Elizabeth I: volume 168, March 1593

March 1593

Mar. 1. Dublin Castle.

49. Lord Deputy to Burghley. I conceived no small grief to hear of your long and dangerous sickness. If I may say it without offence I am sorry for Her Majesty's resolution towards Sir R. Dillon, for that he is both wise and of singular judgement in matters of law. Justice Walsh, according to Her Majesty's pleasure, is restored. I find the gentleman in all his actions, as well at the Council Board as abroad, very upright and sincere, without disposition to be contentious or vain-glorious. I have delivered unto him so much as you have written concerning him, which I know he will most dutifully embrace and follow. I have imparted to the Lord Chancellor Her Majesty's commandment for his stay from coming thither, whereunto he does most humbly yield himself, though I know it would have been great comfort to him to have seen Her Majesty after his 14 years' absence thence, and to have done his duty to you, and to have cleared himself of some matters wherewith he is charged. Your letters of the 30th ult., in favour of Andrew White, son of Sir N. White, I have, to whom I shall be ready to perform your pleasure as occasion shall require the same. Inclosures. P.S.—I humbly beseech you that there may be some money speedily sent hither to relieve the miserable necessities of the soldiers, besides their victualling money, for commonly that which comes over is in such small proportions as it is issued there and expended here long time before it come. My Lord, I find yet no bettering of the state of my body, but God I thank, my wife hath had better ease than before within three or four days past. [2 pp.] Incloses,

49. I. Account of Sir Richard Bingham's receipts in Connaught, and how the same hath been issued out, within one year ending 1592, Sept. 1592, pp. 2½.

49. II. Declaration of the revenue and composition in Connaught, wherewith the treasurer of Ireland stands charged for three years ended Michaelmas 1591, under the hand of Auditor Chr. Peyton. 1592–3, Feb. 27. p. 1.

49. III. Brief of the impost of wines of Galway from Michaelmas 1589 till Michaelmas 1592. p. 1.

49. IV. Resolution of Her Majesty's Judges and learned Counsel in Ireland, touching the right of the Earl of Ormond as Lord Treasurer of Ireland to bestow certain offices. 1592–3, Feb. 13, Dublin. p. ¾.

Mar. 2.

50. An estimate by Robert Legge of Her Majesty's revenues in Ireland, and of her charge there. And what treasure is sent over yearly to defray it. And how it may be eased by 9,792l. 1s. 10d. sterling, and much more. pp. 7.

Mar. 4. Athlone.

51. Sir R. Bingham to Burghley. In the behalf of Robert Bowen, prisoner in Dublin Castle, for the killing of Richard McMoyler Stanton, of Mayo. Autog. p. 1.

Mar. 6.

52. Sir Thomas Norreys to Burghley. Reports on the petition of Morris FitzThomas to enjoy such lands as his father was seized of at the time of his entry into rebellion with the Earl of Desmond.

On Her Majesty's behalf it is alleged that long time since the proclamation mentioned, the petitioner's father was amongst divers others attainted by Act of Parliament by special name, and the order past on his behalf was grounded on a letter written from the Lords and others of Her Majesty's Privy Council to the Lord Deputy, dated at Nonsuch the 15th of July 1589, on the behalf of one James FitzJohn, in which letter they did signify Her Majesty's pleasure to be that the said John and all others, who, according to the aforesaid proclamation, did leave the rebels and return to their duties, should be pardoned their lives, goods, and lands. Since which letter their Honours have by other letters sent to the Lord Deputy, signified Her Majesty's pleasure to be that the benefit of the proclamation should not extend to any that were attainted by Act of Parliament, save only to eight persons specially named in the Parliament House, and promise past unto them by Sir John Perrot, that none of them should be prejudiced any way by the Act, notwithstanding that they were therein named. So as for this petitioner it rests only that Her Majesty and your Honours do resolve whether the benefit of the proclamation shall stretch generally to all that came in upon it, and performed the conditions therein contained, or else only to those eight who are said to have received the promise, which is referred to your Honours' grave consideration. [Autog.] p. 1.

[Mar. 6.]

53. Petition of Moris FitzThomas Geralte and James Meagh, of the Glenglish, in the county of Limerick, to Burghley, to remember to call for their title and cause. Sir Thomas Norreys is now at Court, who is well acquainted with their causes. p. ¼.

[Mar. 6.]

54. Petition of Moris FitzThomas and James Meagh to Burghley. To be called before the Council, heard, and restored to their possessions. p. ¼.

[Mar. 6.]

55. Petition of Morris FitzThomas Geralt and James Meagh, of Clenglish, in the county of Limerick, to the Lord Keeper and Lord Chancellor of England to remember that they are called before the Council this day to show what title they have to certain lands, &c. p. 1.

Mar. 7. Dublin.

56. Auditor Peyton to Burghley. Complains that the manor of Ardmulgehan which the Earl of Thomond has obtained in fee farm is undervalued. The accounts of the Treasurer and Master of the Ordnance to be taken in Ireland. Autog. p. 1.

Mar. 10. Sligo.

57. Mr. Ralph Lane to Burghley. Urges his suit for the custodiam of Bondrowes, Beleek, Ballyshannon, and Ashroe. pp. 2. Incloses,

57. I. John Danett to Mr. R. Lane. The Lord Deputy will not answer Lane's letters because there is no money. Burghley is well enough to sit in Council a little, Her Majesty having been with him divers times. Great troubles expected in Scotland. Sir Richard Bingham is now returned home. 1592–3, February 20, Dublin. p. 1.

Mar. 12. Dublin.

58. Sir Geff. Fenton to Burghley. To deal with Mr. Edward Herbert for the redelivery of the surveys of Leix and Offaley at his return to Ireland. p. 1.

Mar. 13. Athlone.

59. Sir R. Bingham to Burghley. Has accounted for some rents which to this day he never received. Has defrayed 9,000l. or 10,000l. of extraordinary charges by his own husbandry. M'Gawran has gone into Spain with letters and great assurance from Hugh Roe O'Donnell and M'Gwyre. Aut. pp. 2½.

Mar. 14. Dublin.

60. Lucas Challoner, Henry Lee and Launcelot Mouney to Burghley. To deal with Her Majesty to bestow Her gracious bounty on the College of Dublin. Also for payment of 623l. 0s. 8d. sterling prest bills bestowed on that good work by the affection of the captains serving in Ireland. Autogs. p. 1.

Mar. 14.

61. Ewer M'Mahon to Burghley. I do most humbly crave pardon of your Lordship for my often troubling of your Honour with my letters, which I am enforced to write unto you to put you in mind that myself and my nine sons, all serviceable men, with my four brothers and all our kinsmen and followers are to be dispossessed of our ancient inheritance by Mr. John Talboth (by virtue of the Earl of Essex's estate made unto him for that purpose) at May next coming, and that we must go to seek us some place of abode then, we know whither, which being so, and that my services and deserts mentioned partly in a copy of the same delivered to your Lordship and exhibited with my petition to Her Majesty and the Lords of the Council, deserves favour. I humbly pray your Lordship therefore for the more manifesting of the truth of my loyalty and good service to call to Mr. Wilbraham Her Majesty's Solicitor of Ireland and to Mr. Dean of Ardmagh, Sir George Carew, Sir Henry Harrington, with divers others, who are here present, for to make report unto your Lordship of their knowledge of me and thereupon to enter into the consideration of my demands in my petition, whereby I may depart speedily to provide for the fore-recited charges which are now at an uncertain stay. Autog. p. ½.

Mar. 15. Dublin.

62. Sir Geff. Fenton to Burghley. That Florence M'Carty who is yet about London or the Court may be still detained, as one very likely to become a head of a faction. p. 1. Incloses,

62. I. Bishop of Cork and Cloyne to [Sir G. Fenton]. The manner in which the young child of Florence M'Carty is used as a young Prince, carried about the country with three nurses and six horsemen and songs of rejoicing in the praise of his father, to be fostered with the best, month by month. 1592–3, March 8. p. ¾.

March 16.

63. Examination of Shane M'Tirlagh relative to the murder of Stanton. p. 1.

March 16 and 17.

64. Examinations of Walter Hartpoole, Dean of Leighlin, John Calowhill, James Folam, Ony ni Mortogh Lea, Katherine ni Mortogh Lea, Thomas Michell, and James O'Kirrin, relative to the murder of Stanton. p. ¾.

March 17.

65. James Myaghe to Lord Burghley. For license to trade with Bordeaux, St. Malo, or Rochelle. p. ½.

March between 11 and 18.

66. Petition of Thomas Edney to Lord Burghley for the despatch of the suits of Sir Henry Bagenall, Knight-Marshal of Ireland. p. 1.

March 18.

67. Lord Deputy to Burghley. The punishment which Sir Robert Dillon hath already received is enough for this time. The controversy between John Bruerton and Edward White, for the office of Clerk of the Council in Connaught. Mr. Treasurer's agents have passed no less abundance of pipe staves out of Ireland than Mr. Pyne. pp. 2. Incloses,

67. I. Francis Jobsonn to the Lord Deputy. Touching his inventions for fortification, and how to defend the same and offend the enemy in such sort as never in man's memory before was devised. 1592–3, March 6. p. ¾.

67. II. Francis Jobsonn to the Lord Deputy. His want of money. His engagements with the Earl of Ormond and others to measure their lands, prevent his repair into England. 1592–3, March 10. p. 1.

March 19. Dublin.

68. Lord Deputy and Council to the Privy Council. Magawran and the titular Bishops have their most frequent abode under O'Donnell. Sir R. Dillon's innocence. Have willed him to forbear to execute the place of Justice in the Common Pleas. pp. 3. Inclose,

68. I. Sir R. Bingham to the Lord Deputy. I have received your Honour's instructions with a clause contained in the Lord Treasurer's letter touching such Romish and traitorous bishops as myself had advertised his Honour of, as I did your Lordship before my last going to Dublin, and will be as careful of that service or any other that I might or shall be able to compass as is any way possible for me; but those traitors are not within any part of Connaught, otherwise I durst, with God's permission, undertake to procure their apprehension, whereas now I have no means to do that service, being out of my government and the parties for the most part relieved and kept by Hugh Roe O'Donell and Maguire, the very worst neighbours that this province now hath. And therefore I cannot bethink myself of any course so good for their apprehension as you are able to devise and direct, unless they should happen to fall within these borders, which I doubt they will hardly do. 1592–3, March 6. Extract, p. ½.

68. II. Justice Jessua Smythes and George Thornton to the Lord Deputy, &c. That the timber felled by Mr. Pyne was growing on lands which he held by lease from Patrick Condon. Extract, 1592–3, March 9. p. ½.

68. III. Note of all such ships as have been freighted for Sir Walter Rawley, Edward Dodge, Henry Pyne, and Veron Martin since their first trading, 1589, for the Canaries and Seville, by Henry Pyne; declaring the timber and pipe staves carried out of the realm. 1592–3, March 3. p. 1.

March 19.

69. Ewer M'Mahon to Burghley. Forasmuch as this last day by your good Lordship's means I received a final answer from my Lord of Essex, I thought good to give your Lordship to understand that for the land which he informed your Honour, I hold of Her Majesty that the same is but a small portion of waste mountain land, which is uninhabited this 40 years, and was always known to belong to my predecessors, but usurped upon by M'Mahon. I was therefore restored thereto by the now Lord Deputy after M'Mahon's death, which being so, and that my service and desert, with the loss of my inheritance and my long continuance here at great charges, deserves to be considered of, or else it is but folly of any of Ulster, hereafter to crave any recompense for service. I humbly pray you, by whose favourable dealing in my cause I hope chiefly to receive comfort, since that the time wherein I am to be dispossessed, being May next, is near at hand, to vouchsafe to do me the favour as to move the Lords of the Council, to enter into the consideration of my demands in my petition exhibited to Her Majesty and their Lordships and thereupon set down their opinion touching what they think meet to be granted unto me, for the considerations aforesaid, and I shall, being much bound already, be much more bound to pray for your good Lordship's continual prosperity. p. 1.

March 20. Maryborough.

70. Examination of Edmund O'Dorree, touching the murder of Stanton by Bowen. p. 1½.

March 22. Barry's Court.

71. David Barry, Viscount Buttevante, to the Lord Chief Justice Popham. Rebellious attempts of Daniel, base son of the Earl of Clancarty. Caveat against the liberation of Florence M'Carty. p. 1.

March 23.

72. Euer M'Mahon to the Privy Council. Returns to Ireland after six months' suit. Leaves his son, Edmund M'Mahon to follow his causes. p. ¾.

March 24. Dublin Castle.

73. Lord Deputy to Burghley. Arrival of ships from Spain. p. ¼. Incloses,

73. I. Mayor of Waterford to the Lord Deputy. The King of Spain has given direction to stay all Scots. 1592–3, March 20, Waterford. p. 1.

73. II. Declaration by Patrick Prowdfoot of such Spanish news as he could learn at Lisbon. When I came to Lisbon the 1st of January I was examined, when I had been in England, and whether I did know or not whether the English fleet was gone to the sea, or, if they were not ready, when they would be ready, for, said they, there was a fleet preparing for the South Seas. I answered I did not hear of or know of any such matter.

Being at Lisbon, meeting with Baltinglas, Cahil O'Conor, and other gentlemen of Desmond and divers others of other nations, amongst which Cahil O'Conor told me when he departed Ireland, how he did escape by a pinnace out of Ireland into Scotland, and passed from thence in a Scottish ship through the Narrow Seas in a sailor's apparel, and landed in Spain; he told me now they were all hardly used in Spain for their pay, for he said, and so did many of the rest of the pensioners, that in this last 22 months they did not receive one penny of their pay, and he and others of the rest told me that they did wish in God that they might be permitted by Her Majesty to come home again into their native country.

About the 1st of February there came warrants from the Court unto Lisbon to discharge all such strangers as were in pay with the King, thereupon all the Irishmen that were there were put out of pay and discharged.

Also I did hear that all Flemings, Englishmen, and Scottishmen were put out of pay and discharged, excepting a few whose names I could not learn.

Also there were five of the chiefest of the Governours of St. Maryport and towns thereabouts (what the cause was I could not certainly learn, but as it was reported for deceiving the King of his customs at St. Maryport, Cadix, and thereabouts) beheaded.

The Alavantatho [Adelantado] which is the chiefest Governor of that part was sent for and is at Court, and by report is in great disliking with the King, the cause I could not hear.

There is now in the bay of Cadix 40 or 44 sail of great ships laden with wines and other merchandise bound for the Indies, and there was of that fleet a great ship of the burden of 800 tons which had 700 tuns of sack in her and great store of other merchandise accompted worth a great sum of money, burnt by a pitchpot which took fire [while she was] riding at anchor in the said road of Cadix.

This I have seen and heard, and therefore according to my duty I have let you understand. I left St. Maryport, in Spain, the 2nd of March, and arrived at Dublin the 22nd of the same month 1592. 1592–3, March 22. p. 1.

73. III. Declaration of Richard Brown, of Dublin, merchant, concerning the news of Spain. Autog. 1592–3, March 22. p. 1.

73. IV. Declaration of William Cane concerning such occurrences as he heard in Spain. I departed the harbour of Dublin, the 5th day of November, and arrived at Lisbon within 17 days after, and continued in Lisbon 10 weeks or thereabouts. The news is that all Portingals and Englishmen and Irishmen and Scotchmen are discharged of their pensions that they had of the King of Spain. There are 14 sail of ships there at Lisbon bound for the Portingal Indies; and from thence I departed and went to South Spain and continued there seven or eight weeks. The news there was that at St. Lucars there was 30 ships bound for the Indies, and at Cadix there has been 28 ships bound for the Indies, and of those ships there hath been one of them, at our being there, in our presence of a 1,000 tons which had 1,600 buts of sack, besides other commodities, and many men and women lost in her. There has been another ship of the aforesaid number of the burden of three or four hundred [tons] lost upon the sands. Mar. 22. p. ¾.

[March.]

74. Petition of Martin Porter, of Galway, merchant, to Burghley. Prays for license to take from the murderers of his son-in-law 400l. whereof his said son-in-law and his daughter were forcibly deprived. p. 1.

[Mar. 24.]

75. Warrant to the Treasurer of the Exchequer to relinquish a fine of 2,000l. on Richard Meredyth, Bishop of Leighlin, in consideration of his having granted Her Majesty an annuity of 300 marks for 10 years. [Minute, with corrections by Burghley]. Damaged. p. 1.

March 25.

76. Donoghe O'Connor Sligo, to Burghley. That the grant of certain concealments found by Rory O'Dwdy, and to be passed to William Taaffe may not be made prejudicial to any of the writer's rents and lawful services. Autog. p. 1.

March 25. Ballymote.

77. Ralph Lane to Burghley. It may please your Lordship to be advertised that after the despatch of my letters to you with mine own servant from Sligo of the 10th of this instant; in the which amongst other things I certified you that during the Governor, Sir Richard Bingham's absence out of the Province at Dublin, about the answering, (as was bruited in the Province, to matters objected against him by [Fowle] the Provost-Marshal of the same) Brian Oge O'Rourke, assisted by the brother of M'Sweeny ne Bane, captain of the sept of the Galloglasses, appertaining to Hugh Roe O'Donnell, with 200 galloglasses, by the procurement of the said Hugh Roe (who daily discovereth himself more and more in these parts, to expect very shortly a foreign great commandment by Scotland out of Spain), went about to have surprised Balieicke [Beleek] in the hands of one Hugh Duff O'Donnell, enemy at that time to Hugh Roe O'Donnell, and Bundrowes, in the possession of Her Majesty, by a ward put into it by Sir George Bingham. Their intelligence of whose approach after their two days lodging about it, made them to remove and disband themselves; since which time there is come an advertisement to Sir George Bingham lying at Ballimote, where at the writing hereof I was, that Hugh Duff Maguire, brother to Maguire, by the procurement of Hugh Roe O'Donnell and confederated by the Romish bishops that make their public circuits, in O'Donnell and Maguire's countries, hath cut the heads off sixteen of the principal gentlemen to Hugh Duff O'Donnell, appertaining to his ward of Beleek, by a train of a feigned treaty of friendship, mediated by Maguire between Hugh Roe O'Donnell and Hugh Duff O'Donnell. By whose loss the poor gentleman is so brought on his knees that he was enforced to accept of the accord offered him by the said Hugh Roe O'Donnell. The conclusion whereof is looked here will be either the rendering or the razing of Beleek, which as your Lordship doth know is upon one of the entries of the Scots into Connaught. Hereof I thought it not amiss to advertise you particularly. The custodiam whereof being one of the castles, that in my former letters I have made my humble suit for, and of the keys of that frontier, which if Her Majesty may by your advice be served by it, I am desirous to employ my endeavour upon, for the planting and inhabiting on the same, and for the removing of those Romish bishops out of those parts; and for the containing of Tirconnell and Fermanagh, which is Maguire's country, in better terms of loyal subjection to Her Majesty, having a company of horse and foot fit for it, to be maintained wholly upon the charge of the said countries, until the lords of the same shall have put in as assured pledges for their loyalty, as the Governor, Sir Richard Byngham, hath now in his hands of all the whole Province of Connaught. Whose course of proceeding here in these parts for Her Majesty's service hath wrought and daily doth make show of so good effect, and hath made so great impression of obedience in the minds of the greatest and strongest septs of this province, that notwithstanding his late long absence from hence at Dublin, and the great discountenance of the state there, that it is reported amongst them, even to the giving out that he should be removed from the government, yet nevertheless, thanks be to God, it hath wrought no great alteration in the province at all. Notwithstanding the disgraces that he hath sustained during the whole time of two succeeding Deputies, whose quiet government of the whole kingdom, proceeded wholly of the great overthrow which it pleased God, by his direction to give to the Scots at Ardnary; and then of the cutting off the tanistry within this province, with the overthrow of the Bourkes, Conors, and O'Rourkes with numbers of the worst men of all this realm, especially of four or five bands of the bannished men of Munster, who lived in the extremest parts of the province, as also in Tirconnell and Ulster; whereof Her Majesty had the service, this province and the whole realm this long quiet, themselves the honour, and he with his the travail; which being truly made known unto you, I do assure myself it will be in your usual equal constructions of all causes brought before you sufficient to procure your protection of him to wards Her Majesty for any touch of Her Highness' gracious former opinion of him, before he shall have leave personally to answer before you all accusations and all his accusers face to face; which I perceive by letters that he hath written to his brother Sir George Bingham, for that myself at the writing hereof, had not seen him since his last coming from Dublin) he only feareth seeing so stern a course from hence bent against him; and myself as well in my loyal desire of the reducement of this whole realm to Her Majesty's perfect subjection, and of the continuance of such worthy means and ministers for the same, as he hath every way showed himself to be, as of the mutual friendship of antiquity grounded between him and me, am in all duties moved to take upon me to inform you of the premises. And even so concluding this my tedious discourse with my humble recommendation of my suit to you contained in my former letters, for this time I take my leave of your Lordship, Autog. pp. 2.

March 28.

78. Book of articles of treason, felony, simony and extortion exhibited by Edmund Fleming of Cashel and J. Kearney to the Lord Deputy, against Meyler Magrath, Archbishop of Cashel, the 21st of August 1592. Much damaged by damp. pp. 21.

March 28.

79. Similar book by Richard Comyne, 19 Feb. 1592–3.pp. 9.

March 28.

80. Additions to the informations by Patrick Kearnye, 19 Feb. 1592–3. pp. 15½.

March 28.

81. Book of the like nature received from Piers Comyn the 9th March 1592–3. pp. 16½.

March 28.

82. Information of Piers Hackett of 28 March 1593. pp. 3.

March 29.

83. A note of warrants and books remaining with Mr. Auditor Conyers concerning Sir Nicholas Malby's reckoning. p. 1.