Elizabeth I: volume 123, March 1586

March 1586

Vol. CXXIII. 1586. March—April.

March 1. Dublin.

1. Archbishop of Dublin to Lord Burghley. Much good done in God's church by the late Mr. Walshe, Bishop of Ossory, lamentably murdered in his own house. Recommends Mr. Thompson, Treasurer of St. Patrick's, to succeed him. pp. 2.

March 1.

2. Articles concerning Her Majesty's offers for the disposing Her lands in Munster to the Planters. Indorsed by Burghley: The first Articles offered to such as will inhabit Munster. pp. 2.

March 3.

3. Note of suitors appointed to be paid by a Privy Seal, viz., John Powell, Walter Segrave, Thomas Lynyall, Thomas Davies, George Thornton, for his service at the sea, the widow of Hercules Rainsford, as the remain of a debt to her late husband. p. 1.

March 4. Limerick.

4. Walter White to Nicholas Roche, attending upon Mr. John Burke at the Court. The Lord Burke's death. John Burke to intreat the Lords of the Council that he may receive no wrong by being in England. p. 1.

March 4.

5. Supply of munition to be sent to Ireland. p. 1.

March 6.

6. Device to stop the frequency of insurrections in Ireland, by not allowing provisions at inns, nor passage by ships, to unknown or mean persons. p. 1.

March 7. Dublin Castle.

7. Lord Deputy Perrot to Walsyngham. I send unto you hereinclosed a letter of advice written out of Spain from a merchant of Drogheda, confirming other men's advertisements as well of that King's preparations, as of the cheapness of corn there, which seemeth strange to all that know that country, and yet true. For Frenchmen that were wont to bring corn thither say that they had bargained for corn to be carried thence in respect of the cheapness, but could not be suffered, the King having made a restraint for his own provision. These things coming hither frequent and as fresh as they possibly can come thither, I do for duty's sake send over to be imparted to Her Majesty and my Lords, and not that I mean to urge anything, but do humbly rest upon your intelligences there which it may be you have of better certainty. Incloses,

7. I. Patrick Dowdall to his uncle, Philip Dowdall, or in his absence, to his cousin, William Byrt, in Drogheda. Uncle Philip, your health I wish to God's pleasure, &c. Whereas I made mine account ere this to be in Ireland, and being three times at sea, by force of weather [vedder], and contrary winds, we were driven back and arrived in Spain but the 8th of this present month, where I make what speed I may to be as soon in Ireland as any. Our wines are bought, and some aboard, the rest lies in the streets of Xeres for want of carts and gabbards [lighters], for that they are to serve the King, yet I hope by God's grace to be at sea within eight days, if wind serve. The wines of this year are small, nevertheless I have for you that which I make account shall be to your contentation. Wines did mount in their prices at least by four ducats in a butt, and if Englishmen had had their trade here this year, wines had been worth 20 ducats the butt. The first of the year it was sold for 10 ducats, and now it is worth 14 ducats. To write of news of the country I hope to be as soon as this my letter. English commodities are well sold save wheat. Wheat is worth but six rials the fannick [bushel]. The King makes a marvellous great army, and where to go it is uncertain. 1585–6. Jan. 20. St. Mary Port in Andalusia, Spain.

March 7. Dublin Castle.

8. Lord Deputy Perrot to Secretary Walsyngham. Mr. John Garvey, Dean of Christ's Church, to have the bishoprick of Ossory instead of Kilmore, which he was formerly content to accept, as well to displace one subsituted into it by the Pope's authority, as also to do some good amongst that rude people. Thomas Burke, a reconciled Jesuit, son of the late M'William to be Bishop of Kilmacough [aliàs Kilmacduagh]. Owen O'Connor, brother of Sir Donnell O'Connor, of Sligo, and sometime an exhibitioner of Her Majesty, at Christ Church in Oxford, to be made Bishop of Killala. p. 1.

March 7. Dublin.

9. Wallop to Walsyngham. Thanks for his four letters. As to a continuance of the good liking between Sir Richard Byngham and him. Mr. Brouncker's debt. The 50l. which Wallop lent to Captain Carleill. Has received Her Majesty's warrant for prolonging the commission for his account. Will not fail to do his best endeavour to agree Sir Richard Byngham and Mr. Anthony Brabazon. Burghley's justification of him to Her Majesty. Corrupt judges and officers. Is glad to understand of the good course my Lord of Leycestre holds at his first entry into government, and of the good liking the United States of the Low Countries seem to have of him. Fears the great monthly contribution which they have granted will not be sufficient to maintain a war offensive and defensive against the King of Spain. It is to be feared Her Majesty will soon grow weary of the charge. Great want of money in Ireland. Notwithstanding that Walsyngham writes that the King of Spain desists wholly from his preparations by sea for any enterprise to be done upon Her Majesty's dominions, yet by sundry persons who have come from thence within this month, it is reported that those preparations do continue, and with purpose to annoy Her Majesty within very short time. If any attempt should be made against Ireland, were it but with 4,000 or 5,000 men before better provision to withstand them be made than yet is, so affected are the people to the Spaniard as, in Wallop's opinion, the danger will fall out to be overgreat, and the charge of 200,000l. or 300,000l. will not recover that which the extraordinary charge of 20,000l. might this summer prevent. Ireland is as good a land for the quantity as any that Wallop has seen, and wanteth nothing, but reducement of the people that be in it to civility, and the supply of other good people to inhabit the waste parts of it. Necessity to keep Ireland. pp. 4.

March 9. Dublin.

10. Wallop to Burghley. Received his letter of 2 February. Hopes to bring his account to England before Michaelmas. The debt will be 64,000l. the last of March. The last 10,000l. Victual. Where Burghley writes that the increase of pay to the soldier was granted in respect of the avoiding of cess, and that the composition for the same should have partly answered the charge of the said increase, and borne the loss which the Queen sustains by victualling, which in truth it will not do by a great deal, unless it may be drawn to a greater sum yearly than hitherto it has been. Wallop has always conceived that it should do so, and is still of opinion that the Pale itself, considering the goodness of the soil, and greatness thereof, is able to bear a far greater yearly composition than 1,500l. Wallop has sundry times put the Lord Deputy Perrot in mind to set down order for the two years' composition since his coming over, whereto his Lordship has answered that he doubted not but by Parliament to make a better bargain. Wallop knows the stubborn and froward disposition of the people to yield to anything that shall turn to the Queen's profit. Wallop thinks that very hardly will they be now drawn to yield unto the composition of 3,000l. for the two years to end at Michaelmas next, considering the agreement for the same was not made in the beginning of each year as usually it was wont to be. Wallop sees no reason but all the rest of the provinces might be also brought to yield a yearly composition towards the maintenance of the Queen's garrison, although not in one equality, by reason that few of the rest are so well inhabited as the Pale, whereto if each man without exception might bear his portion, the sum would be great that by that means would be levied. Wallop sees not why greater freedom should be granted in Ireland to the nobility and gentry than is in England. Haply it will be said that in respect of their freedom they are tied to general hostings, to serve forty days yearly at their own charges, having forty days warning, a thing very seldom "put in ure," and to small purpose when it is, considering the nature of the wars here is only with the Irishry and other rebels, who for the time of the said general hostings will shift themselves from place to place so as the force thereof shall not annoy them, and after will return at their pleasure, and for the more part such alliance is between the borderers of the Pale, and them as willingly they will not hurt them; and therefore in "my simple opinion" it were not amiss, if that be the chief point they stick on, that they be released from that service, and bear all such burthen as the nobility and gentlemen in England do. Whatsoever they say of the antiquity of their freedom, Wallop never saw hitherto any grant thereof from any prince, and yet supposes they have many, which if they should show, would tie them to many greater services than now they will acknowledge. When they had freedoms first granted either by patents or otherwise, they were thereby bound to defend the countries where they dwelt at their own charges, against the Irishry or English rebels, which if now they were able to perform they might well have not only the continuance of their freedoms, but also an enlargement of the same. But for that time has made that impossible, and that the service they now acknowledge is but a scarecrow, there were no incon venience to have those freedoms cut, and yet the claimers of the same to be as free as men of like sort are in England. Thanks Burghley for favourable speeches uttered of him to the Queen at the time when the informations of the abuses of sundry of the officers of Ireland were in question before her. Burghley knows how often by letters Wallop has yielded his opinion that many ways the Queen is ill dealt withal by sundry her officers "here." Wallop promises his furtherance for the discovery and amendment of many things. pp. 5.

March 12. Athclare.

11. Nicholas Taaff to Sir F. Walsyngham, to further the suits sent over by his son and agent. His peril the last passage. His 13 children. p. 1. Annexes,

11. I. Note of the request of Nicholas Taaff to Her Majesty and the Privy Council. That where the Queen has granted him the feefarm of 12l. English, of Eustace of Ballycotland's lands, for that the same is in lease all, some for 54 years, and the rest for 33 years, during which time Taaff will get no profit, that he may have remittal of the said 12l. rent during the continuance of the said leases, and also that he may have a grant of such of the said Eustace's lands in fee-farm as he or his heirs may find concealed at a reasonable survey. And to him also the fee-farm of certain of the said Eustace's lands which are in the Queen's hands, amounting to 3l. 13s. 6d. English. Also further where he holds for years yet to come certain land of the possessions of the late dissolved religious house of the Knock on the borders of the county of Louth not surmounting 6l. 10s. 0d. English per annum, which now is waste without castle or fortress, that he may have the same in fee-farm with condition reasonably to fortify the same. p. 1.

March 16. Dublin.

12. Note of great ordnance Her Majesty has in Ireland, as well that is mounted as dismounted. pp. 2.

March 17.

13. Garret Fytzgarret to Walsyngham. To further his suit for a sufficient warrant for the allowance of 100l. defalked upon him. p. 1.

March 17.

14. Checks laid upon the several companies of Sir Wm. Stanley, Captain Thos. Henshaw, Sir Henry Wallop, Captain Warhame Sentleger, Sir George Bourchier, Capt. Dawtry, &c. pp. 3.

March 20. Maynooth.

15. J., Earl of Kildare, to Walsyngham. The waste and spoil of his lands in the late troubles of his father. His stay to settle his estate to enable him to attend on the Queen. His mother sends her commendations to Walsyngham and to his wife and daughter. p. 1.

March 24.

16. Sum due by Her Majesty to the 30th September 1584, 30,559l. 17s. 4d. sterling. Also note of payment of certain Irish debts. pp. 5.

[March.]

17. Note of pensioners discharged and their entertainment, and of the pensioners appointed by letters from England. p. 1.

March 27. Dublin.

18. G. Fenton to Walsyngham. His arrival yesterday. The Bishop of Kilmore to be translated to the See of Ossory. p. 1.

March 29.

19. Petition of Anne Leake, widow, to Burghley, for payment of 124l. 18s.8¾d., due to John Leake, deceased, one of the victuallers in Ireland. p. 1.

March 31. O'Donnell's Country.

20. Captain John Price to Walsyngham. Skirmish with the Scots in O'Donnell's country on the 18th. They being 500 had sworn one to another to fight it out with the English, who were but 120. About 60 Scots slain and many hurt. Alexander M'Sorley, son of Sorley Boy M'Donnell, having received many wounds, swam over to Allonge for refuge. His quick corps found in a deep grave covered with green rushes, and on every side six old calliox weeping. Remembrance of Dunluce. Sends Alexander M'Sorley Boy M'Donnell's head and M'Donnell Vallay's head to be set upon Dublin Castle. [Dated 1585, but evidently 1586.] p. 1.

March 31.

21. Book of the Garrisons from 1st October 1585 to 31st March 1586, under the hand of Thomas Williams, Clerk of the Check, [for Burghley]. The names of the chief officers are Sir John Perrot, the Lord Deputy; Sir H. Wallop, Treasurer at Wars; Sir H. Bagenall, Knight Marshal of this realm; Jacques Wyngfeld, Esq., Master of the Ordnance; Thomas Williams, Esq., Clerk of the Check. The sum total of their entertainments, 3,191l. 4s. 2¾d.

For Munster:—John Norreys, Esq., Lord President of Munster; Jessua Smythes, Chief Justice there; John Myaghe, Second Justice there; Robert Rosier, Attorney General there; Lodowick Bryskett, Clerk of the Council there; George Thornton, Provost Marshal in Munster. Sum of their entertainments, 1,482l. 19s. 8d., and the fourth part of a farthing.

For Connaught:—Sir Richard Byngham, Chief Commissioner in Connaught and Thomond; Thomas Dillon, Esq., Chief Justice there; John Merbury, gent., Assistant there to the Chief Commissioner; Edward Whyte, Clerk of the Council there; Francis Barkley, Esq., Provost Marshal there; John Henry, Serjeant-at-Arms. Sum of their entertainments, 2,108l. 18s. 0¼d.

Leinster:—Sir George Bowrchier, Lieutenant of the King's County; Warhame Sentleger, Esq., Lieutenant of the Queen's County; Charles Calthorpe, Esq., Attorney General; Rice ap Hugh, Provost Marshal there. Sum of entertainments, 404l. 11s. 2¾d., and a half farthing and the fourth part of a farthing.

Ulster:—Francis Stafford, Governor of the forces there. Entertainment, 121l. 6s. 8d.

For Ministers of the Ordnance under the Master:—Christopher Mortimer, Chief Engineer for the realm; Jasper Sheeth, Clerk of the Ordnance at Waterford; John Fagan, Clerk of the Munition at Cork; Thomas Stanyhurst, Clerk of the Munition at Limerick. Entertainments, 191l. 4s. 11½d.

Bands of horsemen:—The Earl of Tyrone, for 50 horsemen; Sir Henry Harrington; Captain William Warren; the Baron of Dunsany; Sir Edmund Butler; Captain Thomas Lee, Edward Herbert, gent. Entertainments, 2,465l. 1s. 9¼d.

Bands of footmen:—Sir Henry Wallop, for 100 footmen; Sir W. Stanley; Sir George Bowrchier Sir Henry Bagenall; Thomas Norreys, Esq.; Warhame Sentleger; Thomas Henshaw; Thomas Woodhouse. Entertainments, 7,514l. 11s. 6d.

Footbands serving in the country pay, with certain entertainments from Her Majesty:—Captains Richard Ovingdon; Piers Ovingdon; Wm. Bowen; Rice ap Hugh; John Parker; Dudley Bagenall; Nicholas Merriman, for 100 footmen serving with O'Neill. Entertainments, 534l. 16s. 10d., and the fourth part of a farthing.

Bands of Kerne:—Henry Duke, General of Her Majesty's Kerne; Mortagh Oge O'Conor; Sir Henry Bagenall, discharged. Entertainments, 183l. 8s. 8d.

Warders, Leinster:—Sir Edward Moore, Constable of Philipstown; George Harvey, Constable of Maryborough; George Carew, Constable of Leighlin Bridge; Robert Harpoll, Constable of Carlow; Thomas Maisterson, Constable of Ferns; Jaques Wyngfeld, Constable of Dublin Castle, discharged the 19th of January, when the ward was delivered over to Stephen Segar, gent. Entertainments, 597l. 19s. 3¾d.

Warders in Ulster:—Charles Eggarton, Constable of the Castle of Carrickfergus; Nicholas Dawtrey, gent., Seneschal of Claneboy; Edward Keyes, gent., Constable of Blackwater; Peter Cary, gent., Constable of Dunluce, deceased. Entertainments, 610l. 19s. 6¼d.

Warders, Munster:—Anthony Hungerford, gent., Constable of Dungarvan Castle; Thomas Spring, gent., Constable of Castlemaine; John Bleeke, Constable of Limerick Castle; Edward Barkley, Esq., Constable of Askeaton. Entertainments, 604l. 12s. 10½d., and half a farthing.

Warder, Connaught:—John Norton, Constable of Athlone. Entertainment, 133l.

Sea charges:—Capt. George Thornton, for the Queen's ship, called the Handmaid, lying in harbour, 37l. 19s. 7¼d.

Pensioners:—Sir William Collyer; Francis Lovell; Bryan Fytzwylliams, Esq.; Henry Sheffeld; Garret Fitzgarret; Edmund Byrne; Giles Cornwall; George Thornton; Francis Stafford; John Cusake; Hugh Bangor; Teige M'Gilpatrick [O'Conor]; George Blunte; John Parker; Martin Couche, deceased; Matthias O'Cane [de Monte Bello]; Charles Montague; Shane O'Neill; Con O'Neill; Neale O'Neill; Brian Oge O'Neill, deceased; William Pers, junior; George Hunt; John Price; Robert Nangle; John Benyon; James Foster; George Harvy; Dermod O'Dooley; Silvester Cowley; Peter Cary, deceased 1st November; Lawrence Taaffe; Edward Drinkell; Lewis Lawrence; Christopher Barnwall; Thomas Denham; Walter Newton; Lancelot Clayton; Walter Lawrence; Thomas Taylor; George Wolverstone, John Griffin; Teig Ne Cariggie; Richard ap Brother; Nicholas Pern. Entertainments, 1,160l. 11s. 8¼d. and half a farthing.

Almsmen:—Walter Pott; John Myagh; Richard Everett; William Lyttle; William Clerke; Andrew Armstrong; William Dennis; William Sewell; Hugh Williams; John Moore; Ralph Adale; Henry Holcraft; Robert Panton, deceased, 1st October.

Wages, 59l. 3s.

Sum total of all the pays, 21,502l. 19s. 5¾d. and half a farthing and the fourth part of a farthing, Irish. Making sterling, 16,126l. 9s.7½d.

Sum of the horsemen, 472; footmen at the old pay, 923; on the country's pay, 600; others serving under officers, 180; pensioners and almsmen, 58. In all, 2,233 men. pp. 37.

March 31.

22. Book of the garrisons from 1st October 1585 to 31st March 1586, under the hand of Thomas Williams, Clerk of the Check. pp. 38. [This book was for Walsyngham.]

March 31.

23. Checks set on Captain Thomas Woodhouse, for the half year ended 31st March 1586. pp. 2.

March.

24. Articles concerning Her Majesty's offers for the disposing of the lands in Munster, with the answer and resolution of the Lord Deputy and Council to the several articles. Signed by Geff. Fenton. pp. 2¼.

qy. March.

25. Names of such gentlemen of Cheshire and Denbighshire as are willing to inhabit in Munster, viz., Thomas Salisbury, heir to Sir John Salisbury; Gilbert Gerrard, heir to Sir Wm. Gerrard, late Lord Chancellor of Ireland, and hath land in both shires; Thomas Powell, Esq.; Lancelot Bostok, gentleman, pensioner; and William Aylmer his half brother, having land in both shires; Edward Jones, also of Ladowgan, in the county of Denbigh, Esquire; Mr. George Biston of Cheshire, and Hugh Bostock his son, and Captain Robert Hitchcock. p. 1.