Catalogue description LORD LEONARD GREY.

"An Information against the Lord Leonard Grey, Lord Deputy of Ireland, in anno 32 H. VIII., mense Oct." [Note in margin:--"This Information was presented unto Sir Anthony St. Ledger, Kt., Lo. Dep. of Ireland, upon the oath of John Darcy, the examinat."]

"Here ensueth the gests and progress of the Lord Leonard Grey, the King's Deputy of Ireland, from day to day, of the journey that he made into Munster, Thomond, and Connaught, and of his demeanour and proceedings in the same; noted by John Darcy, Esquire, and gentleman usher to the King's Grace, the same John being then present."

The Lord Deputy began his journey out of the English pale the 19th June, accompanied with 100 Englishmen of the King's retinue, including the Treasurer's men, and of the King's English subjects of this land, 30 horsemen, 24 kerne, and 200 gallowglasse. He lodged that night with O'Conner at Monaster Oris, where he had sumptuous cheer, and we were lovingly entertained.

On the 20th O'Conner caused a great number of the working men of his country to mend the way over Togher Croghan, and the Lord Deputy passed over Togher Croghan, and so marched further through O'Conner's country, having O'Conner with him, without any fear or danger, and camped that night at Ballinvallaghe, above Killeghe.

On the 21st the Lord Deputy "passed forth out at a strong and a very dangerous pass," called Balleighgeran, and camped that night at the abbey of Killcormoke, where he was victualled by O'Moloy and his friends. In the morning he went from thence to a castle in O'Moloy's country, in the possession of Donnell, O'Moloy's son, who was married to the late O'Carrell's daughter; which O'Carrell served the King truly under the Earl of Ormond all the late rebellion. The Deputy took the castle and delivered it to O'Moloy, who had served the contrary part all that rebellion time. For the castle O'Moloy gave to Stephen Ap Harry 20 kine, besides what he gave to the Lord Deputy and the rest of the army.

On the 22nd the Lord Deputy, by the conduct of O'Conner and O'Moloy, removed from thence and marched to O'Carrell's country, where he lodged that night near a place called Suerkarran. On the morrow they went to the castle of Birre, expulsed the true inheritors of the same, who had taken the King's part with the said late loyal O'Carrell, and delivered it to the disloyal O'Carrell that now is, who took open part with the Geraldines in all the said rebellion, and who had to wife the late Earl of Kildare's daughter. They then marched through the Earl of Ormond's lands of Ormond, and there left neither church nor village unspoiled, until they came to the castle of Moderherne, which is the said Earl's inheritance. They took and delivered it to the said disloyal O'Carrell, and camped there three nights, cutting and destroying all the corn of the town; "and for the same there must be paid to the Lord Deputy 140 kine, and to Stephen Ap Harry and other my Lord Deputy's officers 40 kine, besides a black hackney that was given to Gerald McGerrott."

On the 26th, by the conduct and leading of the said O'Carrell, they passed through the rest of Ormond, robbing and spoiling all the country; and these hurts notwithstanding, his Lordship took 40 kine of O'Kennidie, the Earl of Ormond's tenant there, who was also compelled to give his son as hostage. They camped that night at Bealathagoyn, in the further side of Ormond.

On the 27th they removed through Billineshelly and divers other strong and dangerous passages by the conduct of the said Irishmen and their friends. "We camped two nights at Garrennegrallaghe, in O'Molrien's country, waiting for the coming of James of Desmond, against whom O'Conner and Stephen Ap Harry were sent for his safeconduct to and fro, which came unto them with a good band of men the 29th day; and my Lord Deputy, and as many of his army as were then with him, set on their harness and were in array at his receipt, my Lord Deputy putting a part from him the Lord of Gormanston and all other gentlemen of the Englishry, and took no man with him but Stephen Ap Harry and Gerald McGerrott of his party, and such as the said Lord of Desmond listed to bring unto him of his council. And after long entertainment of him there, the said James departed from the Lord Deputy and his army, and camped in another place there besides him that night. And being so camped, my Lord Deputy went peaceably in his night-gown, without any company, saving that my Lord of Gormanston followed him unasked, to the same James' cabin, where he lay, and were there together sole alone a long while in the night, and the said Lord of Gormanston wist not what they said or did. And after they had drunken a cup of wine together, the said Lord Deputy returned in like manner to his own camp and lodge again.

"And in the morning, being the 30th day, the Lord Deputy being at mass in the abbey of Owney, which payeth the 20th part to the King as other houses did, while the army was pilfering and spoiling the same houses, the abbot, seeing that, for saving of his abbey from utter spoil and breaking down must have given the Lord Deputy 40l. sterling, as the deponent credibly heard, besides that was given to intercessors that interceded for him. And there came in McIbrien Arragh, and paid 30 kine, and put in his son. And then came Ulicke de Burghe, and covenanted with the Lord Deputy, that if he would have made him McWilliam, and deliver him the castle of Balliniclere, he would send an Irish galley to Limericke, to convey the King's ordnance from thence to Gallway, and that he would give his Lordship 100 marks sterling; and so that covenant was granted and concluded between them there. And so they marched forth to Theobald de Burghe's country, and have undone him all to Limericke ward.

"And when James of Desmond brought them thither, he returned from them, and would not trust to go in with them to Limericke. Howbeit, he was content that certain moneys should be levied and taken of the county of Limericke, to be delivered among the army, they lacking victuals for their refreshing. And Gerald McGerrott, being collector thereof, gave 100 marks sterling, and gave no part thereof to the army. And so they lay in Limericke; and my Lord Deputy, in performance of his said covenant with Ulicke de Burghe, sent from thence the foresaid half culveringe, sakre, and double falcons, and divers other habiliments from thence in a small Irish galley to Gallway, which was no small jeopardy to the King's ordnance in so slender a vessel, and so for all the land, and for the charges of the carriage thereof, the men of Gallway must have paid 34l. sterling. And there the treasurer of Limericke was attached, and all his goods taken away, and one James Herald and Bartholomew Streche impeached of feigned treason, and so were committed to gaol there. And other our proceedings there is to be examined of the citizens of the same. The fault of the Lord Deputy's misdemeanour therein is much referred to Edmond Sexton.

"Item, there was sent from my Lord Deputy in a boat from Limericke Stephen Ap Harry and Edmond Sexton down the river of Limericke, and there met them O'Brien on the one side of the river and James of Desmond on the other side; and whatsoever the matter was moved there between them, it was concluded by the Lord Deputy at their return unto him, that they should meet together and make their journey to Moroghe O'Brien's bridge. And the day of their removing out of Limericke, which was the Thursday the 5th of July, the said James came to the gates of Limerick, and sent his excuse to the Lord Deputy that his army was so great that he could not conveniently go through the city, and that he would ride over the river of the Shenan in a ford above the city, and meet his Lordship at the said bridge that night; which, notwithstanding, came not till the next morrow. And my Lord Deputy, with no small danger, but with extreme peril (without the help of God) being upon the only trust of Irishmen in their own countries, and as it was thought by all the King's subjects that accompanied him there, to be a great cause of fear and dishonour to see the King's Deputy, being in that plight, take his journey on the further side of the river through O'Brien's country and greatest fastness, and so to the bridge, where he camped that night in no less danger, except God had preserved him; and there Donoghe O'Brien played an honest true part. His chief and privy councillors in all these proceedings were Stephen Ap Harry, O'Conner, Gerald McGerrott, Prior Welshe, Owen Keughe, that blasphemed against the King, and Thomas Albanaghe, who were the chief notable fellows in all the last rebellion.

"Item, the next morrow, being the 6th day, the said James of Desmond with all his people came to the bridge aforesaid, and there came to them the men of Limericke with boats and victual, having with them the said Donoghe O'Brien for their safeconduct, and brake down such part of the castle as was reedified again, and some arches of the bridge, which the flood, when it did cast down the residue, did leave standing; and camped there two nights.

"Item, they removed from thence the 8th day, and marched forth into Moroghe O'Brien's country, my Lord Deputy being in the forward, and O'Brien and the said James of Desmond (with such of the King's ordnance as was left unsent in the said Irish galley out of Limericke to Gallway) in the rearward, till they came, through many dangers and fast passes, to a town of the said Moroghe's, called the castle of Balliconnell, and took the same, and delivered it to O'Brien to be delivered to his son Tirloghe, begotten of his wife that now is, the Earl of Desmond's daughter; and there camped that night. And on the morrow being the 9th day, we went to a castle or manor called the Clare-more, and took it, and delivered the same to the said son and to his said mother; but what my Lord Deputy's reward from O'Brien was (for his kindness herein) no man knoweth it (but the said O'Brien's wife, James De La Hide's wife that waited upon her, which James De La Hide's wife hath a protection of my said Lord Deputy to come home among her friends), except two chief horses, which were given to Stephen Ap Harry and Gerald McGerrot for their parts. And as for Donoghe O'Brien's reward for returning them from them, for the safe conducting of them of Limericke, and for being left for dead in the King's service in the late rebellion, all his country in his absence then was burned and destroyed by the said James of Desmond. And we camped at Clare two nights, and received of the two McNeMaroghe's 80 kine. And at Donoghe's return from Limericke, he sent to the said Deputy to desire to have amends of James of Desmond for the burning of his country, he being in the King's service, that he durst not put his own person in jeopardy with his Lordship in any place in the said James his company where his Lordship could not remedy him.

"Item, at the removing from Clare the 11th day, in the entering on a marvellous unready way, there began a great schism and a dangerous fray between the said James of Desmond and the Lord Deputy for Desmond O'Molrian's hostage, insomuch as the said James put all his men and himself in array, ready to have given the Lord Deputy the battle, were it not that Sir Thomas Butler, which, being very familiar and bold upon the said James of Desmond, with great pain and difficulty took up the matter between them. And during those treaties part of the said James his men, willing then to go together by the ears (rather than otherwise), made a quarrel to some of my Lord Deputy's company before himself and in his presence, and took four horses from one Richard Tuit, and led them with them sithence. And the said James, so half pacified by the said Sir Thomas Butler, returned home again. And the said Lord Deputy having O'Brien's promise to have been conducted by him to Ulicke de Burghe, in the end he deceived him, sending but one gallowglasse with a silver spear or ax, and the hilt thereof hanging full of silk, to be his guide, and so went with them to Gallway. All we the King's subjects that were there sorrowfully bewailed the King's Deputy to put himself so slenderly, at such a dangerous hazard, in the King's enemies' hands. Albeit, it was thought he had much favour for his sister's sake, for that she was the Earl of Kildare's wife, and otherwise. And we camped that night in the edge bordering between O'Brien's country and Clanrickard, watching all that night in their harness. And there came Ulicke de Burghe to his Lordship with about 24 men on horseback. And the said Ulicke, marvelling that my Lord Deputy would come so slenderly in so dangerous a passage, demanded of him how he durst come in that manner; and he pointed, saying, 'Lo! seest thou not yonder standing before me O'Brien's ax for my conduct?'

"Item, the next morrow, being the 12th day, the Lord Deputy marched in the foreword, and left the said Ulike with the King's ordnance in the rearward, and went that day to Ballin Clare, and took the castle, and delivered it to Ulike according his former promise, and rifled the abbey of friars there, and left neither chalice, cross, nor bell in it. And on the morrow, being the 13th day, went to Gallway, and there continued six days, and there received the rewards of many Irishmen, and made the said Ulike knight, and created him (being a bastard) McWilliam, and expulsed his uncle Richard de Burghe. And his further proceedings there is to be referred to the mayor and his brethren of the town.

"Item, the said Lord Deputy departed Gallway, the 18th day, and marched with the said new McWilliam to Leakaghe and Derriviclaghnye, two castles belonging to Richard Oge's sons, which proffered to become the King's faithful subjects, and to do his Majesty daily service, and to yield and pay yearly to the King as much rent and tribute out of their castles as the said Ulike would give, so as, by reason of their ancienty, they would not be bound to be under the hand and subjection of the said Ulike, being their younger, unless the King's Council (to whom they were contented to put the indifferent ordering of that matter) would award them; which the Lord Deputy refused, and brake down their said two castles, and camped there two nights and two days, breaking down the said castles and cutting their corn.

"Item, the 20th day the Lord Deputy departed thence, and lodged that night at Beallakorie; and there came to him by the way one called O'Conner Ro, a great man in those quarters, accompanied only of the friar (sic) of Roscomen, that spake good English, and one that led his chief horse with him as a horseman, by whose conduct and leading the young Garrott [Note in margin:--"Afterward he was Earl of Kildare."] and his aunt [Note in margin:--"She was wife to McCartie Reughe."] were conveyed from the said Ulike to O'Donnell. And after that, Stephen Ap Harry and Gerald McGerrott were in long communication with the said O'Conner Ro; and the said Lord Deputy himself with the said Prior went a part before from all the company, and had long secret communication with the said O'Conner. In the end the said O'Conner left his chief horse with the Lord Deputy, and departed from him at Agherim the 21st day, where we lodged that night.

"Item, Brien O'Conner bringing in his brother-in-law Donoghe O'Kelly (that married his sister that was Oliver FitzGerald's wife) to my Lord Deputy to Agherim, and when he was demanded to put in his pledges, he said he would put in none, and that he had no gold, nor silver, ne cup to give him, but that he would do his Lordship service, and conduct him through his country as other men did; and if he would not be contented with that, that he would defend himself the best he could against him. And so his Lordship shunned that country, and came through Shilankie, called O'Maddin's country, receiving of the two O'Maddins 80 kine, and that day went over the Shenan at the ford of Bennagher, and there lodged that night; and in the morning through the great fastness of woods and moors of O'Malaghlin's country, where my Lord Deputy compelled Dillon to deliver unto him O'Malaghlin's son, which he had taken in good war that he had with the said O'Malaghlin. And for the delivery of him again to his father, my Lord Deputy received 70 kine, and Gerald McGerrott had a silver piece. And so we came home that night to the said Gerald McGerrott's house at Creboy. It is commonly said that the Lord Deputy, Gerald McGerrott and Stephen Ap Harry were out of fear by reason of the Earl of Kildare's band, so as they passed through every where upon trust of that band, never putting harness on their backs all that journey, nor few or none Englishmen that were there, except the Treasurer's [William Brabazon.] men."

Signed: John Darcy, W. B. [The initials of Sir William Birmingham. See the following paragraph.]

"Sir William Birmingham, knight, being present the same journey, being also sworn upon the journey, confesseth the same to be true, and hath as well as he could subscribed his name."

Signed: Anthony St. Ledger.

Sir Jenico Preston, Viscount of Gormanston, sworn and examined, agrees with the said John Darcy, saving that he was not privy what pleasures or rewards the said Lord Leonard received in that journey. Though he was in company with Lord Leonard, "he made him little or nothing privy to his proceedings in that journey concerning the secrets of the same." He heard it reported in the camp that "young Gerald, his aunt Eleanor, and that company were conveyed (not past 14 days before their coming into those parts) from James of Desmond to O'Brien, and from him to Ulike de Burghe, and from him to O'Conner Ro of Roscomen, and from him to O'Donnell." He says that "the article of the taking of the horses and harnesses from the Baron of Delvin and other the King's subjects in O'Conner's country, and the misintreating of them there," is true.

Signed: Jenico Vicecount of G.

"Note, that this examination and many more, to the number of 70 examinates or thereabouts, were taken, by order out of England, by Sir Anthony St. Ledger, then Lord Deputy of Ireland, against the Lord Leonard Grey, his predecessor, whereof a great book was made, every leaf whereof was subscribed by the said Sir Anthony St. Ledger, and sent to King Henry VIII.; whereupon the Lord Leonard Grey in England was arraigned, condemned, and executed in anno 1541."

Copy.

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 149.