Catalogue description LORD LEONARD GREY, LORD DEPUTY, to CROMWELL.

Since my last the Council and I assembled at Tryme the 7th October, where we concluded a journey for eight days' victuals upon O'Reaille, who kept not his appointments with me. In case O'Reile conformed him to a reasonable order, the Council referred it to my discretion to go for the spending of the said victuals where I thought best. On the 8th I repaired from Tryme to Kenlys, where I appointed the host to meet me. On the 9th O'Reile came to me there, and we came to an agreement. On the 10th I went to Dundalk, and sent to O'Neile to have communication "with his" (him?), who appointed to meet with me at Carrick Bradagh, near Dundalk, but broke his appointment.

Mr. Treasurer came to Dundalk with his company. As my purpose touching O'Neile was letted, and as Savage, chief captain of his nation, would not pay his farm to Mr. Treasurer, who was farmer of the country of Lecayle, and had brought into that country divers Scots, who had much of that country in their subjection, it was concluded between Mr. Treasurer and me that we should go to Lecayle. I took all the castles there and delivered them to Mr. Treasurer. I also took a castle in McGuinous' country called Doundrone, which is one of the strongest holds in Ireland, and most commodious for defence of the whole country of Lecayle both by sea and land, for Lecayle is environed by the sea, and there is no way to enter it by land, but by the said castle. The said Scots fled, and left much "corn, butters, and other pilfery" behind them. I also took a castle which the said Scots had, and other castles in Ards, bordering on Lecayle. The Treasurer has warded them all, 8 in number. I never saw a pleasanter plot of ground than Lecayle "for commodity of the land, and divers islands in the same environed with the sea, which were soon reclaimed and inhabited, the King's pleasure known."

Though I openly reported this journey as before is mentioned, my purpose was this. I had sure knowledge that my nephew young Garrat was with O'Neill, and I used all the means I could to allure him into my hands, "and hath at divers times practised the same, so that at this time I thought that O'Neill and I should have met, and the said Gerald would have come with him; and if the case had so a chanced, I would surely have taken him, and if not, by the oath that I have made to my Sovereign Lord and Master, I would have taken the said O'Neile, and a kept him till he had caused the said Gerald to have been delivered to my hands;" and "when this matter failed me, then I proceeded further as I have before declared" to you. If I had been furnished with ordnance, I should have fought the strongest hold that O'Neill has ere this, for the said purpose. If once I might speak with you, I have some secret things to utter to you touching the apprehension of my said nephew and the subduing of the Irish rebels. I beseech you, considering the quiet state of this land, to "be so good unto me to get me hence to repair thither for as short time as ye shall think convenient."

Castle of Manoth, 31 October, Signed.

Copy.

Headed by Carew: "A letter from the L. Leonard Grey, L. Dep. of Ireland, unto the L. Cromwell, L. Privy Seal."

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 130.