Elizabeth I: volume 128, January 1587

Calendar of State Papers, Ireland, 1586-1588. Originally published by Her Majesty's Stationery Office, London, 1877.

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'Elizabeth I: volume 128, January 1587', in Calendar of State Papers, Ireland, 1586-1588, (London, 1877) pp. 244-252. British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/cal-state-papers/ireland/1576-88/pp244-252 [accessed 24 March 2024]

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January 1587

Vol. CXXVIII. 1587. January—March.

Jan. 1. St. Sepulchre's.

1. The Chancellor Archbishop to Burghley, touching the wife of Philip Williams. She has written to the Earl of Ormond. p ½. Incloses,

1. I. Elizabeth Williams to the Bishop of Meath to procure that her husband Philip Williams, secretary to the Lord Deputy Perrot, may be called into England. His sad imprisonment, 11 weeks. The matter he has to say touching Her Majesty. He hath to say that which he will tell to no one but to Her Highness the Queen. If her husband may not be released out of close prison, her desire is that he may be removed into the city of Dublin to recover his health. pp. 2. 1586. Dec. 30. Dublin.

Jan. 2. Dublin.

2. G. Fenton to Burghley. His frequent letters unanswered. This time of calmness is convenient for reformation. Prays for Burghley's countenance and defence. p. 1.

Jan. 2.

3. Tabular note of the army, consisting of 1,703 men, in Ireland in December 1586, presented to Lord Burghley by Thomas Williams, clerk of the check. p. 1.

Jan. 2.

4. Petition of David Roche of Kildahalley in Waterford, to Queen Elizabeth, to be restored to Killoughtermoy, and other lands found to Her Majesty, by his enemies. p. 1.

[Jan. 2.]

5. Petition of David Roche of Killdahallie to the Privy Council, for letters to the V. P. of Munster, that he may quietly enjoy his lands, and to have free license to come out of Ireland about his suits. p. 1.

Jan. 5. Dublin.

6: Lord Chancellor Loftus and Council to Sir Francis Walsyngham in favour of Mr. John Lye, to have the farm of the towns and lands of Rathbride, Morishetonbiller, and Crotanston, on better terms. They lie in a very dangerous place, near the great woods and bogs of the Fews and Allen, and subject to the Conors, Mores, Dempsies, and others. p. 1.

Jan. 5.

7. Petition of John Lye of Clonaghe to Queen Elizabeth.—His farm of Clonaghe passed away in fee-farm to Callough O'More. Prays for the fee-farm of Rathbride, &c. Lye (being an Englishman), is very perfect in the Irish tongue. p. 2.

Jan. 6.

8. Petition of John Davenant to Burghley for payment of 180l. 5s. 0d. p. 1.

Jan. 6.

9. Petition of John Shreiffe to Burghley, that Alexander Coates and others of the Custom House of Chester, who are here in court, may be called to answer their wrong information against him. p½. Incloses,

9. I. Sir Roland Stanley and others to Burghley.—Certify that John Shreiffe did not transport any goods without customs. Copy. p. 1. 1585. Aug. 20. Chester.

9. II. Certificate by Richard Grafton and others, of the manner in which Alexander Coates, Comptroller of Chester, stayed the munition, which John Shreiffe was conveying to Ireland. Copy. p. 1. 1584. June 9.

Jan. 9.

10. Petition of Anne Thickpenny, widow, one of Her Majesty's farmers in Ireland, to Burghley.—For despatch of her suits touching certain small parcels of land called the abbey of Mollanna, alias Mollanaffa, and the House of Observant Friars, near Youghal, &c. p. 1.

Jan. 12.

11. Petition of the undertakers for Munster to the Queen, whereupon the 300 footmen, granted for their defence, were converted to 120 horse. [At 29 Jan. there is a petition almost identical in words, and with the signatures of the undertakers, with Burghley's notes in the margin, which see.] p. 1.

Jan. 15. Dublin.

12. Sir R. Byngham to Burghley. Of the Lord Deputy's hard dealings with him in taking away certain allowances by concordatum. pp. 2¼

Jan. 17. Dublin.

13. Sir R. Byngham to Burghley. His lordship's comfortable letters of Dec. 4. have revived him from his great grief and sorrow. Pledges escaped from the vice-constable of Athlone. He is right joyful to hear of the intention to remove the Deputy. The plot of the service of Ardnarye. The bearer, Mr. Marburye, to be restored to his pension. pp. 2.

Jan. [22.]

14. H. Strowbridge to Burghley. The Bishop of Meath is relieved with a common purse for defraying his expenses, so that by long suit he hopeth to make a precedent to the rest who are in the same case. p. 1. Incloses,

14. I. Petition of Hugh Strowbridge to Burghley, to grant the further examination of the Bishop of Meath's case to the Lord Deputy and Council in Ireland. p. 1. Annexes,

14. II. Brief of the extents of livings the Bishop of Meath has had to his great profit, and hath answered very little of the first fruits thereof. p. 1.

Jan. 23. Dublin.

15. Sir N. Bagenall to Burghley.—Commends the bearer, Capt. Nicholas Merriman, as a very valiant gentleman. His continuance under O'Neill with 100 footmen. His success against Sorley Boy M'Donnell's son, Alexander Mac Sorlee, and other Scots. His painful service with Sir Ric. Byngham. p. 1.

Jan. 24. Dublin.

16. Sir R. Byngham to Burghley. The bearer hereof Captain Nicholas Merriman, who was a captain of one of the Ulster companies appointed by the Lord Deputy Perrot, and afterwards was sent for, to go into Flanders, but coming too late, was the cause of his stay from that journey, Sir Wm. Stanley being gone before his coming to Dublin; and being left behind, the Lord Deputy Perrot, not having anywhere to bestow him but on the English Pale, which he might not well do, was driven to send him into Connaught, where he arrived, even as I was setting forwards to go up into the mountains against the rebellious Burkes, Clandonnells, and Joys. In which journey (against the aforesaid rebels) he behaved himself very well for a man of his sort and calling, as also against the foreign enemy, the Scots; and as he hath well discharged himself in all the said actions for the time of three months, whilst he served under me, for which time I made him a thorough pay for himself and his company in full number after the rates of Her Majesty's allowance at 8d. per diem for a private soldier, and himself with his officers at such rates as Her Majesty doth allow of, in like sort. If it may please your honor to question with him, he can declare unto your honor, the full and true discourse of the said services done against the said rebels and Scots. And this in respect of his service for the time aforesaid under myself, as also of other former services exploited by him in Ulster, as I have heard, namely by the killing of Alexander M'Sorley Boy M'Donnell, with others notable in his company. For whose valour and courage in discharging the same to the uttermost at his instance and earnest suit, I am boldly moved to recommend him and his causes to your honor's favourable consideration. p. 1.

Jan. 26. Dublin Castle.

17. Auditor Jenyson to Burghley. Answers the imputation of negligence. Chapman to be despatched. Jacques Wyngfeld to be sent to his account. Prays for letters to the Lord Deputy to make him his extraordinary allowance.

Here is a bruit come from thence of my Lord Deputy Perrot's revocation, which is more joyous to the multitude here of all sorts, than ever I did know of any other former deputy's departure, and the people here hope that the same falling out to be true, that their earls and barons shall never hereafter be governed by knights being of inferior degrees to themselves, but by some of the greatest peers of that realm, as formerly they were, when as the Princes of England were but Lords of Ireland; and much the rather in these days when the Princes there (in England) be absolute Kings here from Her Majesty's Father's time, and so successively to Her Highness both for the honour of Her Majesty and this state, and the better contentment of the people of this country, hoping your honor will accept in good part in certifying this my knowledge of the common bruit in discharge of my duty to your Lordship. Sir Henry Sydney was of great credit, and also famous in this government as by divers his erections appeareth, and most chiefly by the bridge at Athlone, which is one of the best acts done for the commonwealth in this land during man's memory, and doth now grow into some ruin, by reason of the strong stream that runneth there, and in process of time will overthrow it, which repairing betimes and so from year to year when need should require would maintain it for ever. And that were easily to be done with the toll there taken, and would also be some increase to Her Majesty's revenue, the same being now turned to private use, and nothing thereof either answered to Her Majesty or yet bestowed on the bridge. And the toll Sir Richard Byngham informeth me is well worth 100l. sterling per annum, which is levied in this sort, viz., of every twenty cows or beeves that come over that bridge, one cow or beef out of every score, and if the numbers be under twenty for every cow 4d. sterling, and so of horsepacks, mares, colts, swine, and sheep ratably, and is thought that there is five or six thousand kine yearly, at the least, driven over that bridge. pp. 2.

Jan. 26. Marshalsea in Dublin.

18. Geff. Fenton to Burghley. The Lord Deputy having used to me of late an unworthy extremity, such as by no precedent nor example of former times was ever heard of in this Government, I am driven to recur to your Lordship as my chief protector next to God and Her Majesty, humbly beseeching your Lordship not to think me importunate in complaining, that am with so great and public an indignity provoked. At my late attending at Court I borrowed of Russell, his lordship's man, 50l. towards my needful expenses there, and during my absence my wife borrowed of his lordship here 20l. to relieve her poor estate, so as in the whole I became indebted to his lordship in 70l., which I always acknowledged as a debt, and so often as his lordship sent to me for it I confessed it, though for want of ability I was not able to make present payment, and to supply that default I humbly desired that I might be borne withal till by God and Her Majesty I were enabled, when I would repay it with all duty and thankfulness. Nevertheless, his Lordship seeking my disgrace and undoing together, after he had threatened that he would have me pulled from my horse for the debt, and was told by Justice Gardener that there was sufficient in the Treasurer's hands of my entertainments and allowances to satisfy him, caused me suddenly to be arrested without writ or process, contrary to all ordinary course, and being brought by an officer and one Bickerstaff, his lordship's servant, to the bar of the Common Pleas, I was there condemned and committed to the Marshalsea in less than a quarter of an hour, not having any summons for my appearance, nor original writ or other form of process, other than a private warrant from his lordship as I think to Sir Robert Dillon, chief Judge in that Court, and mine enemy. If his Lordship had not some further dangerous pretence against my credit or my life, there was no cause to carry him into this violent course for so small a debt as 70l., for that either he might have stayed it upon my entertainment, or attached my little store of household goods, which should have been sold to answer him. Yea! his Lordship knew by my former manner of life in this land, and being neither fugitive nor shifting person, that his payment could not be desperate in my hand, though it were somewhat long time before Her Majesty should repair me, so as comparing with these his Lordship's former discountenancing of me in Her Majesty's service, ever since I returned last from Court, and the wrongful privation of the credit and profits of my office, besides some uncomely circumstances used in my committing, as to be carried through the streets by the serjeant-at-arms upon a market day in the greatest assembly of the market, and cooped up in a common gaol amongst malefactors, I cannot but fear some further violence to be intended against me to the peril of my life, which I fear so much the more as his lordship hath publicly professed to hate me for bringing him a despatch from Her Majesty and your Lordships at my late attending at Court for Irish affairs, which without other intermixture of causes is the only root and motion of this my extremity. And therefore as I am bold now to acquaint Her Majesty with the state of my adversity, which for no other cause is thundered upon me, than for obeying Her Majesty's will and standing firm in Her service, so I most humbly beseech your Lordship, even in grief of heart not to see me unworthily overthrown both in credit, body, and mind, at the appetite of one that hateth me, not for myself, but for my truth and fidelity to Her Majesty and her causes. And what it shall please Her Majesty and your Lordship to do herein, I beseech you do it speedily, lest it come too late; for which purpose I have sent this messenger for Her Majesty and your Lordship's resolution, not having any other to employ. pp. 1½.

Jan. 27.

19. Robt. Legge to [same ?] The evil of custodiams. The claim of the corporations to have all forfeited bonds and recognizances. Forgery of an office of lands of the Abbey of Fowre let to the Lord Delvin. He fears the Archbishop of Dublin. pp. 5.

Jan. 28. Dublin.

20. Lord Chancellor Loftus, Sir Nicholas Bagenall, and Sir Richard Byngham, to Burghley. The general rumours spread here of the Earl of Tyrone's going into England, although we think the longing desire he hath to invest himself in the name and title of O'Neill, will divert him from any such determination, hath occasioned us to intimate unto your lordship some things necessarily to be considered, and providently to be foreseen by your honour and the rest there. He hath by assignment from my lord deputy, the government of all the urraghs or chieftains from the English Pale to Slieve Gallon, under pretence of which commission he hath so exercised his own authority incident to his name, among this rude and barbarous people, as he hath not only drawn to his dependency those several chieftains, who by his commission he was in her Majesty's name to govern, but hath made himself so great and fearful to all his neighbours, as Magennis, who hitherto solely depended upon Her Highness, Con M'Neill Oge, and generally all men of mark within the province of Ulster, are become his men, receive his wages, and promise him service, according to the usual manner of that country. All which, although my Lord Deputy do very well know, and hath oft by private speech signified his dislike of the Earl's proceedings, notwithstanding as yet we cannot perceive in his Lordship any intention to redress those abuses, and therefore have thought it our duties to impart this much to your Lordship, as that from whence in time may proceed effects very pernicious and dangerous to the State, if so be that the Earl upon any occasion do grow to a discontented humour, whereunto by these his dealings, in our opinions, he doth mightily arm and prepare himself. And withal the example of the Earl's greatness among his neighbours, growing by the authority committed to him, may greatly redound to the impeachment of government in other the Provinces, wherein now the whole nobility, and such as do account themselves as worthy of regard as the Earl of Tyrone, are very well contented to contain themselves within the limits of their duty, not desirous to intrude themselves into the course of the public government. pp. 2.

Jan. 28.

21. Mr. Attorney Calthorpe to Burghley.—His good service in his office. Her Majesty has received above 4000l. of old arrearages. p. 1.

Jan. 29.

22. The humble petitions of the Undertakers for peopling of Munster in Ireland. First that the garrisons to be assigned for their security may be of persons to be newly selected by some of the principal undertakers out of the several counties where the said undertakers here inhabit. [In margin in Burghley's hand, To have 120 horsemen to be chosen out of the garrisons, or to be levied there.]

That none of the captains and soldiers assigned to the President, nor any other, may be in anywise chargeable to the English inhabitants settled, or to be settled, in Munster, nor to any their tenants. And that neither the Deputy, President, Vicepresident, nor any for them, be troublesome or chargeable to the English inhabitants, or their tenants in taking up any provisions amongst them, or troubling them with carriages. [In margin by B. A letter to the Lord Deputy and President.]

That all kerne and galloglas be removed out of Munster, other than such as shall give themselves to manure the ground, or such a competent number to attend the Irish lords, as their masters will give assurance for their good behaviour. [In margin +.]

Which done whereas your Highness offered by the articles first sent unto the countries a garrison of 300 men for seven years, we desire only, for our defence against the Irish, of your Majesty 150 horsemen, and that but for four years, whereby the charge is lessened every year 1300l., or in respect of the time 150 horse and 200 footmen for two years only. [In margin by B. 120 horse.]

And by committing these horsemen to the commandment of some six of the principal undertakers (who will serve your Majesty with all faithfulness), they nominating their lieutenants, being no undertakers, your Highness shall save in the whole seven years by this course 16,800l. and upwards.

We humbly desire that these 150 horsemen may be in Munster, by the beginning of April next at the furthest; and for the footmen, if it be thought good to abridge Her Majesty's charge to two years.

We likewise desire that for the year lost to the great charge of the undertakers, through default of the advancement of the Survey there may be one year added unto the undertakers for their recompense. [In margin by B. Allowed.]

Also that there may be a restraint for transportation of any corn or other victual, out of any part of Munster, until Michaelmas next come twelvemonth, and that none be permitted to buy any corn sown in the ground within any part of Munster, unless it be some of the Undertakers. [In margin by B. Allowed.]

That the Lords (to whom by your Majesty's grant it is referred) will set down how many and which of the undertakers shall be in the commission with the President of Munster, and that it may please your Majesty to appoint two or three of the principal undertakers to be of the Council of that realm. [In margin by B. All the knights that are undertakers as long as they shall be present, and in their absence others to be named by the president and the rest of the Council, out of the undertakers.]

That some of the Undertakers may be joined in the Commission for examining of titles and compounding with the intermixt freeholders. [In margin by B. To be remitted to the Lord Deputy.]

That the Justices of Assize for Munster may both be mere English.

Signed, [Sir] William Herbert, [Sir] J. Popham, [Sir] Valentine Brown, [Sir] E. Phyton, Walter Leveson, Edward Rogers, W. Cavendysshe, Hugh Cuffe. Indorsed, Delivered by Sir W. Herbert, the 29th of January 1586. And in Burghley's hand: Sir Rowland Stanley, brother to Sir William Stanley, not to adventure. [See also Jan. 12, and Feb. 28.] pp. 2.

Jan. 30.

23. Privy Council to the Lord Deputy. We have very lately received advertisements from the Low Countries that Sir William Stanley and Rowland Yorke, the one appointed by my Lord of Leicester to the government of the town of Deventer, a place of great importance upon the Ijssel, the other to the commanding of the fort before Zutphen recovered this summer, by his lordship, have about the 19th of this present, most disloyally and treacherously delivered over the places committed to their several charges into hands of the enemy, and withal not only for their own persons made a most shameful and traitorous revolt and defection, but also seduced and drawn after them divers others of Her Majesty's subjects, and namely those Irish bands serving under the said Stanley, to do the like, to the great dishonor and slander of our nation and detriment of Her Majesty's service. Which fact as we find it strange in respect of the said Stanley, considering the general good opinion conceived of his loyalty and fidelity, so are we by many circumstances induced to think that this treasonable revolt of his, hath proceeded of some other ground, and to be of more dangerous consequence than is yet discovered. And because we have received many advertisements of some foreign invasion intended this year by the Spaniard against that realm, wherein his long travail and experience may make him a dangerous instrument for the enemy, we have thought it meet to give your lordship knowledge thereof, to the intent you may carry a watchful eye upon all such as you know to have been his secret friends and defenders, and specially over Jacques de Francesco [i.e. Mr. Jacomo di Francesqui,] his lieutenant, of whom both in respect he is a stranger, ill affected in religion, and noted to have had some intelligence with Ballard, lately executed here for the conspiracy against Her Majesty's life, we think fit to be removed out of his charge, and sent hither before this fact of his captain be divulged, bestowing such charge and commandment as the said Stanley hath yet in entertainment there, upon such other as by your Lordship and the rest of the Council, shall be found most meet and worthy for the same. We think it also meet that your Lordship immediately upon the receipt hereof, do cause his house to be very narrowly searched and his wife and children restrained, and such of his friends or followers as you shall suspect, to be very diligently examined, and for that we hear that before this his traitorous act, he did send some of his followers or servants from him, as may be supposed to pass by sea into Ireland, we think it convenient that inquiry be made, what persons are come from him or may hereafter arrive in that realm, either in the parts of Munster or elsewhere, and thereupon to make stay of any such, and diligently to examine them of the cause of their coming, and of the time of their departure from Stanley, and further to use them as you shall think convenient, both for discovery of any their lewd purposes, and also to stay them from any evil attempt that may be in their power; and of your doings we require to be advertised. [Draft, partly in Burghley's hand.] pp. 3.

Jan. 30.

24. The names of such as receive Her Majesty's pay who are registered in my office, and be presently in England, besides their men attending them here, who receive pay also:

The Baron of Dunsany hath pay for 20 horsemen.

Sir George Bowrchier, Kt., seneschal of Offaly, and captain of 100 horsemen.

Sir H. Harrington, Kt., captain of the Byrnes and Tooles, and 50 horse.

Sir H. Bagenall, Kt., captain of 100 footmen.

Sir Geo. Carew, Kt., who assigned his entertainment to Mr. Dudley Bagenall.

Jaques Wingfelde, Esq., master of the ordnance.

Edward Barkley, Esq., constable of Askeaton.

Thomas Williams, Esq., clerk of the cheque of Her Majesty's garrison there.

Brian Fytzwylliams, Esq., pensioner.

Robert Rosyer, Attorney-General for Munster.

Nicholas Dawtrey, seneschal of Claneboy, and hath a ward in the palace of Knockfergus.

Captain William Pers, the younger, pensioner.

John Henry, serjeant-at-arms in Connaught.

Edward Drinkell, pensioner.

Hugh O'Donnell, pensioner.

Such as were in pay and now discharged in my office:

The Earl of Ormond. Note: His lordship hath pay out of the revenue as Lord Treasurer of Ireland, and Mr. Nicholas Walshe as second Justice of the King's Bench.

Mr. Justice Walshe.
Captain Collam.
Captain Mynce.
Arthur Toole, late pensioners.
John Gilson,
James Verdon, late lieutenant to captain, Merriman.

Such as I suppose your Lordship will think meet to be at home, if any stirs are like to be:

The Earl of Kildare, the Lord Burke, Baron of Castleconnel, Sir Edward Waterhous, Knight, who hath entertainment to be paid out of the revenue, Richard Poer, the Lord Poer's eldest son, James Myaghe, late sheriff of Desmond, Teig MacCarthy, who hath a pension, though not recorded in my office, Florence MacCarthy, Esquire, Maurice Eustace, Gent., David Roche, Gent.

Indorsed. A note of the names of such as are in pay in Ireland, and others now in England, delivered to the Lord High Treasurer of England by Thomas Williams, clerk of the cheque for Her Majesty's garrison in Ireland. p. 1.

Jan. 31. Dublin.

25. Sir N. White, Master of the Rolls, to Burghley. The long controversy between him and Sir Wm. Drury's children for Dunbrody, is compounded for a sum of money. Offers that Itchingham's heir may be a partner in the bargain. Thomas Chapman hath painfully deserved his wages. p. 1.

Jan. 31. Dublin Castle.

26. Auditor Thomas Jenyson to Burghley. For payment of 200l. 7s. 0d. upon bills, to enable Sir N. White to perfect his bargain for the interests of Sir W. Drury's children claiming Dunbrody. p. 1.

Jan.

27. John Sheryffe to Burghley. Touching the large rates for the proportion of munition going for Ireland. p. ½.