Catalogue description PETITION of JAMES FITZTHOMAS of DESMOND to LORD DEPUTY PERROT.

"That whereas his grandfather, James Earl of Desmond, had lawfully, in the face of the Church, espoused Johan Roche, daughter to the Lord Roche, Viscount of Fermoy, by whom he had issue Sir Thomas of Desmond, knight, father to your said suppliant. And whereas also the said Earl during the life of his said lady presented to Sir Anthony Sentleger, then Lord Deputy, the said Sir Thomas as his son and heir, and as his best and most lawful pledge for his loyalty towards .. King Henry VIII., at whose charges he was brought up in England the space of five years. Nevertheless the said Earl, using the policy or rather ungodly custom too much used in Ireland, did, for the better strength and maintenance against his enemies, take a second wife, the first living; which second was daughter to Occarwill, a mere Irishman, and of the most bloody and vile race of Ireland, by whom he had issue Geratt, the now rebel, usurping the name of Earl, and his undutiful brother John; which name and title he held to him from the said Sir Thomas by strength and countenance of his friends, contrary to all equity in that behalf. In tender consideration whereof, and forasmuch as your petitioner's father and himself have dutifully served the Queen .. all their lives, not only without spot of their fidelity, but with many good services at their own charges, not putting her Highness to any expenses, to their great losses sustained by the traitors of five thousand pounds, as well in the Earl's former rebellion committed by James FitzMorish, wherein the said Sir Thomas had the charge and credit of his rightful inheritance of the Geraldines from all her Majesty's governors in Mounster, and have put the said James sundry times to flight, and killed divers and many of his men, and constrained the whole country to obey her Highness; and now, in this most perilous time; wherein they refer themselves to the report of Sir Henry Sidney, Sir John Perrott, and Sir William FitzWilliam, and to all the rest for their time being that hath been her Majesty's governors there; he most humbly beseecheth your Honour, for the advancement of justice and furtherance and short finishing of her Majesty's service, being the next way to overthrow the arch-rebel, to restore his father to his right and lawful inheritance and patrimony, not doubting but that, with her Majesty's countenance, and some small assistance, his said father and he shall not only withdraw the forces of the said pretended Earl, but also, by the help of their kinsmen and friends, do their uttermost endeavour shortly [to] bring him to confusion and foul end. And both his father and he shall perpetually pray."

Copy. Headed: James FitzThomas his petition to Sir John Perrot, Lord Deputy of Ireland, in October 1584.

Calendar of the Carew Manuscripts preserved in the Archiepiscopal Library at Lambeth, ed. J. S. Brewer & W. Bullen (6 vols., 1867-73), vol. IV, document 13.