother, by allowing him twelve Horse, and one hundred and sixty Kerns in his Majesties Pay: That the Deputy is sick, and not able to defend Minooth, where he lodges; but suffers his own Cattle to be taken from the very Gates: That there is no hope of O Neal's Loyalty, since he gave no Hostages; and finally, this Letter highly extols Sir William Brabazon (the worthy Ancestor of the Earl of Meath) as the Saviour of the Kingdom, and concludes with Commendations of the Lord Grey, and desires he may be Lord Deputy, and have Orders to call a Parliament.

What that Letter mentions of O Neal, has reference to a Treaty between the Lord Deputy and him; for when he un∣derstood, that the Lord Deputy design'd an Expedition a∣gainst him into the North, to prevent it, he desired a Parly, and on the first of July, by his Agent Gillaspick O Donel, he

concluded an Agreement with the Lord Deputy, which af∣terwards was confirmed by Con O Neal himself at Drogheda, on the twenty fifth of the same Month.

In the mean time, the Lord Deputy, finding that Fitz-Gi∣rald had retired to Munster, sent after him the Lord Grey, Sir William Brereton, and others, who had several Skirmishes with his Party, wherein nothing was got but Blows; where∣upon Brereton's Advice on the one side, and Fitz, Girald's Necessity on the other side, produced a Parly; the effect whereof was, That Fitz-Girald surrendred to the Lord Grey, and rode with him to Dubliu,

By the Lord Deputy's Letter to the King, of August 24. he acquaints his Majesty, That Fitz Girald and O Connor had submitted; the former without any Condition or Promise of Life, Lands or Goods, and that he intends to send him over by the Lord Grey, whilst himself in person goes to assist O Donel against his Son Manus.

But the Council by their Letter from the Camp to the King, of the 27th of August, inform his Majesty, That O Connor, an Abettor of Fitz-Girald's, has given Hostages to abide the King's Pleasure, and that Fitz-Firald submitted on the encouragements they gave him to expect Pardon for his Life: That the Lord Grey is going with him, leaving the Lord Butler in his room; and they desire the King to thank the Lord Grey for his good Service.

Nevertheless, others say, That Fitz-Girald was by the Lord Grey absolutely promised his Pardon; but if it was so, it was more than he had Comission for, and therefore no re∣gard was given to that Pretence; but the King being impla∣cably enraged at this dangerous Rebellion, caused Fitz-Girald to be arrested in the way to Windsor, and afterwards, viz. Febr. 3. 1537. he and five of his Unkles were executed at Ty∣burn, although three of them had for a long time opposed their Nephews Extravagancies.

And thus ended a Rebellion,* 1.73 which cost the King twenty thousand, some say forty thousand Pound: At which great Expence the King was so disturb'd, that he called this Victo∣ry a new Conquest; and put the Question to his Council, how Ireland should be managed to bear the charge of its own Preservation; and whether by Act of Parliament every mans Estate should not be made liable to contribute its proportion; or, whether, by vertue of this Conquest, the King might not seize on all the Estates in that Kingdom Temporal and Spiritual?

By a Letter from Stephen ap Harry (who was afterward a great man with the Lord Grey) of the sixth of October, from Waterford, directed to Mr. Thomas Cromwel, Secretary

of State; he informs his Honour, That the Lord Leonard Grey was gone to England with Fitz Girald, and that the Lord James Butler marched to Clonmel, where his Lordships Brother-in-Law Garret Mac Shane (who could not speak one Word of English) met him; That thence they marched to Dungarvan, which surrendred unto him, and thence to Youg∣hal, where he had a Gallon of Gascoyn Wine for four pence; and thence to Cork, where the Lord Barry made great Com∣plaints of Cormock Oge of Muskry, and Mac Carty Riagh; the former was willing to submit to the Award of the State; but Mac Carty Riagh answered, That what he got by the Sword, he would keep by the Sword. The like Controversie was between James, Grandson of Thomas, last Earl of Desmond, and Sir John, Brother of that Earl; the young man offered to go to England, and to submit to his Majesties Pleasure; but Sir John said, He scorned to contest with a Boy: That they march∣ed thence to Mallow, and so to Kilmallock; and thence to Lymerick, where the Lord Butler's Brother-in-law (O Brians Son) desired Aid against his Father and Unkle, and that the Lord Butler would besiege Carrigonel; but he could not do it for want of Artillery, and therefore marched to Cashel, and thence to Clonmel, having worthily behav'd himself all this Journey.

It seems the Lord Deputy had sollicited for the King's leave to return to England, by reason of his Age and Infirmities; but the King in his Answer, thanked him for the taking Fitz-Girald; but wished it had been done in another manner, viz. by force; and tells him, That he must continue in the Go∣vernment of Ireland, notwithstanding his Age and Sickness; and orders a Parliament to be called as ••••on as conveniently might be; but it is probable that soon after those Letters ar∣rived, the Lord Deputy died at Kilmainham, in the latter end of December, and was honourably buried in St. Patrick's Church: And thereupon, the Council chose

Leonard Lord Grey,* 1.74 Lord Deputy; who was but newly returned from England, and probably did not bring over so much Treasure as the Army both expected and needed, and therefore the Souldiers mutined in January; and thereupon the King, by his Letter of the twenty fifth of February, de∣sires to know who were the Ringleaders of it, and orders, that as many of the Army as can be spared, may be disband∣ed:* 1.75 To which Letter the Lord Deputy and Council re∣turn'd for Answer, That after the imprisonment of Fitz-Gi∣rald, they had disbanded five hundred men; but that his Unkles being at that time out, and the Earl of Desmond, O Brian and O Connor linked in a Confederacy, it was no pro∣per time then to dismiss any more; but that they have now

borrowed four hundred Pounds Irish, and therewith have disbanded two hundred and fifty Foot, and fifty Horse; That the Revenue of the Kingdom was but five thousand Pounds per annum; whereof a thousand Pound was then insolvent; they advise the King to grant a Pardon to the County of Kildare, to the end the People of that County may return to their Habitations; and they advise, That the Kings Lands may be set for a Term of one and twenty years, and that a Mint may be erected in Ireland, and none but Ster∣ling Money be currant, and thereby every Mark of the King's Revenue will be a Pound.

But I must interrupt the Series of this Discourse, to give the Reader an Account of the miraculous preservation of one of the remaining Branches of the Noble Family of Kildare, a Child of thirteen years old, Brother of the Lord Thomas, and Son of the deceased Earl, who happened to be sick of the Small Pox at Donoare in the County of Kildare, when his Unkles were apprehended; whereupon, his careful Tutor, Thomas Leverouse (afterwards Bishop of Kildare) had the Child wrapt up warm, and in a Cleef or Basket conveyed him into Offaly, and after he was recovered, he travelled in∣to Thomond, and after half a years abode there, they went to Kilbritton in the County of Cork, where Elianor Fitz-Girald (Mac Carty Riagh's Widow) then lived: Soon after she married with O Donel, and made it one of the Articles of her Agreement, That he should protect, her Nephew the young Fitz-Girald; which he faithfully promised, and thereupon they went together to Ʋlster; but they were not there a Twelve-month, before the Lady understood that her perfidious Husband had agreed to betray her Nephew; and therefore she sent him privately into France, and gave him sevenscore Pieces of Gold, call'd Portugueses, to bear his Charge; and afterwards upbraided O Donel with his Trea∣chery; and told him, That, as nothing but the Preservation of her Nephew, could have prevailed with her to marry such a clownish Curmudgen, so since he villanously endea∣voured to betray her in that Particular, she would stay with him no longer; and so away she went, and never saw him more.

But the Young Fitz-Girald arrived safely at S. Maloes, and being sent for up to Paris, the English Embassador there de∣manded him of the French King, by virtue of the Peace late∣ly concluded: The French King gave him a dilatory Answer, and in the mean time Fitz Girald escaped to Flanders; at Valencienes he was overtaken by James Sherlock, whom the Embassador sent to pursue him; but the Governour of that

Town committed Sherlock, and so Fitz-Girald got safe to Brussels; but the English Embassador demanded him there also, so that he was forced to remove to Leige, and was by the Emperor recommended to the Bishop of Leige, and al∣lowed a hundred Crowns a Month for his Expence: But he staid there not above half a Year, before his Kinsman Cardin∣al Poole sent for him to Rome, and placed him successively with the Bishop of Verona, the Cardinal of Mantua, and the Duke of Mantua, and allowed him an Annuity of three hun∣dred Crowns per annum, and the Duke of Mantua gave him the like Pension: With them he staid a Year and a half, and then removed to Cardinal Poole's Palace in Rome, where he continued three Years: The next Year after he spent in Ser∣vice with the Knights of Malta, and behaved himself exceed∣ing valiantly: Then he became Master of the Horse to the Great Duke of Tuscany, and continued in that Office three Years.

One Day as he was hunting,* 1.76 in the company of Cardinal Farneze, he fell into a Pit twenty nine Fathom deep, and had the good Luck, within two Fathom of the Bottom, to quit his Horse, and take hold of some Roots or Bushes that were on the Side of the Pit, and by degrees he let go his Hold, and gently descended upon his Horse, which was dead in the Bottom of the Pit; and there he stood three Hours, up to the Ankles in Water, until his Grey-hound (called Griff-hound) mis∣sing his Master hunted him to the Pit, and there fell a howling, till the Company came in, and with a Rope and a Basket drew him up alive and well, to all their Admirations, & to mine too, if I did not think this part of the Story to be a little Monkish.

And since I am upon Digressions,* 1.77 it will be fit to remem∣ber, That Doctor Traverse, who was an active Man in Fitz-Girald's Rebellion, and was therefore executed at Tyburn, as the Traytor well deserved, has nevertheless found a Room in the Irish Martyrology, and is mentioned, as an Instance of the English Cruelty, by the Irish Historians.

And so we will conclude the Year 1535 with the Conse∣cration of George Brown Archbishop of Dublin;* 1.78 which was performed by the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Bishops of Rochester and Salisbury, on the nineteenth (or rather twenty ninth) of March; he had formerly been Provincial of the Fryers of the Order of S. Augustine,* 1.79 in England: And whilst he was so, he used to Preach, That Salvation was to be obtained by the Merits of Christ, and advised to make Application to him only; for which Doctrine he was much taken notice of. He became the first Protestant Convert of the Clergy in Ireland, and was an exceeding Charitable and Meek Man: He was the first that caused Images and other Superstitious Reliques to be removed out of the two Cathe∣drals

in Dublin, and out of the rest of the Churches within his Diocess: And he caused the Ten Commandments, the Lord's Prayer and the Creed to be placed in gilded Frames about the Altar, in Christ-Church, Dublin.

It seems that the King did send Commissioners into Ireland, to remove the Pope's Authority thence, and to reduce it to conformity with England; if so, undoubtedly Archbishop Browne was one of the Commissioners, as will appear by the following Letter, sent by him to Cromwel Lord Privy Seal, who was the chief Mannager of that Matter.

My Most Honoured Lord,

YOƲR humble Servant receiving your Mandate,* 2.1 as one of His Highnesses Commissioners, hath endeavoured, almost to the Danger and Hazard of this Temporal Life, to procure the Nobility and Gentry of this Nation to due Obedience, in owning of his Highness their Supreme Head, as well Spiritual as Tem∣poral, and do find much oppugning therein, especially by my Bro∣ther Armagh, who hath been the main Oppugner, and so hath withdrawn most of his Suffragans and Clergy within his See and Jurisdiction: He made a speech to them, laying a Curse on the People, whosoever should own his Highness's Supremacy; say∣ing, That this Isle, as it is in their Irish Chronicles, Insula Sacra, belongs to none but the Bishop of Rome, and that it was the Bishop of Rome's Predecessors gave it to the King's Ancestors. There be two Messengers by the Priests of Armagh, and by that Archbishop, now lately sent to the Bishop of Rome. Your Lord∣ship may inform his Highness, That it is convenient to call a Parliament in this Nation, to pass the Supremacy by Act; for they do not much matter his Highness's Commission, which your Lordship sent us over. This Island hath been for a long time held in Ignorance by the Romish Orders: And as for their Secu∣lar Orders, they be in a manner as ignorant as the People, being not able to say Mass, or pronounce the Words, they not knowing what they themselves say in the Roman Tongue: The common People of this Isle are more Zealous in their Blindness than the Saints and Martyrs were in the Truth at the beginning of the Gospel. I send to you, my very good Lord, these things, that your Lordship and his Highness may consult what is to be done. It is feared O Neal will be ordered by the Bishop of Rome to op∣pose your Lordships Order from the King's Highness; for the Natives are much in Numbers within his Powers. I do pray the Lord Christ to defend your Lordship from your Enemies.

On the twenty eighth of April the King sent Orders to the Town of Galway to use the English Order,* 2.2 Habit and Lan∣guage,

and not to forestal the Markets of Limerick, nor cor∣respond with the Irish.

And so we come to the Parliament, which began at Dublin on the first Day of May, and on the last Day of that Month was adjourned to Kilkenny; and did there sit the twenty fifth Day of July; and on the twenty first was adjourned to Cashel; and on the twenty eighth was from Cashel adjourned to Limerick, and there it sat on the second of August, and continued until the nineteenth; and then was adjourned to Dublin, to meet the fifteenth Day of September; and so af∣ter several Prorogations, it was finally dissolved the twenty∣eth Day of December, 1537▪ and enacted as followeth,

I. The Attainder of the Earl of Kildare and his Complices: This Act recites all their Treasons, and Retrospects to the eighth Day of July, 20 Hen. 8.

II. The Parliament reciting, That Ireland is appending and belonging to the Crown of England, doth make void and nullifie the King's Marriage with the Princess Katha∣rine, his Brother's Wife, and doth ratifie the Divorce judicially made between them, by the Archbishop of Canter∣bury: It also confirms the King's Marriage with Anne Bullen, and prohibits Marriage within the Levitical Degrees, and orders that Persons so married shall be divorced, and their Children after such Divorce shall be illegitimate: Then it en∣tails the Crown on the King's Heir Males by Queen Anne, and for want of such to his Heirs Males by any other Wife; and for want of such, to the King's Heirs Female by Queen Anne, and particularizes the Princess Elizabeth, and the Heirs of her Body, &c. And that it shall be Treason to Write or Act against the aforesaid Marriage, or the Settlement of the Crown; and Misprision of Treason to speak against either of those things, and deprives the Offenders of Benefit of Sanctu∣ary; it makes the Queen and such Counsellors as the King shall appoint Guardians of the Infant King or Queen (if it so happen) till their respective Ages of sixteen, if a Queen, and eighteen if a King; and prescribes an Oath for the Ob∣servation of this Settlement, to be taken by the Subject; and makes it Misprision of Treason to refuse it.

III. The Act of Absentees, recites the Inconveniences that have happened by reason of the Absence of those that have Estates in Ireland; and then vests in the King the Honours and Estates of the Duke of Norfolk, the Lord Berkly, the Earl of Waterford and Shrewsbury, the Heirs General of the Earl of Ormond, the Abbot of Furnes, the Abbot of S. Augustins of Bristol, the Prior of Christ-Church of Canterbury, the Prior of Lanthony, the Prior of Cartinel, the Abbot of Kentesham,

the Abbot of Osny, the Abbot of Bath, and the Master of S. Thomas of Dacres:* 2.3 And it was resolved, anno 1612. That the Earl of Shrewsbury did lose the Title of Earl of Water∣ford and Viscount Dungarvan, by this Statute: Neverthe∣less, he had a very good Recompence in England for his Los∣ses in Ireland.

And it is not unworthy our Remembrance, How this Sta∣tute came to be made; and the Occasion was thus, The King being inclined to make Mr. Ailmer (who was then Lord Chief justice of the Common Pleas) Lord Chief Ju∣stice of the King's Bench; the Earl of Shrewsbury (at the instance of some of his Tenants in Waterford or Wexford) opposed his Preferment, alledging, That Ailmer was a silly fellow, and unfit for such a Place; whereupon the King repre∣manded the Lord Cromwel for recommending such a Cox∣comb to him; the Lord Cromwel begs the King to discourse with Ailmer, assuring his Majesty, That he was misinformed. The King consented, and Ailmer being come, the King asked the true reason of the Decay of Ireland: Ailmer Answered, That it was because the Estated Men (who used to Reside and De∣fend their own Estates and countenance their Tenants) did now generally dwell in England and left Ireland a Prey to the Na∣tives: But that if his Majesty would oblige the Estated Men to Residence, or seize their Estates to his own use, he would soon find a Reformation. The King tickled with this Advice, gave Ailmer Thanks, and assured him Care should be taken of it next Parliament.

IV. A Suspension or Repeal of Poyning's Act pro hac Vice.

V. That the King his Heirs and Successors be Supreme Head on Earth, of the Church of Ireland, and shall have Power to reform, redress, &c. Heresies, Errors and Offen∣ces, &c. And that his Commissioners shall take no Proxies for their Visitations, but convenient Meat, Drink, and Lodg∣ing, on pain of four times the value.

VI. That there shall be no Appeals to Rome, on Pain of Premunire; and that the Chancellor, with the Consent of the two Chief Justices, the Master of the Rolls, and the Vice-Treasurer, or any two of them, may assign Delegates to Hear and Determine all Appeals to the Chief Governour.

VII. An Act against slandering the King or Queen or their Title, &c. And that those guilty of High Treason shall not have the Benefit of Sanctuary; and that Treasons committed beyond Seas may be tried in Ireland; and that all Estates of Inheritance (ergo Estates Tail) shall be forfeited for High-Treason.

VIII. That the Clergy shall pay Annates or First-Fruits, i.e. a Years Profit, and shall pay or compound before Pos∣session: The Chancellor, Master of the Rolls and Vice-Treasurer, or any two of them, whereof the Vice-Treasurer to be one, (or any others commissioned by the King) may compound and give Instalments: That the Bonds for First-Fruits shall have the Effect of Bonds of the Staple, and eight Pence to be paid for a Bond, and four Pence for an Acquit∣tance, and no more.

IX. An Act to vest in the King Sir Walter Delahide's Lands in Carbry, in the County of Kildare.

X. That if the Robber or Felon be found Guilty, upon an Indictment, by means or Prosecution of the Party robbed, that then he shall have Restitution, as if it had been done upon an Appeal.

XI. An Act to suppress all Tributes, Pensions, and Irish Exactions, claimed by the Irish from Towns or Persons, for Protection.

XII. An Act against the Pope, to suppress his Usurpations, and that it shall be Premunire to defend or assert his usurped Authority or Jurisdiction; and that all Persons Ecclesiastical or Lay, That have Office or Benefice, &c. shall take the Oath of Supremacy mentioned in the Act, and the Refusal of that Oath shall be Treason.

It seems there was much Difficulty to get this Act, and the former Act for the King's Supremacy, to pass both Houses, many of the Clergy opposing them stifly, until the Archbi∣shop Brown made the following Speech; which being well sconded by Justice Brabazon, so startled the rest, that at length both Bills passed. The Archbishop's Speech was thus,

My Lords and Gentry of his Majesty's Kingdom of Ireland.

BEhold your Obedience to your King is the observing of your Lord and Saviour Christ,* 3.1 for He, that High-Priest of our Souls paid Tribute to Caesar, (though no Christian;) greater Honour then surely is due to your Prince, His Highness the King and a Christian one. Rome and her Bishops, in the Fa∣thers Days, acknowledged Emperors, Kings and Princes to be Supreme over their Dominions, nay Christs own Vicars; and it is much to the Bishop of Rome's shame, to deny what their prece∣dent Bishops owned: Therefore his Highness claims but what he can justifie the Bishop Elutherius gave to S. Lucius, the first Christian King of the Britains, so that I shall without scrupling vote his Highness King Henry my Supreme, over Ecclesiastical Matters as well as Temporal, and Head thereof, even of both

Isles, England and Ireland, and that without Guilt of Consci∣ence, or Sin to God, and he who will not pass this Act as I do, is no true Subject to his Highness.

XIII. That the King, and his Heirs, and Successors for ever shall have the twentieth part of the yearly Profits, Re∣venues, Rents, Farms, Titles, Offerings and Emoluments Spiritual and Temporal, belonging to any Archbishoprick, Bishoprick, Abbacy, Monastery, Priory, Arch-Deaconry, Deanry, Hospital, Comandry, College, House Collegiate, Prebend, Cathedral-Church, Collegiate Church, Conven∣tual Church, Parsonage, Vicarage, Chantry, or Free Chap∣pel, or other Promotion Spiritual whatsoever.

And the King was so well pleased with this Act,* 3.2 that he sent a particular Letter of Thanks to the Lords Spiritual, for granting him the twentieth part of their Livings yearly for ever.

XIV. That no Subject shall be shaved above his Ears, or wear Glibbs, or Crom-meals (i.e. Hair on the upper Lip) or Linnen died in Saffron, or above seven yards of Linnen in their Shifts; and that no Woman wear any Kirtle, or Coat tucked up, or embroydered, or garnished with Silk, or couch∣ed, ne laid with Usker, after the Irish Fashion, and that no Person wear Mantles, Coats or Hoods after the Irish Fashion, (except Women, Horse-boys, Cow-boys, and Soldiers, at the rising out and Hostings, all which may wear Mantles.) And that every body shall endeavour to learn the English Language, and conform to the English Fashion, &c.

XV. And that Benefices shall not be given to any that can∣not speak English, unless after four Proclamations in the next Market-Town to the Benefice, on four several Market-Days, a Person that can speak English, cannot be got, and that then an honest able Irishman may be admitted, on his Oath, that he shall do his utmost endeavour to learn the English Lan∣guage, and observe the English Order and Fashion, and teach those under him to do the like, and shall keep an En∣glish School in his Parish, to that purpose, &c.

XVI. An Act for the Suppression of Abbies.

XVII. An Act against transporting of Wool and Flocks.

XVIII. An Act about the Proof of Testaments.

XIX. The Act of Faculties, prohibiting the Subjects from paying any Pensions, Cences, Portions, Peter-pence, or any other Impositions to the use of the Pope, and extinguishing and suppressing them for ever; and authorizing Com∣missioners appointed by the King to grant Faculties and Dis∣pensations; as the Archbishop of Canterbury may do in Eng∣land, by vertue of the Act of Faculties there, which is made of Force in Ireland.

XX. That Poyning's Act be suspended pro hac vice.

XXI. An Act for Limitation of Actions on Penal Statutes, viz. That Actions in the King's Name, be commenced with∣in three years after the Offence, and Actions Popular, with∣in one year.

XXII. An Act for prostrating the Wares on the River Barrow, &c.

XXIII. An Act for uniting and annexing the Parson∣ages and Vicarages of Dungarvan, &c. to the Crown.

XXIV. That no body presume to leaze Corn whilst there be any Stacks or Reeks of Corn in the Field: And that eve∣ry man that cannot keep his Child at School, do at ten years of Age put him to Handicraft or Husbandry.

XXV. That the Leases made, or to be made by the King's Commissioners, viz. Saintleger Pawlet, &c. shall be good and valid, any defect of Inquisition or Office, &c. notwithstand∣ing.

Lastly, An Act for the first Fruits of the great Abbies and Monasteries, &c. which were not vested in the King by the above Act, ch. 16. But this Statute is become useless by a subsequent Act, that gives all the Abbies, &c. to the King.

And these are all the Acts of this Parliament to be found in the printed Statute-Book; which I do not pretend to have critically or exactly abridged; because I think it necessary for every man that will be nicely instructed in any Statute-Law, to read the Statute at large, and not to trust to an A∣bridgment; but I have endeavoured to give such an Histori∣cal Account of these Acts, as may illustrate this Collection, and give the Reader some Light into the Affairs of those times. Nor must it be forgotten, that many of these Statutes are made in the later Sessions of this Parliament, Anno 1537.

And besides these Printed Acts, there was another Law made at this Parliament against Fosterings and Marriage with the Irish; and it was thereby made Treason to marry with the Child of any Man who had not swore allegiance, and entred into Recognizance to observe it; but this severe Law was repeal'd, 11 Jac. 1. cap. 5.

But whilst the Nobility and Gentry were at the Parlia∣ment, O Connor made use of the opportunity, as he used to do, and invaded the Pale; his Fury lighted most on the Ba∣rony of Carbry in the County of Kildare, which he preyed and burnt; and to revenge it, the Lord Trimletstown, and the Vice-Treasurer Brabazon, with such men as they could on the sudden get together, made an Incursion into Offaly, and in

like manner wasted and destroyed that Country, which ob∣liged O Connor to return home as fast as he could.

Sir William Brereton was likewise sent to the Confines of Ʋlster, to parly with O Neal, who complained, That the League (made between the Lord Deputy Skeffington and him) was not duly observed on the English side; so after some Expostulations upon that Point, the same Agreement was re∣newed and confirmed.

And about the same time, the King, to reward the City of Waterford, for its Loyalty and firm adhesion to the Crown, sent to that City a gilt Sword, and a Cap of Maintainance.

But John, Earl of Desmond, being dead, the new Earl, James (who was a very active, or rather a turbulent man) began new Disturbances in Munster; but he was timely op∣posed by the Lord Butler, who wasted his Lands in the Coun∣ty of Limerick, and repair'd and Garrison'd the Castle of Loghguir, and it seems that the Lord Deputy came to Kil∣kenny, the twenty fourth of July, and having adjourned the Parliament,* 3.3 as aforesaid, he came to Loghguir the last of July, and the next day he went to Carrigonel, and took it the second of August; and they say, for some private Advantage, re∣delivered it to the former Owner; on the sixth of August they marched to Bryans-bridge, and took the Castles, and broke the Bridge; but by the improvidence of those in Authority, there was so great scarcity of Victuals, that a halfpeny Loaf was worth a Shilling. And within four or five days the strong Castle of Carrigonel was lost by treachery; but it was presently retaken, with the Slaughter of sixty Rebels; how∣ever, the Wants of the Army occasioned a Mutiny, so that the Soldiers refused to march for want of Pay, and the Gar∣rison of Loghguir deserted, and a thousand other Inconveni∣ences hapned,

On the twenty third of April,* 3.4 the Lord Deputy began his Expedition into Offaly, against O Connor, to revenge the Insolencies of the last year; but he was hindred by the abun∣dance of Rain that fell at that time, from doing the Execu∣tion he design'd,* 3.5 so that he was fain to end this Quarrel by a dishonourable sort of Arbitration; for although the Damages which O Connor had done, were estimated at five thousand Marks, yet the Lord Deputy compounded for eight hundred Beeves, or six shillings and eight pence apiece in lieu of them; but not long after, he attack'd the Cavenaghs and O Carol, with better Success, and forced them to submit, and give Hostages.

It seems that the Lord Deputy had new Instructions to ob∣lige all the Irish by Indenture to own the King's Supremacy, and to renounce the Popes Usurpations, and to contribute

something towards the support of the Government, and to send a Quota of Men to every Hosting; and to effect this, the Lord Deputy marched to Offaly the seventeenth of June, and on the eighteenth, encamped in O Mulmoyes Country, and took the Castle of Eglis; on the nineteenth, he took Bir and Modrimye in O Carols Country; on the twenty fourth, O Kenedy submitted to him in Ormond, and the twenty fifth, Mac Brian Arra likewise submitted. On the twenty sixth, the Lord Deputy came to Abby Owny, where O Mulrian, Ʋlick Burk of Clanrickard, and Tybot Burk Mac William made their Submissions; and so on the twenty eighth, he came to Lime∣rick, where the Mayor and Aldermen took the Oath of Su∣premacy, and swore to renounce the Bishop of Rome's usurp∣ed Authority, and the Bishop of Limerick did the like, with∣out scruple or hesitation; and Order was left for the Cler∣gy and Commonalty of that City, to follow that Example, and that Certificates of their performance be returned into Chancery: And it is observable, that here one of the O Bry∣ans made Peace for a year, and promised to do Service against his Brother Mortagh: On the fourth of July the Army came to Bryans-Bridge, and had a Skirmish with the Rebels, with∣out any Loss; and on the sixth, demolished the Castles and Bridge; and on the eighth, the Lord Deputy marched into Thomond, and took the Castles of Clare and Ballycolome; and on the ninth, he came into Clanrickard, and took the Castle of Ballyclare, and delivered it to Ʋlick Burk; and on the eleventh, he came to Galway, where the Corporation treated the Lord Deputy and all the English Soldiers gratis for seven days, and Ʋlick Burk did the like to the Irish; and the Mayor and Aldermen followed the example of Limerick, and took the Oath of the King's Supremacy, and renounced the Pope's usurped Authority: And here O Flaherty, O Maddin, and Mac Yoris made their Submissions: On the twenty first the Lord Deputy removed to O Kelly's Country, where O Connor Mac Henry submitted; and thence he went to Mac Coughlan's Country, where he took a Castle, because Mac Coughlan had not kept his Word with him; and so, on the twenty fifth, he returned to Minooth.

And it is to be noted, That all those that submitted, were bound by Indenture, as well as Oath, to own the King's Su∣premacy, and to renounce the Popes Usurpations; but when the King had an Account of what was done, be answer∣ed by his Letter to the Lord Deputy, That their Oaths, Sub∣missions and Indentures were not worth a Farthing, since they did not give Hostages, and so it afterward prov∣ed.

The Earl of Desmond mollified by the Misfortunes of the last Year,* 3.6 and fearing the Power of the Lord Deputy, who was in the Field with his Army, as I have already related, sent Letters to the Deputy, with Offers of Submission upon Terms; but the Expostulations about it, were so tedious, that the Army, for want of Provisions, was forced to re∣turn; however, Commissioners were employed to continue the Treaty, and conclude an Agreement if they could; and in order to it, they went to Clonmel; but the Earl of Des∣mond refused to come into a walled Town, insisting upon a Fantastical Priviledge which he claimed; and thereupon the Commissioners forgetting the Dignity of their Character, and the Royal Person they represented, dishonourably conde∣scended to go to Desmond's Camp, and there they took his Oath of Fidelity, and received his Bastard Son Thomas Roe, as a Hostage for his performanoe.

But now the Jealousies between the Lord Deputy and the Earl of Ossory, broke out into open Hostility, and the Deputy was so extravagantly transported, that he sent part of the Army to spoil the Territories of the Butlers; he also quar∣relled with Archbishop Brown, and Allen Master of the Rolls; and although,* 3.7 by the King's Order, their Complaints were heard, before the Council of Ireland, and the new Commis∣sioners hereafter named, and a Reconciliation made between them, at least in appearance, yet some of them stuck so close to him, that at length they procured his Ru∣ine.

But it should have been remembred, that on the first of May, Fylemy Roe submitted, and on the twelfth of May, Cavenagh, alias Mac Murrough did the like; but O Neal was so far from it, that despising the Agreement he had not long before made with the Lord Deputy, he undertook to reduce Arglass, and in order to it, sent an Army under his Son to attack that Town and Castle; but assoon as he un∣derstood the Lord Deputy was ready to take the Field, he immediately proposed a Treaty; and on the fifteenth of June, he made an Agreement with the Lord Chancellor, the Bi∣shop of Meath, and Chief Justice Ailmer, (Commissioners appointed for that purpose) and he swore to fight for the King contra omnes homines Mundi;* 3.8 and not long after died Sir Hugh O Donel, Lord of Tyrconnel, and was succeeded by his Son Manus, who was (according to Custom) inau∣gurated on the Rock near Kilmacronan Church.

But in September there came over four Commissioners, viz. Sir Anthony Saintleger, Sir George Pawlet, Sir Thomas Moyle, and Sir William Barnes; their business was to enquire into the Abettors of the late Rebellion, and afterwards to give a

General Pardon: And though they were very moderate, yet it fell heavy on many of the Pale, who were compelled to joyn with the Rebels; they had also Authority to assist the Lord Deputy and Council in setling the Revenue, and to set the Crown Lands for one and twenty Years, for a yearly Rent. It was to these Commissioners that Bernard Fitz Patrick made his Submission;* 3.9 and they indented with him, That he should be Baron of Colthil and Castleton, and have the Lands in Ʋpper Ossory granted to him at three Pound per annum: And these Commissioners caused the Earl of Kildare's Estate to be surveyed,* 3.10 and it amounted to eight hundred ninety three Pound eleven Shillings and eight Pence half Penny per annum; which was a mighty Revenue in those Days: And in the latter end of the Year, viz. the twenty second of Fe∣bruary, the Earl of Ossory was restored to the Title of Earl of Ormond, which was afterwards confirmed to that Noble Fa∣mily, by Act of Parliament, anno 1541.

On the twenty fifth of July,* 3.11 1538. the Lord of Trimlet∣stown, who was also Lord Chancellor, departed this Life, and in his stead Sir John Allen, Master of the Rolls, was first made Lord Keeper of the Great Seal, by the Lord Deputy and Council; and afterwards, on the eigteenth Day of Octo∣ber was made Lord Chancellor by the King.

In the mean time, (in the beginning of May) the Lord Deputy marched from Trim, to pursue O Reyly; but he prevented it by his Submission: And thereupon the Deputy marched against Savage, a degenerate Englishman, into Ards and Lecale, and there he took Mac Genis his Castle of Dundrum, and seven Castles more, and wasted and preyed all that Country; and which was worse, he burnt the Cathedral Church of Downe, and defaced the Monuments of the Saints, Patrick, Bridget and Columbus, and committed many other Sacriledges. And about the same time Images were every where defaced or taken away, and particularly the famous Image of the Blessed Virgin at Trim was burnt, and the Ob∣lations and Treasures, which many superstitious Votaries had offered there, were also taken and carried away.

And it seems, That whilst the Lord Deputy was engaged in the North, O Connor on the one side, and O Toole on the other, fell upon the Inhabitants of the Pale, and committed what Robberies and Depredations they pleased, and returned Home without Loss: But when the Lord Deputy came back, and understood what they had done, he resolved to be re∣venged of O Connor; and immediately invaded Ophaly, and took the Castles of Braghnal and Dingen: And in his Letter to the King, of the twelfth of August, he writes, That he forced O Carol and O Magher to give Hostages; and that O

Carol paid him three hundred Marks to redeliver his Son, and desired to take a Patent from the King for his Country; but it is not fit to grant it to him, because he is False: And that the English do now so well understand the Irishmen and Country, that if the King will send them Mony, they will manage the Irish as he Pleases. And in his Letter of the twenty first of March he acquaints the King, That Brian O Connor, submitted in the open Fild; and that he pursued Cahir O Connor, until he forced him to come to Dublin, to make his Submission there.

In the mean time the Reformation of Religion went on but very slowly in Ireland, for although Archbishop Brown was very zealous for it, yet the Primate Cromer was as industrious against it, as will appear by the following Letter, from Arch∣bishop Brown to the Lord Cromwel.

Right Honourable, and my singular good Lord,

I Acknowledge my bounden Duty to your Lordships Good-Will to me,* 4.1 next to my Saviour Christ's, for the Place I now pos∣sess; I pray God to give me his Grace to execute the same to his Glory, and his Highness's Honour, with your Lordship's Instru∣ctions. The People of this Nation be Zealous, yet Blind and Ʋnknowing: Most of the Clergy (as your Lordship hath had from me before) being Ignorant, and not able to speak right Words in the Mass or Liturgy; as being not skilled in the Latin Grammar, so that a Bird may be taught to speak with as much Sense as several of them do in this Country; these Sorts, though not Scholars, yet crafty to cozen the poor Common People, and to disswade them from following his Highness's Orders: George, my Brother of Armagh, doth under-hand occasion Quarrels, and is not active to execute his Highness's Orders in his Diocess.

I have observed your Lordship's Letter of Commission, and do find several of my Pupils leave me for so doing; I will not put others in their Livings, till I do know your Lordship's Pleasure; for it is meet I acquaint you first, The Romish Reliques and Images of both my Cathedrals, in Dublin, took off the Common People from the true Worship; but the Prior and the Dean find them so sweet for their Gain, that they heed not my Words; therefore send in your Lordship's next to me, an Order more full, and a Chide to them and their Canons, that they might be remov∣ed: Let the Order be, That the Chief Governors may assist me in it. The Prior and Dean have written to Rome, to be encou∣raged; and if it be not hindred, before they have a Mandate from the Bishop of Rome, the People will be bold, and then tug long, before his Highness can submit them to his Grace's Orders.

The country Folk here much hate your Lordship, and despitefully call you, in their Irish Tongue, The Black-Smith's Son.

The Duke of Norfolk is by Armagh and the Clergy desired to assist them, not to suffer his Highness to alter Church Rules here in Ireland. As a Friend I desire your Lordship to look to your Noble Person, for Rome hath a great Kindness for that Duke, for it is so talked here, and will reward him and his Children. Rome hath great Favours for this Nation, purposely to oppose his Highness, and so have got (since the Act passed) great Indulgen∣ces for Rebellion, therefore my Hopes are lost, yet my Zeal is to do according to your Lordship's Orders: God keep your Lordship from your Enemies here and in England.

And in May after he wrote the following Letter.

Right Honourable,

MY Duty premised: It may please your Lordship to be ad∣vertized, Sithence my last, there has come to Armagh and his Clergy, a private Commission from the Bishop of Rome, prohibiting his Gracious Highness's People, here in this Nation, to own his Royal Supremacy, and joyning a Curse to all them and theirs, who shall not within forty Days confess to their Confessors, (after the publishing of it to them) That they have done amiss in so doing; the Substance, as our Secretary hath translated the same into English, is thus,

I A. B. from this present Hour forward, in the presence of the Holy Trinity, of the Blessed Virgin, Mother of God, of S. Peter, of the Holy Apostles, Archangels, Angels, Saints, and of all the holy Host of Heaven, shall and will be always obedient to the Holy See of S. Peter of Rome, and to my Holy Lord the Pope of Rome and his Successors, in all things as well Spiritual as Temporal, not consenting in the least, that his Holiness shall lose the least Title or Dignity, belonging to the Papacy of our Mother Church, or to the Regality of S. Peter.

I do Vow and Swear to Maintain, Help and Assist the just Laws, Liberties and Rights of the Mother Church of Rome.

I do likewise promise to confer, defend and promote, if not personally, yet willingly, as in Ability able, either by Advice, Skill, Estate, Mony or otherwise, the Church of Rome and her Laws, against all whatsoever resisting the same.

I further vow to oppugn all Hereticks, either in making or setting forth Edicts or Commands, contrary to the Mother Church of Rome; and in case any such to be moved or com∣posed,

to resist it to the uttermost of my Power, with the first Convenience and Opportunity I can possible.

I count all Acts made or to be made by Heretical Powers, of no force, or to be practised or obeyed by my self, or by any other Son of the Mother Church of Rome.

I do further declare him or her Father or Mother, Brother or Sister, Son or Daughter, Husband or Wife, Unkle or Ant, Nephew or Neece, Kinsman or Kinswoman, Master or Mi∣striss, and all others, nearest or dearest Relations, Friend or Acquaintance whatsoever, accursed, that either do or shall hold, for time to come, any Ecclesiastical or Civil above the Authority of the Mother Church; or that do or shall obey, for the time to come, any of her the Mother Church's Oppo∣sers or Enemies, or contrary to the same, of which I have here sworn unto, so God, the Blessed Virgin, S. Peter, S. Paul, and the Holy Evangelists help, &c.

His Highness, the Vice-roy of this Nation, is of little or no Power with the Old Natives; therefore your Lordship will ex∣pect of me no more than I am able: This Nation is poor in Wealth, and not sufficient now at present to oppose them. It is observed, That ever since his Highness's Ancestors had this Nation in Possession, the Old Natives have been craving Fo∣reign Powers, to assist and rute them; and now both English Race and Irish begin to oppose your Lordship's Orders and do lay aside their National old Quarrels; which I fear will (if any thing will) cause a Foreigner to invade this Nation. I pray God I may be a false Prophet, yet your good Lordship must pardon mine Opinion, for I write it to your Lordship as a warning.

And about Midsummer, one Thady Birne, a Franciscan Fryer, was apprehended, and was to be sent Prisoner into England, to the Lord Privy Seal; but the cowardly Sophister being told, That he would certainly be hanged, was seized with such a pannick Fear, that he murdered himself in the Castle of Dublin, on the twenty fourth Day of July; and among other Papers the following Letter was found about him.

My Son O Neal,

THou and thy Fathers were all along faithful to the Mother Church of Rome:* 6.1 His Holiness Paul, now Pope, and the Council of the Holy Fathers there, have lately found out a Prophecy, there remaining, of one S. Laserianus, an Irish Bishop of Cashel: Wherein he saith, That the Mother Church of Rome falleth, when in Ireland the Catholick Faith is overcome: There∣fore, for the Glory of the Mother Church, the Honour of S. Peter,

and your own Secureness, suppress Heresie and his Holiness's Enemies; for when the Roman Faith there perisheth, the See of Rome falleth also. Therefore the Council of Cardinals have thought fit to encourage your Country of Ireland (as a Sacred Island) being certified, whilst the Mother Church hath a Son of Worth as your self, and those that shall succour you and joyn there∣in, that she will never fall, but have more or less a holding in Bri∣tain, in spite of Fate. Thus having obeyed the Order of the most Sacred Council, we recommend your Princely Person to the Holy Trinity of the Blessed Virgin, of S. Peter, S. Paul, and all the Heavenly Host of Heaven, Amen.

Episcopus Metensis.

And it is not to be doubted,* 6.2 but the Irish had Solicitati∣ons from many others besides the Bishop of Mets; for in the beginning of the following Year, O Neal began to de∣clare himself the Champion of the Papacy, and having en∣tred into a Confederacy with O Donel, Macgenis, Ocahane, Mac William, O Hanlon, and others, they joyntly invaded the Pale, and marched to Navan, burning that and Athirde, and all the Country as they marched, and thence they came to the Hill of Taragh, where they mustered their Army with great Ostentation; and so having taken a vast Prey, and done abundance of Mischief, they designed to return home.

But the Lord Deputy, who foresaw this Storm,* 6.3 had sent to England for Aid;* 6.4 and Sir William Brereton, who was newly returned to England, was immediately sent back with two hundred and fifty Cheshire-Men: It is reported of him, That he broke his Thigh in two Places, by a Fall from his Horse, as he was exercising his Men; and that nevertheless he was so Valiant and Zealous, that he caused himself to be halled into the Ship by Pullies, that the Succours might not be detained any longer.

In the mean time the Deputy,* 6.5 with the Forces of the Pale, and the Mayors and Citizens of Dublin and Drogheda (in May) marched to Bellahoa, where O Neal was encamped on the other side the River, they marched all Night to sur∣prize the Enemy, and came to the River by break of Day.

The valiant Baron of Slane led the forlorn (and having first substituted Robert Betoa his Standard-bearer, instead of the cowardly Robert Halfpenny, who declined the Adventure, because of the Danger) he rushed into the River, and being well seconded by Mabe of Mabestown (who was there slain) though the Inconveniencies of passing the River were very great, yet they at length got over, routed the Gallowglasses,

slew Macgenis, defeated O Neal, and recovered all the Prey of the Pale, and continued the Pursuit till Sunset.

The Deputy exceeded the rest as much in Courage as Au∣thority, and behaved himself exceeding bravely; and after the Battle knighted Chief Justice Ailmer, Talbot of Malahide, Fitz-Simons Mayor of Dublin, and Michael Cursy Mayor of Drogheda, in the Field; and well they deserved it, for their good Service in obtaining so great a Victory, which broke the Power of the North, and quitted the Borders for some Years; and yet there were not above four hundred of the Re∣bels slain.

But whilst the Deputy was in Ʋlster O Connor and O Toole made Incursions into the Pale, and though they did much Mis∣chief, yet the Country suffered more by unseasonable Wea∣ther, for the Summer was so hot, that even some Rivers were almost dried up; and the Autumn was very Sickly and Un∣wholesome; and the Winter so excessive cold, that multi∣tudes of Cattle perished by reason thereof.

And now began the Abbots and Priors upon Assurance of Pensions,* 6.6 during their respective Lives, to surrender their Abbies and other Religious Houses, to the King; it would be too tedious to give a Catalogue of all that did so; but these following should not be pretermitted, because they were Lords of Parliament.

The Abbot of

• Mellifont
• S. Thomas-Abby near Dublin
• S. Mary Abby near Dublin
• Baltinglass
• Jeripont
• Tintern in the County of Wexford
• Douske
• Tracton in the County of Cork
• Dunbrody—Dunbrodiae
• Mage alias Nenai, in the Coun∣ty of Limerick
• Wony alias Wethney, in the County of Limerick
• Rosglass alias Monaster Evan
• Bectif
• Rathto in the County of Kerry

The Priors of

• S. John of Jerusalem
• Christ-Church Dublin
• S. Peters near Trim
• Conal
• Kells in Ossory—Kenlisae
• S. Patricks in Down
• All-Saints near Dublin
• Athassel
• Killagh
• S. Marys in Louth.

In the close of the last Year,* 6.7 it happened that a Waterford-Ship, loaden with one hundred Tun of Wine, was in her re∣turn from Portugal put into Baltimore; no sooner was it heard

of, but Finil O Driscol came on Board, and very kindly invi∣ted the Merchant and Mariners on shoar, to refresh themselves at his House, after the Hardships they had suffered at Sea; they readily accepted of his Invitation, but met with another sort of entertainment than they expected; for contrary to the Rules of Hospitality, he most perfidiously kept them all Prisoners, and distributed most part of the Cargo between himself and his Followers, as he thought fit: But as soon as the Citizens of Waterford were inform'd of this Treache∣ry, they mann'd two Sips and a long Boat, and although Cap∣tain Dobins did easily recover the former Ship, and all the Goods that were left, which were about the fourth part of the whole, and all the Prisoners, yet the Citizens of Water∣ford were not contented with that, but sayl'd to Inisherkin, and took O Driscol's Castle there, and razed it to the ground, and destroyed the Island as much as they could, and thence they went to Inchypyle, which they served in the same man∣ner; and at length, after they had destroyed Baltymore, and the Country adjacent, they carried away O Driscol's best Boat, and abundance of Plunder, and returned safely to Waterford.

In the mean time,* 6.8 the King, that he might not be thought to abandon the Religion of his Ancestors, enacted in England the Bloody Law of the Six Articles, and not long after revo∣ked the Lord Deputy; who left Ireland early in the Spring, having first substituted

Sir William Brereton,* 6.9 Lord Justice, in whose time the Irish Potentates began generally and publickly to own themselves Champions of the Papacy, and to assume the specious Pre∣tences of Liberty and Religion, the better to cloak their De∣signs of Robbery and Rebellion;* 6.10 for some of them (being of a temper impatient to live as Subjects any longer than they are disabled to be Rebels) were glad of any Pretence that might seem to justifie their illegal Proceedings; and therefore many of them confederated together, and especially O Neal, O Bryan, O Donel, and O Carol, and in the begin∣ning of July appointed their Rendezvouz all four in West-Meath, in order to invade and plunder the Pale; but the Lord Justice got his small Army together, and was joyned by two thousand of the Inhabitants of the Pale, whereof many were Clergy-men, who very well knew, That what∣ever was pretended by the Irish, yet Plunder and Depreda∣tion was meant and intended; and therefore they were for∣ward and active to defend their Country; but as soon as the Rebels had notice of this Preparation (which was counted great in those days) those holy Champions dispersed their

Forces into Woods and Fastnesses; so that this terrible Bug∣bear vanished without Blows.

But the Lord Justice would not be so satisfied; for he pur∣sued O Connor into Ophaly, and made several of the Fastnesses of that Country passable for Carriages, and brought O Con∣nor to that pass, that he was forced to give his Son Cnoghor for a Hostage of his future Behaviour; but not long after, viz. on the 25th of the same Month of July,

Sir Anthony Saintleger, Knight of the Garter, Lord Deputy, was sworn (as was usual) in Christ-Church, Dublin, and the Form of his Oath is to be found in Burlace's Reduction of Ireland, pag. 106. and Ware's Annals, 157.

This Lord Deputy, by the help of Thomas Walsh, one of the Barons of the Exchequer, John Myn and William Caven∣dish, two Auditors, well vers'd in the Treasury, did bring the publick Revenue into good Order, and more to the King's advantage than ever it had been before.

But because some People have written extravagantly,* 6.11 That the Revenue in King Edward the Third's Days, amounted unto thirty thousand pounds per annum, and that the Earl of Desmond was able to expend ten thousand pounds per annum, it will not be inconvenient to give the Reader an Account both of the publick Expence and Income for one Year, during Saintleger's Government, viz. for the Year 1543.

	l.	s.	d.
The King's Mannors and Lands per annum	6069	02	07
Customs of Dublin, Droghedah, Dundalk,
and Trim,	0319	13	04
The Fee Fee-Farms of Dublin and Droghedah,	0200	00	00
P••••ty Farms, Profits and Homages,	0011	05	08
The twentieth part of the Spirituality,	0287	02	01 ½
The King's Subsidy Spiritual and Temporal	0613	08	03
	7500	11	11 ½
			(Irish Money.
Deduct 182 13 09 ½ for yearly Annuities and Proxies perpetual,
and 1131 12 06 for Judges, Clerks of Courts, Customers, Controllers, Consta∣bles of the King's Castle of Dublin, &c. and Officers of the County and Liberty of Wexford, and there remains	6186	05	08

Besides, there were some Temporary Payments to be de∣ducted, viz. 500 l. per annum, Pension to the late Prior of St John of Jerusalem, and 759 l. 3 s. 4 d. per annum, Pensions

to the Religious Persons belonging to the suppressed Monaste∣ries, &c. So that there remain'd clear to the King but 4927 l. 2 s. 4 d. For as on the one side, there were some uncertain Profits that are not included in this Computation, as Live∣ries, Wardships, First-Fruits, the Profits of the Hanaper, and the Tributes of Irishmen, and likewise the Mannor of Dungarvan, and some other small things not then setled, are not in charge; so, on the other side, there were some casual Expences for Buildings, Reparations Concordatums, Inqui∣sitions, Messengers, &c. that did more than tantamount the casual Branches of the Revenue.

The Charge of the Military List, although the Army con∣sisted of no more than three hundred seventy nine Horse, and one hundred and fifty Foot, amounted to almost eight thou∣saud Pounds, besides Artillery, and some other things that were constantly supplied from England, that is to say,

• The Lord Deputy's Retinue; A Captain at four shillings a day, a petit Captain at two shillings, and an hundred Horsemen at ninepence apiece, makes four pound, twelve shil∣lings per diem, and that is an hundred and thirteen Pound, eight shillings per mensem, and per annum—1478 05 00.
• Mr. Robert Saintleger, for the like Retinue, for a year, be∣ing thirteen months and one day,—1478 05 00.
• Master of the Ordinance his Retinue, a grand Captain, four shillings, a petit Captain, two shillings, and an hun∣dred Harquebusses (I suppose on Horseback) half at eight pence, and the other half at nine pence a day, makes three pound, sixteen shillings and ten pence per diem, and an hundred and seven pound, eleven shillings and four pence per mensem, and per annum—1402 04 02.
• Mr. Brereton's Retinue, a grand Captain, four shillings, a Captain, three shillings, a petit Captain, two shillings, and an hundred and fifty Archers at six pence apiece, is four pound four shillings per diem, and one hundred and seventeen pound, twelve shillings per mensem, and per annum 1533 00 00.
• The Knight Marshal's Retinue, a grand Captain, four shil∣lings, and twenty nine Horsemen, at nine pence a day, is one Pound eight shilling per diem, eleven Pound eighteen shillings per mensem, and per annum—0511 00 00.
• Clerk of the Cheques Retinue, ten Horsemen, at nine pence, and himself a shilling, is eight shillings six pence per diem, eleven Pounds eighteen shillings per mensem, and per an∣num,—0155 02 06
• The Treasurers Retinue, forty Horse at nine pence, and himself at six shillings and eight pence per diem, is per an∣num—0669 03 04
• The Lord Deputy's Stipend is per annum 0666 13 04
• ...

• Master of the Ordnance's Stipend per annum. 0048 13 04
• Charge of the Ordnance (besides what comes out of England) is per annum, 0040 00 00
• 7982 06 08

It seems the reason why they had so little Foot was, be∣cause the Lords and Gentlemen of the Country were bound by their Tenures to assist the King with a certain number of Men at every Hosting, or rising out (as they call it;) and as for the Artillery, it was so contemptible, that I find by one of the Letters from the Council at the Camp, that the Army had but one broken Piece, and therefore they desire another may be sent them.

But before we proceed farther in the Affairs of Ireland, it will be fit to pay that respect to the Memory of the late Lord Deputy (the Lord Grey) as to give some Account of his Misfortunes and Destiny; He had certainly performed considerable Atchievments in Ireland, and great Commenda∣tions of him are contained in most of the Letters from the Council to the King; and his Majesty did so well approve of his good Services, that he Created him Viscount Grany; and although the Earl of Ormond, the Lord Chancellor Allen, the Vice-Treasurer Brabazon, and Sir John Travers, went with him, or immediately followed him into England, to impeach him, yet he was kindly received by the King, and and carried the Sword before him on Whitsunday: Never∣theless he was in a short time after imprisoned in the Tower, and accused of very many Articles; the principal of which are these;

First, That O Connor feasted him, and mended Togher∣croghan for him; and that in favour of O Molloy, a Rebel, he took a Castle from Dermond O Molloy, whose Father-in-Law O Carol was a good Subject; for which the Lord Grey had a Bribe, and Stephen ap Harry had twenty Cows.

Secondly, That he took the Castle of Bir from a Loyal O Carol, and gave it to a Rebel O Carol, who married the Earl of Kildare's Daughter, and also took Moderhern, a Castle belong∣ing to the Earl of Ormond, and gave it to the Rebel O Carol, and wasted the Earl of Ormond's Lands: for which, he had an hundred and forty Kine, and Stephen ap Harry had forty, and Girald Mac Gerrot had a black Hackny.

Thirdly, That he took forty Kine from O Kenedy, a Te∣nant of the Earl of Ormond's and his Son for Hostage.

Fourthly, That he held secret and private familiar Cor∣respondence with James of Desmond, and went to visit him

in his Tents in his Night-Gown, and forced the Abbot of Owny to give him forty Pounds sterling to preserve that Abby from Ruine, and O Brian to give him thirty Kine and Ho∣stages; & Ʋlick Bourk, a Bastard, gave him 100 Marks to have Ballimacleere-Castle, and to be made Mac William; and that he carried the Artillery in a small Vessel to Galway, and made the Town of Galway pay thirty four Pounds for that Carriage.

Fifthly, That the Exploits at Bryans Bridge, &c. were in favour of O Bryan a Rebel, Desmond's Son-in-Law, and to the prejudice of Donough O Bryan, a good Subject; and that he took a Bribe of eighty Kine from Macnemarra.

Sixthly, That trusting Desmond and O Bryan, he hazard∣ed the King's Army in a long and dangerous Journy, where∣in Desmond quarrelled, and deserted him, and O Bryan sent but one man with a Battle-Ax to guide him.

Seventhly, That he rifled the Abby of Ballyclare, and left neither Chalice, Cross nor Bell in it.

Eighthly, That he destroyed the Castles of Lecagh and Derriviclaghny, in favour of Ʋlick Burk, though the right∣ful Proprietor offered Submission and Rent to the King.

Ninthly, That he had secret Conference with, and re∣ceived a Horse from O Connor Roe, who was the chief Instru∣ment in conveying away the young Fitz-Girald.

Tenthly, That he took eighty Kine from O Maddin, and forced O Mlaghlin's Son from Mr. Dillon, whose lawful Pri∣soner he was; for which he had seventy Kine.

And there was a Commission sent to Ireland, to examine Witnesses; and they say that these Articles were proved by the testimony of above seventy Persons; whereof some were of Quality, that is, some of them swore to one Article, and some to another; so that the Lord Grey (who was Son to the Marquess of Dorset, and Viscount Grany in Ireland, but no Peer in England) being tried by a common Jury, thought it his best way to confess the Indictment, in hopes of the King's Grace and Pardon; but in that he was mistaken; and although his Services did infinitely over-balance his Faults, yet he was publickly Executed on the twenty eighth day of July 1541.

There are four other Articles mentioned by others,* 6.12 to be laid to his Charge.* 6.13

• 1. His Partiality to his Nephew Fitz-Girald (afterwards Earl of Kildare) whom they say he might have taken.
• 2. That his Servants pillaged the Gentlemen in Munster, that entertained them.
• ...

• 3. That he had inveigled Thomas Fitz Girald to submit, by Promises which he had no Commission to perform; and that he did it, to destroy that Lord, that his own Nephew might come to be Earl of Kildare (as afterwards he did.)
• 4. His Sacrilege at Down; But however that be, it was not long after his Execution, before a Commission was di∣rected to Archbishop Brown, and Cowly Master of the Rolls, to make an Estimate or Survey of the Lord Grey's Estate in Ireland, and to deliver it to the Lord Deputy Saintleger, to be disposed of as the King shall direct.

Sir William Brereton,* 6.14 Marshal of Ireland, was sent by the Lord Deputy into Munster, to take the Submission of James Fitz-John, Earl of Desmond, and to bring him to Dublin; but the Marshal died at Kilkenny; nevertheless, the Earl, on the 16 of January came to Cahir, to Commissioners appoint∣ed for that purpose; and there he renewed his Oath of Al∣legiance, and delivered his Son Girald to be Hostage of his Loyalty, and to be bred after the English manner; and by Indenture he renounced that fantastical Privilege, which he and his Predecessors had for a long time claimed, of not be∣ing obliged to appear at the Parliament,* 6.15 or come within any walled Town, but at their own Pleasure; and by the same Indenture did utterly deny, and promise to forsake the Bishop of Rome's usurped Primacy and Authority, and Co∣venanted that he would with all his Power resist and repress the same, and all that should by any means use or maintain it; and that he would contribute and pay his share of Taxes granted by Parliament, as the Earl of Ormond and other No∣blemen do: And afterwards he did come to Dublin, and made his Submission in a set Form of Words before the Lord Deputy and Council.

And it seems that about the same time Hugh Burk made his Submission,* 6.16 and by Indenture Covenanted to pay the King forty pound per annum, for the Captainry of the Burks Country, and an hundred Mark upon every Succession of Captainry, and to find eighty Gallowglasses, and forty Horse∣men for six weeks every Hosting, and his whole Force for three days, whenever the Lord Deputy comes into the Country; and also to give Bonnagh or Maintenance for eigh∣ty Gallowglasses for six Weeks every year; and this Example was followed by many others, varying the Proportions of every mans Contribution according to their respective Cir∣cumstances.

And about the same time,* 6.17 was Coyned that Piece of Mo∣ney,* 6.18 which they call King Harry's Groat, and two-penny Pieces, and Pence of the same Stamp; and on the nine∣teenth of November they were made currant by Proclama∣tion,

and the carrying them to England, was prohibited, un∣der severe Penalties.

The Lord Deputy in the latter end of May went to Li∣merick,* 6.19 to confer with O Brian about his Submission; which I suppose, was there performed; and soon after he re∣turned to Dublin, to meet the Parliament, which was summoned to sit there on the thirteenth of June, which it accordingly did, and continued until the twentieth Day of July; and so after several Prorogations and Adjournments mentioned in the Statute Book, it was finally dissolved on the nineteenth day of November 1543.

There were present at this Parliament the Archbishops of Dublin,* 6.20 Cashel, and Tuam, and the Bishops of Waterford, Fernes, Emly and 〈◊〉〈◊〉; and to oblige the principal Gentry, the King 〈…〉〈…〉 profuse of Honour than he used to be, Enobling no less than six of them at the beginning of this Parliament, viz. Edmond Butler, Baron of Dunboyne, and Bernard Fitz-Patrick, Baron of upper Ossory, June 11. Sir Oliver Plunket, Baron of Louth, June 15. William Bir∣mingham, Baron of Carbry, June 17. John Rawson (late Prior of Kilmainham) Viscount Clantarfe, June 20. and Thomas Eustace, Viscount Baltinglass, June 29. This Parlia∣ment made several good Laws, viz.

• 1. That the King and his Successors be KINGS of Ireland, and that it be so proclaimed in every Shire in the Kingdom, and that all opposition to this Act, or to that Style or Title be Treason.
• 2. That no body shall buy Goods or Merchandizes to sell again, except in open Market or Fair, on pain of being pu∣nished as a Forestaller, except Tanners buying Hides to Tan. This Act made perpetual by 11 Eliz. c. 5.
• 3. That the Plaintiff in Assize, may abridge his Plaint.
• 4. That Consanguinity or Affinity not being within the Fifth Degree, shall be no principal Challenge against a Jury∣man.
• 5. That it shall be Felony in any Servant (Apprentices under eighteen years of Age excepted) to carry away or inbezil his Masters Goods to the value of forty shillings or upward.
• 6. That Marriages solemniz'd in the Face of the Church, and consummate with carnal Knowledge by Persons with∣out the Levitical Degrees, shall not be dissolved on any Pretence whatsoever, without Carnal Knowledge. Vide 2 Eliz. c. 1.
• ...

• 7. That because by reason of Secret Conveyances it is dif∣ficult to know the Tenant, the Lords may avow the taking of a Distress on the Land without naming the Tenant; and that the Avowant shall have Costs and Damages, if it be found for him, or the Plaintiff be nonsuit.
• 8. That all Religious Persons belonging to the dissolved Abbies and Monasteries, &c. be capacitated to Purchase, Sue, &c.
• 9. That the Justices of Peace, at their Sessions, after Easter and Michaelmas shall appoint the Wages of Artificers and Servants. Perpetuated 11 Eliz. cap. 5.
• 10. That Joynt-Tenants and Tenants in Common, may force a Partition by Writ, and either of them may have Aid of the other to deraign the Warranty Paramount, as in case of Partition between Coparceners.
• 11. That Lessees for Years (as to their term only) may falsifie covinous Recoveries, as the Tenant of the Freehold might do at Common Law; and so may Tenants, by Elegit or Statute Staple; and the Recoverers shall have the same Remedy for Wast and Rent as the Lessors might have had.
• 12. That the Impropriators and other Lay-men entituled to Tithes, may sue for them in the Spiritual Court; and that in all cases of Appeal from a Judgment for Tithes, the Appel∣lant shall pay Costs, the Adversary giving surety to refund, if it be adjudged against him on the Appeal; and upon the Certificate of the Ecclesiastical Judge, That he has given a definitive Sentence, in case of Tithes, two Justices of the Peace, whereof one to be of the Quorum, may imprison the Party, without Bail or Mainprise, until he give sufficient Security to obey the Sentence; and that all such Writs and Re∣medies, as Fines, Writs of Dower, &c. shall as well be had for Tithes, &. as for Lands, by any Person that has a Temporal Interest therein; only the Suit for substraction of Tithes must still be prosecuted in the Spiritual Court.
• 13. That the Purchaser of a Signiory or Reversion, by common Recovery, may distrain or avow without Attorn∣ment, and that all Avowants may recover Costs and Damage, if the Plaintiff be barred in his Action.
• 14. An Act to enable Commissioners (therein named) to to erect Vicaridges, &c.
• 15. An Act against Idlers and Vagabonds; which (had it been well executed) would have reformed Ireland long agone: for most of the Mischiefs that have happened to that Kingdom, either in War or Peace, have proceeded from such loose Fellows, as were punishable, and might have been re∣formed by the Statutes against Idlers, Rogues and Vaga∣bonds.

And at another Sessions of this Parliament, begun at Lime∣rick, the fifth of February 1541. (and not 1542 as the print∣ed Statutes make it) a former Act (restraining the Parlia∣ment from sitting any where but at Dublin or Tredagh, or from Proroguing or Adjourning above twice; or from admit∣ing any Knight, Citizen or Burgess to sit, unless he were re∣sident at the Place of Election, and had a Freehold of forty Shillings per annum (the Town of Drogheda excepted) was repealed; and in lieu of it this Parliament enacts,

• I. That Electors in Counties must have Freehold worth forty Shilling per annum, ultra reprizas, on pain of one hun∣dred Shillings; and that the elected in Counties, Cities or Towns must be resident; and the Sheriff shall forfeit one hundred Pound if he makes a Return contrary to this Act, and the Party one hundred Pound more.
• II. That on the Death, Absence or Resignation of the chief Go∣vernour, the Chancellor shall issue Writs to all the Privy-Coun∣sellors, in the Counties of Dublin, Meath, Louth, Kildare, Kilken∣ny, Typerary, Wexford, Waterford, Cork, Kerry and Limerick; and they being assembled, shall chuse a Lay-man of English Birth, to be chief Governour during the King's Pleasure; and if no such Man fit for the Place can be got, then the Council shall chuse two Lay Persons of English Blood, and sirname to be Lords Justices, to whom the Lord Chancellor shall administer the Oath, and give Patents. Note, this Statute recites, That the former Act (already mentioned 10 Hen. 7. That in these Cases the Lord Treasurer should be chief Governour) was repealed 13 Hen. 7. although the Roll be lost; but whether it be so or not, is not worth the Enquiry.
• III. An Act touching mispleading and Jeofailes.
• IV. That although all Estates are forfeitable for Treason, yet because several of the Nobility lately created, and others whom the King designs to enoble, are very ignorant in the Knowledg of the Duty of a Subject (they are the Words of the Act) to the end they may not pretend Ignorance, it is enacted, That if any Person confederate with the King's Re∣bels against his Majesty, or attempt any wilful War or Inva∣sion against his Subjects, or do transgress their Allegiance in any treasonable manner, or do break their voluntary Pacts or Covenants, made at the time of the King's Grant, that then being convict thereof, they shall forfeit all the Benefit and Effect of the King's Patents; and for the time to come, there shall be a conditional Clause inserted into every Patent to that effect.
• V. An Act for the suppression of Kilmainham and other Re∣ligious Houses.

And in a 3d Session of this Parliament held at Dublin, on Mon∣day

next after the Feast of All saints, anno Dom. 1542, and 34 Hen. 8. it was enacted,

First, That Meath be divided into two Shires, viz. Meath and West Meath.

Secondly, That Persons bound by Recognisance to appear in any Court, shall be excused if they are in the King's Service; and if their Recognisance be estreated, they shall be discharg∣ed by Writ, giving a new Bond for their Appearance at ano∣ther Day.

And at another Session of this Parliament at Dublin, the seventeenth Day of April, 1543, it was enacted, That the Castle and Mannor of Dungarvan should be united to the Crown.

And although all these Acts were Seasonable and very Good for that time, yet there was not any one of them was of more Advantage to the Crown, or that pleased the King better, than that of making him King of Ireland; for though it is manifest (as the Act mentions) that the Kings of England did always enjoy Regal Authority and Jurisdiction in Ireland, under the Stile and Name of Lords; yet the Irish did not pay that Reverence to the Name of Lord, as they did to the Name of King, or at least those that were traiterously disposed did make use of the distinction between Lord & King,* 6.21 to deceive and inveigle the Common People, as hath been al∣ready related: And therefore it being believed, That this Statute would suppress and silence all those trifling Objections and Pretences, there was exceeding Joy at the Publication of it in Dublin; which was performed with great Solemnity at S. Patrick's Church, in the presence of the Lord Deputy, the Earls of Ormond and Desmond, and others of the Nobility, in their Parliament Robes, and several of the Bishops and Clergy; and the same Day a General Pardon was given to all Criminals, and after much Feasting and Drinking, and other Expressions of Joy, the Ceremony was concluded with Bonfires.

And because some of these Laws were not practicable in Munster, which was not so much inured to Civility as the Pale and those Countries near Dublin; and where the use of the Laws of England (except in some Cities and Towns, where it was also much corrupted) had been discontinued for almost two hundred Years: The Lord Deputy and Counsel (in magno Parliamento) did publish certain temporary Con∣stitutions, Pro reformatione inhabitantium hujus Regni in par∣tibus Momoniae qui nondum sic sapiunt Leges &. Jura, ut secun∣dum ea jam immediate vivere aut Regi possunt; and they were notified to the Subject by way of Proclamation, the twelfth of July 1542, and were as followeth,

• 1. That King Henry be received and called King of Ireland.
• 2. That Bishops may exercise their Jurisdiction in their Diocess, according to the Law of God and the Canons.
• 3. That Laymen nor Boys be not admitted to Ecclesiasti∣cal Preferments; and that such as be in already, shall be im∣mediately deprived.
• 4. That the Demesnes of Bishops, and the Gleabs of Rectors and Vicars, not exceeding ten Marks per annum, be exempt and priviledged from Taxes.
• 5. That all those who have Dignities or Benefices Ecclesi∣astical, shall take Orders and Reside.
• 6. That a General Peace be proclaimed throughout Mun∣ster, and afterwards he that commits Murder or Robbery shall be fined forty Pound, half to the King and half to the Lord of the Fee.
• 7. That Larceny above the value of fourteen Pence, shall be punished with the loss of one Ear the first time, and tother Ear the second time, and the third time with Death.
• 8. No Horseman shall keep more Garsons or Boys than Horses, on pain of twenty Shillings.
• 9. That every Father shall answer for his Children, Ma∣ster for his Servants, Gentleman for his Followers, and Bro∣ther for his Brethren under his Tuition, and shall give in a List of them.
• 10. That every Kerne that has not a Master that will an∣swer for him, be taken as a Vagabond.
• 11. That there be no more Exactions to maintain Horse or Foot, or Kernes, or to war against one another; and that no more Coyne or Livery be taken, but by the Deputies Order, at a General Hosting.
• 12. That nevertheless the Captain of the County must have the usual Contribution of the Country, for the Publick and his own private Defence.
• 13. That Petty Larceny be punished by a Fine of three Pound six Shilling and eight Pence, whereof forty Shillings shall be paid to the Captain or Lord of the County, and twenty Shillings to the Tanist, si non est particeps criminis, and six Shillings and eight Pence to the Informer.
• 14. That no Man buy Goods above the Value of five Shil∣lings, from any suspected Person, at his Peril, if they prove to be stolen.
• 15. Depopulatores agrorum & spoliatores per viam, and Rape, shall be punished with Death without Mercy.
• 16. That no Man shall meddle with any Ecclesiastical Of∣ficer or Benefice, but pay all their Tithe punctually, and half Tithe of the Fish taken by Foreigners on the Coast.
• ...

• 17. That Noblemen shall have but twenty Cubits or Bandles of Linnen in their Shirts, Horsemen eighteen, Footmen six∣teen, Garsons twelve, Clowns ten; and that none of their Shirts shall be dyed with Saffron, on pain of twenty Shil∣lings.
• 18. That the Lord or Gentleman into whose Country a Theft is traced, must trace it thence or make restitution.
• 19. No Histriones, Mummers or Players at Christmas or Easter.

Lastly, The Earl of Ormond in the Counties of Waterford, Typerary and Kilkenny, and the Earl of Desmond in the rest of Munster are made Custodes & Executores of these Ordinances, with the Assistance of the Bishop of Cashel.

But we must not leave the Year 1541,* 6.22 until we have in∣formed the Reader, That Robert Wachop, titular Archbishop of Armagh, (who is famous for riding Post the best of any Body in Christendom, although he was blind from his Cradle) did this Year introduce the Jesuites into Ireland, by the Fa∣vour and Countenance of Pope Paul the third: John Codur, was the first of the Society that went thither, and was fol∣lowed by Alphonsus Salmeron, Paschasius Broet and Francis Zapata; and the observing Reader will easily perceive the dismal and horrible Effects of that Mission, which hath ever since imbroiled Ireland, even to this Day.

But the King to obviate the Designs of the Papacy, and to assert his own Supremacy, which was his Right by Common Law, and was also declared and established by Act of Par∣liament, caused all the Irish that submitted to him, to re∣nounce the Pope's Usurpations, and to own the King's Su∣premacy by Indenture, O Connor and O Dwyn or Dyn, were two of the first that complied with this Form; and their Ex∣ample was followed by O Donel; who by his Indenture (of the sixth of August,* 6.23 33 Hen. 8) Covenants, Quod renunci∣abit, relinquet & adnihilabit proposse suo usurpatam Authorita∣tem & Primaciam Romani Ponti••icis, sibi adherentes nullo mo∣do acceptabit proteget aut defendet; nec in patria sua illos aut aliquem illorum permittet, sed omni industria & diligentia illos & quemlibet illorum expellet, ejiciet & eradicabit, aut ad sub∣jectionem dicti Domini Regis & successorum suorum coercebit & constringet: Brian mac Mahon did the like the fourteenth of August: And in January O Neal came to Minooth, and did the same: the thirteenth of May O More perfected his Indenture: And on the twenty fourth of May,* 6.24 34 H. 8. Hugh O Kelly, Abbot of Knockmoy, surrendred that Abby, and made his submission by Indenture in the Form aforesaid; Moreover he covenanted to furnish the King with sixty Horse, and a Battle of Gallo∣glasses and sixty Kern, when the Lord Deputy comes to Con∣naught,

and with twelve Horse and twenty four Kerne, any∣where out of Connaught, and so that Abby was granted to him during Pleasure. O Rourk submitted the first of Septem∣ber; and Mac Donel and Mac William did the like the eigh∣teenth of May 1543. But because all these Indentures are to be found registred in the Red Book of the Privy Council of Ireland, I will trouble the Reader only with the Substance of one of these Indentures, by which he may easily guess at the rest.

HAec Indent.* 6.25 fact. 26. die Septembris, 34 Hen. 8. inter pre∣nobil, Vir. Ant. Saintleger, Jacobum Comit. Desmoniae Will. Brabazon Arm, thesaur. ad Guerras & Subthesaur. Reg. Hiberniae, Johannem Travers Armig. magistr. ordinatium, & Osborn. Ech∣ingham milit. mariscallum, &c. ex una parte, & Dom. Barry, alias Great Barry, Mac Cartymore, Dom. de Rupe, alias Lord Roch, Mac Carthy Reagh, Thadeum Mac Cormock Dom. de Mu∣s••ry, Barry Oge, alias the young Barry, O Sullevan Bear. suae Nation. Capit. Donald. O Sullevan suae Nation. Primum, Bar∣ry zoe, alias the Red Barry, Mac Donough de Allow suae Nation. Capit. Donaldum O Callaghane Nationis suae primum, & Geraldum filium Johannis milit. ex altera parte, Testatur, Quod predict. Dominus Barry, &c. conveniunt, concedunt, con∣sentiunt, & pangunt pro seipsis conjunctim & divisim, haered. successor. assignat. Tenent. & sequacibus suis, ad & cum dicto Deputat. &c. quod tenebunt & perimplebunt omnes & singul. Ar∣ticulos, conventiones, pacta & condiciones quae in hiis Indentur. continentur ex parte eorum, &c.

Imprimis, Ipsi & quilibet eor. recognoscit Regiam Majestat. predict. haeredes & successores suos (Reges) esse Naturalem & ligeum Dom. suum illum{que} & illos secundos post Deum honorabunt illis{que} obedient & servient contra omnes creaturas mundi. Ac suam Majestatem haeredes & successores (Reges) acceptabunt & & tenebunt immediate sub Christo in terris Ecclesiae Anglicanae & Hibernicanae supremum Caput, illius & illor. locum tenent. Deput. & vicem gerent. in hoc Regno Hiberniae obedient & inservient in omnibus servitium suae Majestatis haered. & successor. (Regum) concernentibus.

Et quantum in illis conjunctim divisim aut assignat. illor. est vel fuit, usurpator. primaciam & authoritatem Romani Episcopi, adnihillabunt omnes{que} suos Fautores, Adjutores & Suffragatores ad sum. posse illor precipitabunt & abolebunt, atque personas spiritual. & temporal. quae promoventur ad ecclesiastica beneficia sive dignitat. per Regiam Majestatem seu alios de jure patronos (tantum abs{que} aliqua provisione fienda & dicto Episc. Rom.) ma∣nutenebunt supportabunt & defendent, & ex hinc omnes & singules Provisores & alia Rom. pro promotione petentes & confugientes

apprehendent & producent ad Reg. commun. legem ib. judiciari & rectari secundum statut. & ordination. pro similibus casibus facta & fienda.

The Second Covenant is, To submit all their Controversies to the Determination of the Bishops of Waterford, Cork and Ross, the Mayors of Cork and Youghal, Suffrain of Kingsale, Philip Roch Esq William Walsh Esq the Dean of Cloyne, or any three of them, quorum Desmond to be one; and the like is in other Provinces, mutatis mutandis.

The Third is, About their future Controversies, to be de∣cided by the Earl and the said Bishops or two of them, quorum Desmond to be one, and they may fine or amerce Wrong-doers; of which Fine the King shall have one third, and the Judges the rest.

The Fourth is, That if the Case be too difficult for the Com∣missioners, it shall be determined by Justices of Assize, and no Force shall be used nor Peace broken, on Pain of a Fine.

The Fifth is, That they shall help and defend the Collectors of the King's Revenue.

The Sixth is, To obey the Ordinances made by the Nobility, and annexed to the Indenture (which probably were the Ordinances already mentioned).

The Seventh Article is, That if any of their Followers break the Peace, they will prosecute and pursue him till he make amends.

And the Eighth is, That they will not exact any Black Rents for the future from the Inhabitants of Cork, Youghal or King∣sale.

And it seems that about this time Commissioners were ap∣pointed in every Province, to decide the Controversies in∣stead of Brehons, viz. in Connaught, the Bishops of Tuam and Clonfert, and the Captains Wakely and Ovington, in Munster the Bishops of Cork and Waterford, and the Mayors of Cork and Youghal, and in Ʋlster the Archbishop of Armagh and Lord of Louth.

And it is to be noted,* 6.26 That these Submissions were so uni∣versally made, all over the Kingdom, that there was not a Lord or Chieftain of any note in Ireland but submitted in this or the like Form, for they made no scruple to renounce the Pope, when once they had resolved to obey the King: And by these Means the Kingdom was so quiet, and there was so great a Prospect of a Settlement, that several of the Principal Lords of the Irish took Patents for their Estates, and desired Titles of Honour, according to the Law of England, which hitherto they had despised: But, alass, Ireland is an unfor∣tunate Country, that cannot be happy any considerable time, and notwithstanding these dawnings of Felicity, it must ex∣pect

nothing but War and Desolation; and this fourth gene∣ral Submission of the Irish will be as vain and ineffectual as the other three, and will manifest to the World, That that Kingdom is not to be governed by Kindness but by Force: But let us not anticipate our Misery by dreadful Prognostica∣tions of War, but rather enquire into the management of Affairs, during the short interval of Peace.

And first, we shall find the great O Neal, in September, sailing toward England, accompanied with the Bishop of Clogher, and attended with many Gentlemen, his Followers: He came to the King at Greenwich, where he was well receiv∣ed; and having surrendred his Estate to the King and cove∣nanted,

• 1. To renounce the Name of O Neal.
• 2. That he he and his Followers should use English Habit, Language and Manners.
• 3. That their Children should learn English.
• 4. That they should build Houses and husband their Land in English manner.
• 5. That they should obey English Laws, and not Cess their Tenants, nor keep more Gallowglasses than the Lord Deputy allows. And,
• 6. That they should answer all general Hostings, as those of the Pale do, and shall not succour any of the King's Ene∣mies.

On the first of October, his Estate was regranted to him by Patent, and he was created Earl of Tyrone for Life, with re∣mainder to his Son Matthew (who for the present was made Baron of Dunganon) in Tayl, and two of his Followers (Denis and Art Mac Genis) were knighted, and the Bishop of Clogher was confirmed; and the Earl after his return, was on the seventh Day of May sworn one of the Privy Council of Ireland.

In like manner the Earl of Desmond, pursuant to his Pro∣mise, repaired into England, where he was graciously re∣ceived; and having made his Submission, he returned, with Orders likewise to be of the Privy Council.

In the mean time the Lord Deputy, on the twenty fourth Day of May made an Order of Agreement between the Mac∣genis's; and did the like between the O Carols, on the second of July: And on the fourth of July the O Birnes did submit by Indenture, and granted the Town and Castle of Wicklow to the King; and also surrendred to his Majesty the Castle of Mac Eningham, and all spiritual Livings in their Possession:* 6.27 They also covenanted to find one hundred and twenty Gal∣lowglasses and their Servants for three Months, when the Counties of Carlow and Kildare do so, and twelve Horse

and twenty four Foot at every Hosting, and to raise their whole Force, and keep them three days on any emergency: And it is allowed by the Deputy, that O Birn shall have twenty four Kerns, called Kerne Tee, for this year, at the Charge of the Country, as is usual; wherewith he pro∣mises to aid the Sheriff; and if O Birn misbehave himself, the Lord Deputy may give the Kerns next year to whom he pleases: And 'tis agreed, That no body shall keep Idlers but in his own House; and concludes, Quod si posthac ad mo∣rem Hibernicorum resilierit, vel cum Hibernicis & aliis susurra∣verit, confederaverit, vel consentierit impedire vel obstare Re∣formationi Hiberniae, quam Dominus Rex intendit, that then they will forfeit all. And it seems, that at the same time they proposed to have their Country made a County,* 6.28 by the Name of the County of Wicklow; and that in consideration thereof, they would divide it into eight Plow-Lands, and pay ten Groats per annum, for ever to the King out of each Plow-Land.

On the 19th of November, Thomas Butler was made Ba∣ron of Cahir, and in the beginning of the next year Maurice O Bryan,* 6.29 and Ʋlick Burk, induced by the Example and Suc∣cess of the Earl of Tyrone, went to wait upon the King in England,; and having made their Submissions, and sur∣rendred their Estates, O Brian obtained a Grant of all his Lands in Thomond, and all the Abbies and Patronage of Be∣nefices in the King's Gift within his Precincts, to him and his Heirs Males; and he was made Baron of Insiquine, to him and his Heirs, and Created Earl of Thomond for Life, with a remainder to Donough O Bryan and his Heirs for ever; who, for the present was made Baron of Ibracane, (but whether this Donough were Nephew or Natural Son of the Earl's, is not very plain.) This Lord of Ibrahcan had also an Annuity of twenty Pounds per annum granted to him in Tail, and the Abby of Insula Canonicorum, and half the Abby of Clare; and the King bore the Earl of Thomond's Charges, and gave him an Order to be of the Privy Coun∣cil.

As for Ʋlick Burk, he had likewise his Charges born, and was Created Earl of Clanrickard, and his Estate was re∣granted to him, and the Abbies and Patronage of all Bene∣fices within his Precincts: The Cocquets of Galway were excepted in the Patent, but in lieu of them, the Earl had a Pension of thirty Pound per annum, and the third part of the First-Fruits, and the Abby of Via Nova or Confert.

And about the same time, the Lord of Upper Ossory ob∣tain'd a Grant for Fairs and Markets, and the House of the Friars at Haghevo, and the Monastery of Hackmacart, and to

each of these four Noblemen,* 6.30 viz. the Earls of Desmond, Ty∣rone, Thomond and Clanrickard, the King gave a House and a Parcel of Land near Dublin, to encourage them to make their Appearance frequently at Court.

And it is to be noted,* 6.31 That many times the chief Govern∣ors of Ireland, instead of Risings out and Carriages to a ge∣neral Hosting, did coss the Country, or tax it to find so much Mony as would maintain a certain number of men three Months, and accordingly, in July this Year, the Counties of Kilkenny, Waterford, Typerary and Wexford were ordered to levy Maintenance for two hundred and forty Kerns for three Months; which came to no more than two hundred and four Pounds, thirteen Shillings and four Pence; whereby one may perceive that the Tax was easie enough, but the Grievance was in the irregular Assessments, and the oppres∣sive manner of levying it.

The French King, by his Ambassador Theobald de Boys, tempted O Donel with Offers of Money and Arms, to make an Insurrection, but he could do little of himself, and it was too soon to seduce others, after such solemn and formal Sub∣missions so lately made; and so that Negotiation had little or no effect; but in February the Lord Deputy was recalled, to give the King an Account of his Administration of Affairs in Ireland; and

Sir William Brabazon was sworn Lord Justice in his stead;* 6.32 his Patent bears date the twelfth of October, 35 Hen. 8. To this Lord Justice new Seals were sent, because of the Alte∣ration of the King's Stile, from LORD, to KING of Ireland, and the old Seals were sent back to England.

The Lord Justice,* 6.33 by the King's Orders, sent him seven hundred Men to Calice, under the Command of the Captains Poer, Finglass and Skurlock; they were very serviceable to the King at Bulloign, and did much Mischief to the French; for being light of foot,* 6.34 they would often range twenty or thirty Mile into the Country, and as they returned, would burn and spoil where-ever they came: They had a pretty Trick to get a Prey; which was to tie a Bull to a Stake, and set fire about him, and as the Fire scorched him, the Bull would bellow, and thereupon, all the Cattel within hearing, of him, would flock that way, and so were taken. These Irish∣men would never give Quarter, and therefore, whensoever the Frenchmen took any of them, they gelded them, and otherwise tormented them exceedingly. After the Surren∣der of Bulloign, a large Frenchman on the other side of the Haven, braved and defied the English Army; whereupon, one Nicholas Walsh did swim over the River, and cut off the Frenchmans Head, and brought it back over the River in

his Mouth; for which bold Action he was bountifully re∣warded.

Sir Anthony Saintleger,* 6.35 being for his good Services made Knight of the Garter, returned Lord Deputy, and found the Kingdom quiet; and he made it his Business to keep it so: which he effectually accomplished, by imprisoning two or three turbulent People, and by taking Indentures and Ho∣stages from those he suspected.

And this Lord Deputy knowing it was the only way to keep the Kingdom in peace,* 6.36 made it his Business to break the Dependencies of the Irish, and to that end, upon all Refe∣rences to him, he took care that the weaker Party might de∣pend on the Government for Protection, and that he should not rely upon, nor be under the Subjection of any other; and particularly, on the fourteenth of July, he made an Award, or final Order between the Earl of Tyrone and O Donel; whereby O Donel was freed from depending on O Neal, any farther than that he still continued obliged to pay a yearly Rent of sixty Beeves to O Neal, for the Island of Inisowen; and it so hapned that the very next year O Neal invaded Tyr∣conel, because that Rent was not paid; whereupon, there was another Reference to the Government, and a new Peace was made between them, Aug. 24, 1546. In the mean time, the Earl of Lenox,* 6.37 who fled out of Scotland, was kindly receiv∣ed by King Henry, and married his Neece, was by the King sent into Ireland, to levy an Army, to recover his Inheritance in Scotland; he came to the Deputy at Kilmainham, where he lived, and being effectually recommended by the King, he was so kindly received, and his Business so heartily fol∣lowed, that by the middle of November, he had raised fif∣teen hundred Men, under the Command of Sir John Travers Master of the Ordnance; to whom the Earl of Ormond joyn∣ed as many of his own Followers, and was himself General of the Army: They set Sail for Scotland in twenty eight Ships; but the Levity of their Confederates in Scotland, or the Power of Duke Hamilton, disappointed this Design; for not being able to gain Dunbritton-Castle, which was promi∣sed to be delivered up to them, and finding a potent Army ready to encounter them, instead of Friends, which they ex∣pected to embrace them, and being shattered by a violent Storm, the Irish were necessitated to return home re in∣fecta.

In the mean time,* 6.38 on the Nineteenth of October, died Ʋ∣lick Earl of Clanrickard, whereupon a great Contest arose between his Sons about the Title and Inheritance, because the Earl's first Wife, Grany O Carol (Mother of the Earl's Eldest Son, Richard Burk) had been formerly married to

O Mlaghlin, who was still living, and undivorced, as was alledged, and she being still alive, the Earl married Honora Burk, and was afterwards divorced from her, and mar∣ried Mary Linch, Mother of John Burk, Grany the first Wife being still living: But the Earl of Ormond and other Commis∣sioners (sent by the Lord Deputy and Council to settle this Affair) soon determined the Matter, and finding that the pretended Marriage with O Mlaghlin, could not be proved▪ they adjudged Grany to be the Earl's true Wife, and placed her Son Richard Burk in the Earldom and Estate of his Fa∣ther, according to the Law of England; and because he was under Age, they made Ʋlick Burk Captain of the Country, during his good Behaviour, and the Minority of the Earl.

But now the Spirit of Rebellion had again seized the Irish,* 6.39 and O Neal, O Donel, O Dogharty, and one Callock, had made some Overtures to the French King, about assistance to ma∣nage an Insurrection; and they proposed to him, to become his Subjects, and to shake off the Yoke of England, provi∣ded he would procure the Pope's Gift of Ireland, and send two thousand Harquebusses, two hundred Light Horsemen, and four Canon, to their assistance: The French King thought the Offer so considerable, that he sent over John de Monluck, Bishop of Valence, his Ambassador to Ireland, to learn the Truth of their Circumstances, and to certifie the King what probability there was of Success, if he should engage in that Affair.

The Bishop arrived at Loghfoyle on Shrovetuesday, and the next day was by O Dogharty carried to his House, which was a great dark Tower; there the Bishop found bad Enter∣tainment, and was forced to be contented with Herrings, and Bisket, and such like Lenten Fare, which was the best the House afforded.

The Bishop had a Months Mind to O Dogharty's Daughter, which two English Fryers observing, to prevent any Abuse of the Damsel, they procur'd as good a Bed-fellow for the Am∣bassador, though she was of meaner Quality, this Liquo∣rish Harlot unfortunately met with a small Bottle of choice Balm, valued at two thousand Crowns, which was given to the Bishop (by Solyman the Magnificent) when he was Ambassador in Turky, she was invited by its Odour to try its Relish, and it seems liked it so well, that she licked it all out; whereat the Bishop grew so outragious and loud, that he discovered his Debauchery, frightned the Woman away, and made sport for the Irishmen and his own Ser∣vants.

After this, the Bishop met with O Neal, and the Titular Primate (Robert Wachop) in a secret place, and heard the

Over••ures of them and their Confederates; and it is not to be doubted, but they came to an Agreement, because the Bishop soon after went to Rome, but being unable to sepa∣rate the Pope from the Interests of the Emperor, this Nego∣tiation had no effect.

In the mean time, two of the Cavenaghs, viz. Cahir Mac Art, of Polmonty, and Girald Mac Cahir, of Garochil, had fierce Contests about their Territory; at length it came to a Battel, as it were by consent, and about an hundred on each side were slain; but Cahir Mac Art had the better of it, and finally obtain'd that Signiory.

But the Exchequer being empty, the Lord Deputy de∣signed to levy a Tax upon the People, but the Earl of Ormond would by no means suffer that;* 6.40 whereupon the difference grew so high between him and the Lord Deputy, that at last it came to mutual Impeachments; whereupon, both of them were sent for to England, and by the King's Mediation were reconciled, whilst the ambodexter Allen was imprison'd in the Fleet, and deprived of the Great Seal, and Sir Thomas Cusack was made Lord Keeper; and not long after, viz. about the twenty eighth day of October, the Earl of Ormond, and thirty five of his Servants were poyson'd at a Feast at Ely-House in Holborn, so that he and sixteen of them died; but whether this hapned by Accident or Mistake, or were done designedly, could not be discovered.

Sir William Brabazon was sworn Lord Justice on the first of April,* 6.41 although his Patent bore Date the sixteenth of February:* 6.42 In his time hapned a strange and unnatural Acti∣on; for Bryan, Lord of Upper Ossory, sent his own Son Teige Prisoner to Dublin, where he was executed; and in July, Patrick O More and Bryan O Connor with joint Forces invaded the County of Kildare, and burnt Athy; but the Lord Justice immediately pursued them, and leaving a Garrison at Athy, he marched into Offaly, and made a Fort at Dingen (now Philipstown) and forced O Connor to fly into Connaught.

But the Necessities of the State obliged the King to Coyn Brass or mixt Moneys, and to make it currant in Ireland by Proclamation, to the great dissatisfaction of all the People, especially the Soldiers, and about the same time Edward Basnet, Dean of St. Patrick's in Dublin, and the Chapter, af∣ter some Reluctancy, surrendred their Possessions to the King.

Three Things are observable in the Letters during this King's Reign.

• 1. None of them do mention either the Year of our Lord, or the Year of the King's Reign; though all of them do take

• notice of the Day of the Month, whereby this Part of the History was so perplex'd and confus'd, that I will not promise that I have always guess'd the time aright, though I have used my utmost diligence and endeavours to do so.
• 2. All the Letters of this Reign conclude thus, So knoweth God, to whom we pray for your Graccs Prosperity; or to that effect; but these Words (So knoweth God) are always in; although in the subsequent Words, there is some Variation, according to the Fancy of the Writer.
• 3. Most of the Letters from the great Irish Lords (even some of English Extraction) are subscribed with a Mark, very few of thembeing able to write their Names.

Sir Anthony Saintleger, Lord Deputy, returned on the sixteenth day of December, with Sir Richard Read, who was made Lord Chancellor in the room of Cusack; and Cusack was made Master of the Rolls. And thus stood the Govern∣ment of Ireland, during the Reign of King Henry the Eighth, who Died on the twenty eighth day of January, in the thir∣ty eighth Year of his Reign, and of his Age, the fifty sixth.

Notes

• * 1.1

  April, 22. 1509.
• * 1.2

  1510.
• * 1.3

  Ware's An∣nals, 87.
• * 1.4

  1511.
• * 1.5

  1512.
• * 1.6

  H••••ingshead, 82.
• * 1.7

  1513.
• * 1.8

  Spelm. Glos. 334.
• * 1.9

  1514.
• * 1.10

  1515.
• * 1.11

  Ware, 92.
• * 1.12

  Ware, 93.
• * 1.13

  1516.
• * 1.14

  Ware, 95.
• * 1.15

  1517.
• * 1.16

  1518.
• * 1.17

  Ware, 54. places this Anno 1597. but is mista∣ken.
• * 1.18

  Holingsh. 84.
• * 1.19

  March 17.
• * 1.20

  1519.
• * 1.21

  Ware, 98.
• * 1.22

  1520.
• * 1.23

  Lib. CCC.
• * 1.24

  1521.
• * 1.25

  Ware's An∣nals, 104.
• * 1.26

  Lib. CCC.
• * 1.27

  Ibid.
• * 1.28

  Lib. H. Lam∣beth.
• * 1.29

  Ware's Annals 104, says Mac Carty Riagh, but is mista∣ken.
• * 1.30

  January, 1521 Lib. H.
• * 1.31

  February.
• * 1.32

  1522.
• * 1.33

  Lib. H.
• * 1.34

  1523.
• * 1.35

  1524.
• * 1.36

  Lib. H.
• * 1.37

  1525.
• * 1.38

  Ware, 118.
• * 1.39

  1526.
• * 1.40

  Lib. CCC.
• * 1.41

  Speed, 775.
• * 1.42

  Speed, 775.
• * 1.43

  Ware, 119.
• * 1.44

  1527.
• * 1.45

  1528.
• * 1.46

  Ware says 1527.
• * 1.47

  Baker says, 1529.
• * 1.48

  Selden's Tit. of Honour, 840.
• * 1.49

  1528.
• * 1.50

  Ware's An∣nals, 121.
• * 1.51

  Ware, 122.
• * 1.52

  1529.
• * 1.53

  Ware, 125.
• * 1.54

  1530.
• * 1.55

  1531.
• * 1.56

  Davis, 105.
• * 1.57

  Sullevan, 77.
• * 1.58

  July 5. 1532.
• * 1.59

  Ware's An∣nals, 130.
• * 1.60

  Lib. 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.61

  Ware, 131.
• * 1.62

  1534.
• * 1.63

  Holingsh. 88.
• * 1.64

  1534.
• * 1.65

  Holingshead, 90.
• * 1.66

  Ibid.
• * 1.67

  Holingsh. 91.
• * 1.68

  Sullevan, 78.
• * 1.69

  Holingsh. 9••.
• * 1.70

  Holingshead, 88
• * 1.71

  1535.
• * 1.72

  Lib. H. Lam∣beth.
• * 1.73

  Lib. CCC. 85.
• * 1.74

  1535.
• * 1.75

  Lib. H.
• * 1.76

  Holingshead, 99.
• * 1.77

  Analecta Hib. Sullevan, Cath. Hist. 71.
• * 1.78

  Ware, de Prae∣sulibs.
• * 1.79

  Bish. Brown's Life.
• * 2.1

  Septemb. 4. 1535.
• * 2.2

  1536.
• * 2.2.1

  Lib. H.
• * 2.3

  4 Inst. 354.
• * 3.1

  Bish. Brown's Life, 7.
• * 3.2

  Lib. H.
• * 3.3

  Lib. D.
• * 3.4

  1537.
• * 3.5

  Ware, 147.
• * 3.6

  Ware, 147.
• * 3.7

  Lib. D.
• * 3.8

  Ibid.
• * 3.9

  October 8.
• * 3.10

  Lib. H.
• * 3.11

  1538.
• * 4.1

  April 8. 1538.
• * 6.1

  Life of Bi∣shop Brown, 11.
• * 6.2

  Ware, 151.
• * 6.3

  1539.
• * 6.4

  Holingsh. 101.
• * 6.5

  Ibid.
• * 6.6

  Ware, 152.
• * 6.7

  Ware, 154,
• * 6.8

  Ware, 155.
• * 6.9

  1540.
• * 6.10

  Ware, 156.
• * 6.11

  Present State of Ireland, 12.
• * 6.12

  Holingsh. 102.
• * 6.13

  Ware, 162.
• * 6.14

  1540.
• * 6.15

  Lib. D.
• * 6.16

  Ibid.
• * 6.17

  Lib. 6.
• * 6.18

  Ware, 159.
• * 6.19

  154••
• * 6.20

  Ware, 160.
• * 6.21

  Ware, 161.
• * 6.22

  Sullevan, 79.
• * 6.23

  Lib. D.
• * 6.24

  1542.
• * 6.25

  Lib. D.
• * 6.26

  Davis, 215.
• * 6.27

  Lib. D.
• * 6.28

  Davis, 104.
• * 6.29

  1534.
• * 6.30

  Davis, 219.
• * 6.31

  Council Book of Ireland, fol. 73.
• * 6.32

  Ware, 168.
• * 6.33

  1544.
• * 6.34

  Holingshead, 103.
• * 6.35

  June 11. 1544.
• * 6.36

  Lib. D.
• * 6.37

  1545.
• * 6.38

  Lib. D.
• * 6.39

  Melvin's Me∣moirs, 8, 9.
• * 6.40

  〈…〉〈…〉
• * 6.41

  1546.
• * 6.42

  Ware, 174.