Catalogue description THOMAS EARL OF SURREY to CARDINAL WOLSEY.

This record is held by Lambeth Palace Library

Details of
Title: THOMAS EARL OF SURREY to CARDINAL WOLSEY.
Description:

Since the departure of Sir John Wallop, 18 soldiers have conspired to steal a fisherboat of 16 tons here, with intent to put to sea to get a better ship, and then to go to the sea coasts of England and be rovers. I have taken them all, and put them in prison. As they confessed, I asked the advice of the judges and learned men here, who say that considering they have done nothing, but only proposed to do, the common law will not suffer them to die. My patent contains no authority to put them to death except after the course of the common law. I had moved your Grace to have as great authority as my Lord Marquis had in Spain, and as I had upon the sea, to punish those in wages. Unless I have it, it is impossible to keep this company in good order.

 

The victuals are so dear here, and especially drink, that the soldiers cannot live on 4d. a day and reserve anything to buy raiment. My own men being in wages out of my house make such pitiful complaint that I am forced to take them into my house. There was never so little corn in this country as now, and the unusual number of soldiers here causes the more scarcity and dearth, so that wheat is sold for 16s. a quarter and malt for a mark. I beseech you to increase the wages of the soldiers one penny more a day. It were better to give it them by way of reward than as wages, "because of the precedent that might ensue thereof.

 

There is some business between the Earls of Desmond and Ormond and their supporters, which I have sent to pacify, but as yet have had no answer. I intend to go shortly into those parts, and to get them in good order. All Irishmen are at peace, and show themselves desirous of my goodwill. I cannot assure you of long continuance thereof, for little trust is to be placed in their promises. "The death continueth in every place in the English pale, and hath been sorer in this city this week than it was any time this year.

 

Since my coming into this land I have never heard from the King or you, and none of my servants whom I have sent to you have yet returned. "I think the winds at the sea coast of England will not serve them to come." I beseech you that money may be sent hither shortly, for there is none to borrow, "and the winds many times continue long contrarious on England coast to come hither." If the army should lack, as I do already, I know not how to order them. I have much trouble to keep them here now, though they are well paid. I beseech you "to see that no licence of absenty pass the King.

 

Since writing as above "O'Conour and O'Karoyll's brother" called Donogh ("another than any of the two that I wrote to your Grace of before,") came hither to me. "He" has sworn that he was present when Abbot Heke delivered to his brother O'Karoyll a letter from the Earl of Kildare. As he can speak no English, I caused Justice Brymygham and Sir William Darcy to examine him. I send his confession inclosed, signed with their hands. I have done all I can to get the said Abbot, but as yet cannot come by him. If you accuse Kildare of sending such a letter to O'Karoyll by the Abbot of Monaster Evyn in Irish, and [tell him] that both the said Abbot and O'Keroyl have confessed the same, and that the said Abbot is coming to avow the same before him, he can not well deny it. It is thought by the Council here that the King should cause one William Delahide to be taken and put in the Tower, "and to be pained to confess the truth," as no man can disclose more of the Earl's counsel than he, for he is the Earl's secretary and, it is thought, wrote the said letter. Undoubtedly either the Abbot or he wrote it, and the Abbot and he came together out of England in the same ship as my servant Cowley, 16 days before Easter.

 

There are daily reports out of England that the said Earl will marry the King's kinswoman, and have his room and rule here again. Both English and Irish are afeard of this, and daily come to me, saying that, if he come again, "this land was never in such trouble as it shall be;" for such Irishmen as have followed my mind, and served me, expect to be destroyed by him, and therefore combine themselves together that they will rather adventure to destroy all the Englishry than be destroyed themselves.--Dublin, 6th September. Signed: T. Surrey.

 

Addressed: [To my] Lord Legatis [good] Grace.

 

II. Confession of DONOGH O'KEROYLL, brother of O'KEROYLL.

 

In Easter week last the Abbot of Monaster Evyn, called Heke, brought a letter to O'Keroyll out of England on behalf of the Earl of Kildare, wherein were written these words in Irish--"Life and health to O'Karoyll from the Earl of Kildare. There is none Irishmen in Ireland that I am better content with than with you, and whenever I come into Ireland I shall do you good for any anything that ye shall do for me, and any displeasure that I have done to you I shall make you amends therefor, desiring you to keep good peace to Englishmen till an English deputy come there. And when any English deputy shall come thither, do your best to make war upon Englishmen there, except such as be towards me, whom you know well yourself." Being examined if the Earl of Kildare's sign manual were upon the said letter, Donogh said he did not know his sign, but noticed that it was sealed with a seal having a cross, which he thought was the Earl's seal.

 

Signed: "Patrik Bermynghem, Juge--William Darcy.

Date: 6 Sep 1520
Related material:

State Papers II. 42.

Held by: Lambeth Palace Library, not available at The National Archives
Former reference in its original department: MS 602, p. 63
Language: English
Physical description: 3 pages + 1 page.
Unpublished finding aids:

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 6.

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