Catalogue description THE COUNCIL OF IRELAND to CROMWELL.

We have divers times advertised the King and your Lordship of the hardy acquittal and diligent demeanour of the Lord Deputy in the King's service. Of late he has done a notable deed. Upon the continual wilfulness of O'Chonour, the most rank and seditious traitor, the Lord Deputy prepared a journey upon him, and, accompanied by the Lord of Delven, the Treasurer of the Wars, the Chief Justice, and others of the Council, marched towards his country on the Tuesday after Trinity Sunday. Conducted by the Lord of Delven, the Lord Deputy invaded the countries of O'Mulmoy, MacGoghegan, and O'Mulaghlyne, next adjoining to his country, who were O'Chonour's adherents and chief strength; whereby he constrained them not only to forsake him, but aid our part against him.

That done, the Lord Deputy invaded O'Chonour's country, "where no English host hath been known to enter, through the conduct of the said Baron. And after he had taken certain piles in the frontiers and passages of his border, he besieged his new castle called the Dengen, which, being builded in a great maresse, by reason whereof, and great ditches and waters about the same, was of such strength, as we have not hitherto seen the like in this land. There was within the castle about 40 persons, the most of them gunners. Nevertheless, by great provision and labour of men, a way was so made that by night a battery piece was conveyed so nigh, that she made battery at the castle, and after by assault the same was won, and the ward which was in it had the same grace and pardon that such men deserved, so as a good company of gunners be well dispatched." With all our assents the Deputy caused the castle to be prostrated, and committed the governance of the country to Cahir O'Chonour, who, for taking the King's part against Thomas FitzGerald and the said O'Chonour, was banished by the latter, "so as ever sithence he hath tarried among his subjects, doing his Grace service." The same Cahir, with the aid of the Lord Deputy and the King's subjects, keeps the said O'Chonour out of his country. We beseech you to obtain the King's thanks for the Lord Deputy. As touching O'Chonour's country, which is called Ofaylye, the King has been informed of its strength and situation, and of "the great hurt which groweth to his Grace's subjects by the same." The King should therefore either reward the gentleman who now has the governance thereof, "with some other convenient thing," and inhabit the same with Irishmen, or else, if that is too chargeable, "make this man denizen and create him Baron of Offaley, and he to have the same of his Highness' gift, after English laws and inheritances." If he received it of the King's gift, he would be constrained to be a good subject, for that Irishmen would hate him.

Of late the King's castle of Athlone, "which is a great garrison, standing in the midst of this land upon a passage betwixt Connaught and these parts, is obtained unto his Grace's possession" from the usurpation of Irishmen, who have kept the same from him and his progenitors these many years. "Before this journey here was but one battery piece of ordnance, which, at the making of the said battery at O'Chonour's castle, was broken;" wherefore we beseech you to request the King that another may be sent hither with speed.

Dublin, 26 June.

Signed: [J.] Lord of Trimleteston, Chancellor; Georgius Dublin.; Edwardus Miden.; J. Rawson, P. of Kyllmaynam; Willm. Brabason; Patrick Finglas, Baron; Gerald Aylmer, Justice; Thomas Houth, Justice; Thomas Lutrell, Justice; John Allen.

Copy. Headed: To the L. Cromwell, L. Privy Seal.

Printed in "State Papers," II. 442, from the original in the Record Office.

Calendar of the Carew Manuscripts preserved in the Archiepiscopal Library at Lambeth, ed. J. S. Brewer & W. Bullen (6 vols., 1867-73), vol. I, document 101.