Appendix

Calendar of State Papers, Ireland, 1611-1614. Originally published by Longman and Co, London, 1877.

This premium content was digitised by double rekeying. All rights reserved.

'Appendix', in Calendar of State Papers, Ireland, 1611-1614, (London, 1877) pp. 545-551. British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/cal-state-papers/ireland/1611-14/pp545-551 [accessed 25 March 2024]

In this section

Appendix.

1614.

[The Lord Deputy and Council, in their letter of November 24, 1613 to the Privy Council of England, in giving an account of the appearance of Sir James Gough in the Council Chamber of Dublin Castle, intimate that they send enclosed "the speech written by himself and agreeing in substance with the abstract of it which they had collected to send their Lordships" (p. 456). Neither of these papers is now found in the Public Record Office. But among the Stearne MSS. in the Library of Trinity College, Dublin, a very curious volume of collections, bearing chiefly on the affairs of the Catholic recusants at this period, are copies of two papers which are plainly the "abstract" and the "speech written by himself" referred to in the letter of the Lord Deputy and Council.

We have thought it desirable to print these papers, as well as a copy of the "Catholic Oath" which appears in the same collection, in an Appendix to the State Papers of 1614.]

971. The Oath that the Papists profess to take. 1614. [Jan.] Stearne MSS., Trin. Col., Dublin. E. 3., 15.

I do acknowledge that the King is my only King and undoubted Sovereign, and that he hath absolute regal power, authority, and jurisdiction and government immediately under God over his three kingdoms, and over the persons of his subjects, spiritual and temporal, and I do protest that I am and ever will, to the utmost of my power as becomes a loyal subject and faithful servant, be ready with the hazard of my life, lands, and goods to defend his royal person and his dominion against his enemies that go about to invade them, whether it be emperor, pope, or prelate, prince, or potentate whatsoever.

P. 1. Copy.

972. Sir James Gough's Speech to the Lord Deputy. [Jan.] Stearne MSS., Trin. Coll., Dublin. E. 3., 15.

We took our leave of His Majesty at Royston on Sunday was three weeks, and at our coming away His Majesty charged us to tell in every place where we come how graciously he had dealt with us, and how patiently he has heard us, and although he conceived our departing from the Parliament was as high an act of rebellion as could be committed without arms defensive and offensive, yet that he upon our appeal and submission would let us feel the effect of his clemency. And as for your religion (said His Majesty), although I wish the religion we (His Majesty) profess were generally established and received through our kingdoms both by you and your priests (holding yours to be no religion, but mere superstition), yet so long as they do not profess those traitorous points that it is lawful to murder or lay violent hands upon our person or to depose as from our Crown we do not mean to extort or force your consciences, which speeches His Majesty commanded us to publish and make known among his subjects,—and I confess I have reported them in several places, and now fearing lest my report of His Majesty's might be enlarged. I thought it right to make known to your Lordship His Majesty's own words, and humbly pray you to bear witness that I have done this according to His Highness's directions. The Lord Deputy demanded, Did His Majesty direct you to deliver this message to me?

His Majesty (said Sir James) willed me to publish it to all men and in all places.

To which speech the Lord Deputy answered, I do not believe you, and wished him to be well advised what he said. Sir James said, His Majesty had commanded him to publish those speeches, and he would maintain them at Hercules' Posts. The Lord Deputy wished him a second time to be sure that his head was not distempered by his late being at sea. He answered that he reported these words by the King's own directions, and if His Majesty do command me (said he) I will proclaim them at Hercules' Posts.

The said Sir James also told the Lord Deputy that His Majesty did expressly charge him that they should not send any of their children or youth to be brought up at Douai, wishing them to remember that kings had long ears, and that he would carefully hearken to this point.

Pp. 2. Copy.

973. Sir James Gough's Discourse, written by Himself. [Jan.] Stearne MSS., Trin. Col., Dublin, E. 3., 15.

Upon the 23rd October, being Sunday, Lord Gormanston, Viscount Roch, Mr. Patrick Hussy, and myself, kissed His Majesty's hands at Royston; and then some of our company, having discussed of many things, His Majesty wished to hear all, and gave a particular reply to every point, and among other passages he bade us to make known the particulars ensuing to his subjects there; and (as near as I can remember) in these words: "As for your parting from the Parliament, all disguises pulled off, I do repute it to be the highest disobedience that could be committed by subjects, and that in such a degree that it wanteth nothing of open rebellion but arms offensive and defensive. Yet by your humble appeal and submission to me you have found the effect of my clemency and mercy. I do desire you to make known how graciously I have used you, how at several times I [ ] you my royal presence, and how patiently I heard you. And as for your religion, howbeit that the religion I profess be the religion I will make the established religion amongst you, and that the exercise of the religion which you use (which is no religion indeed, but a superstition) might be left off; yet will I not ensue or extort any man's conscience, and do grant that all my subjects there (which likewise upon your return thither I require you to make known) do acknowledge and believe that it is not lawful to offer violence unto my person, or to deprive me of my crown or to take from me my kingdoms, or that you harbour or receive any priest or seminary that would allow such a doctrine. I do likewise require that none of your youth be bred at Douai. Kings have long ears, and be assured that I will be inquisitive of your behaviour herein." This was the substance of the words His Majesty was most graciously pleased to deliver in His Highness's Privy Chamber, being then present,—Lord Finton [Fenton], a Privy Counsellor; Lord Hayes, Lord Haddington, Sir Humphry May, and others. His Majesty having imposed this charge upon us I could not, in my duty, but accomplish the same; and, therefore, did I first make it known to Sir Francis Kingsmill, who came over in one bottom with me, and prayed him to take notice of my words, and that if it had received any addition it did not move from me. The like did I at Dungarvan to the sovereign of the place, in the presence of the Constable of the Castle of Dungarvan, Mr. Roger Carew, and the like to Mr. John White, Richard White, John Bray, and others, at Clonnel. And in so much as I thought it convenient to have the Lord Deputy's testimony in affirmance of my faithful performance of the duty imposed by His Majesty, as also that I would prevent any enlargement, upon presenting myself unto his Lordship I made relation thereof unto him, which seemed so strange unto him, as he said His Majesty never uttered the like words and withal other language I received as better at this time pretermitted than to be written. But I am so confident in the most great and true King's words, that if he had injoined me to make it known at Hercules' Posts, I would; and being required by his Lordship, the Chancellor, and others of the Council, to subscribe unto the same, I willingly consent thereto, and am assured of the constancy of my King, who has undertaken to protect me, and likewise do signify in the behalf of those I spoke with that they hold it most odious and damnable to offer violence to His Majesty's sacred person, and that they will not only forbear receiving a ministering of such priests, but will likewise make them known. And that hitherto they never heard of such a doctrine.

Pp. 3. Copy.

974. Sir James Gough's Recantation and Submission. [Jan. 31.] Stearne MSS., Trin. Col., Dublin, E.3., 15.

He repeats his account of their reception by His Majesty at Royston, and reports the King's address in the same words as before, and how he published them at Youghal and other places on his journey to Dublin, and finally before the Lord Deputy and Council at the Castle of Dublin; and thus proceeds: "Being again now demanded by the Lord Deputy whether I did gather or conceive out of any of His Majesty's words that it was his meaning to have every man left to the free exercise of his religion, and consequently to admit a toleration, I do think it my duty thus to explain myself First, I am assured he did nor doth conceive the execution of the laws established to be the extorting or forcing of men's consciences, but that it is the King's pleasure to have the laws executed in that behalf everywhere and by every degree but that his subjects should be compelled, by violence or other unlawful means, to resort to the Protestant churches, or that they should be compelled by oppressions and undue infliction of punishment to acknowledge the use of the sacrament, contrary to their consciences or vulgar conceit of it; and if any man has made other construction of my words he is to blame, and has therein wrested His Majesty's discourse to a contrary sense and done me wrong. I am sorry for my offence against His Majesty in omitting his words of putting his laws in execution, and for any other offence given by me to His Majesty, or to the Lord Deputy, or State here, and I do humbly pray the remittance thereof, and my enlargement.—Witness my hand this last of January 1613."

Pp. 2. Copy. Not add. Endd.: "Sir James Gough's recantation."

The few following Papers have been misplaced.

975. Irishmen's Exceptions against Proceedings of Irish Parliament of 1614. [May 20.] Lansd. MSS., 159, 25, f. 125, B.M.

Minutes taken by Sir Julius Cæsar at the Council Table of the Irishmen's exceptions against certain proceedings of the Irish Parliament.

Pp. 2. Headed: "20 May 1614. Exceptions by the Irish."

976. The King to the Earl of Ormond. [Sept. 17.] Carte Papers, vol. 30, No. 162.

Is glad he is not averse to the King's intention concerning the effect of the message delivered by his nephew, Walter Butler. Assures him that the gentleman designed for that match is of the King's own breeding, and is worthy of esteem. Begs the Earl to favour him as the affection of the gentlewoman will permit. Assures himself that the bearer "shall not lose his travaile."—Theobalds, Sep. 17, 1614.

P. 1. Copy. Add. Endd.

977. The Lord Deputy to His Majesty's Learned Counsel. [Dec. 25.] Carte Papers, vol. 61, p. 298.

Warrant for a fiant of the offices of Comptroller and Collector of Customs of the city of Waterford and town of Rosse to Robert Master, upon surrender of the same by Nicholas Lee.

P. 1. Signed at head.

1609–1613.

Papers overlooked and now inserted.

978. Petition of Callogh Birne and Richard O'Birne, in behalf of themselves and the rest of the gentlemen and freeholders of Birne's country, county Wicklow, to the Lord Deputy and Council; with answer to the said petition given at Westminster, Feb. 20, in the fifth year of James I. 1609. [Feb. 20.] Carte Papers, vol. 62, No. 129.

P. 2.

979. Lords of the Council to the Lord Deputy and Council. 1610. [June 16.] Carte Papers, vol. 30, No. 156.

Complaint has been made that the Earl of Ormond's tenure of the castle of Kilkenny, and the privileges thereto belonging is impugned by a new charter lately granted to the corporation. Desire the total order that the affair be settled "with as much favour to the nobleman as may be agreeable to equity." —June 16, 1610.

P. 1. Copy. Endd.

980. The King to Sir Arthur Chichester. 1611. [March 15.] Carte Papers, vol. 30, No. 51.

Orders him to examine the proceedings in the commission whereby the cantred of Arra was joined with the county of Crosse, in order that if any indirect proceeding be discovered to have taken place, as is alleged by the Earl of Ormond, a new commission be granted, and the cantred of Arra be readjoined to Tipperary and severed from Crosse. Also, that all freedoms granted during the late reign to the said Earl be confirmed to him, and after his decease to the Lord Viscount Butler, the Lady Elizabeth his wife, daughter and heir apparent to the said Earl.—Westminster, March 15, in the eighth year of our reign.

Pp. 3. A copy. Endd.

981. Sir Toby Caulfield to [Lord Northampton]. 1612. [Sept. 18.] Cott. MSS., Tit. B. x. 209, B.M.

It being signified to him by his Lordship as the King's pleasure that he should surrender to the Londoners, for a consideration far short of their value, all his abbey lands which be within their precinct, and his impropriate tithes to the parochial ministers, he submits that he had a lease of the abbey lands long before the plantation was dreamed of, and not as a favour, but as exchange for a lease of lands which he had newly taken from the primate, but was requested to surrender to him for the primate's convenience and at much disadvantage to himself. Has expended much labour and money upon these lands. Confesses humbly and gratefully that he is indebted to His Majesty for all he possesses; nevertheless reminds him that he holds by gift of His Majesty but 1,000 acres allotted in the division of Ulster, for which he has paid dearly in the charge borne for buildings. His Lordship has expressed approbation of his carriage in the oversight of one of the turbulentest counties of Ulster. In consideration of this and other deserts had hoped for a share of the royal favour such as had been given to others of the same rank and of less merit; but far from this, he is now about to be deprived of what he already possesses and has purchased with his own money and toil. Lastly, he declares that he is unwilling to part with his land to the Londoners on any terms, being desirous to settle on it and build himself a dwelling, and offers, therefore, rather to purchase the interest which the Londoners may have in it, and proposing to bind himself to certain conditions.

As to the tithes which he is called on to surrender, he submits that he has already engaged at least one half of them to certain kinsmen, whom he brought out of England to build and settle at great charge upon his abbey lands. Prays his Lordship therefore to promise that this demand may be forborne, and that his abbey land may be permitted the same privilege which is granted to all similar lands in the kingdom. —Dublin, September 18, 1612.

Pp. 4. Hol. Not add. or endd.

982. Sir George Beverly to Sir Thomas Lake. [Feb. 1.] Add. P., Ireland, P.R.O.

The execution of his office in Ireland has been wrested from him by an indirect course, in which he seeks to be repaired. Desires Sir Thomas Lake to retain letters for reversion to victualling offices in Ireland until his cause be heard.— Huntington, near Chester, 1 February 1612.

P. 1. Signed. Sealed. Add. Endd.

983. Damian Peeke to Sir Julius Cæsar. [Nov. 29.] Lansd. MSS., 159, 28, 136. B.N.V.

Concerning fees due to him as attorney-general for Connaught.—Dated Dublin, 29 November.

P. 1. Hol. Endd.: "My brother Peeke's letter."