Catalogue description ROBERT COWLEY to CARDINAL WOLSEY.

While Lord Ossory and his son attend your pleasure and deliberations concerning the affairs of Ireland, "others ryne in at the window the next way, making immediate pursuits" to the King, and obtain all they desire by means of Anthony Knevet and others. The destruction of Ireland will ensue without speedy redress. The Archbishop of Cashel, by sinister means and without your knowledge, make importunate suit at the Court for sundry unreasonable grants, liberties, and privileges, tending to the maintenance of the Earl of Desmond and his confederates, and to the utter destruction of Lord Ossory and his son. The Archbishop has a bill signed by the King, directed to the Chancellor of Ireland, and he and his chaplain have fraudulently obtained the King's letters to the Council of Ireland against Ossory and his son in favour of Sir James Butler, who is the greatest friend, ally, and succour of the Earl of Desmond. He has also transgressed the King's commands, "taking open maintenance" with Desmond. He and Sir James, "by the seditious practice of the man that your Grace knoweth," have confederated to disturb Ossory's country, "the one with his spiritual power, and the other with his strength," in order that my said Lord or his son should not be able to serve the King against Desmond, or defend himself.

The room of secondary justice of the Common Pleas in Ireland is given to Sir Gerald Aylmer, "menial servant to my Lord of Kildare, and hath a bill signed to the Chancellor of Ireland. Other divers mean offices be also given away.

Knevet has obtained the bishopric of Kildare for "a simple Irish priest, a vagabond, without learning, manners, or good quality, not worthy to be a holy water clerk." I hear the King will pay for his bulls.

It might please you to send a commission to my Lord of London, Master More, Master Dean and Master Secretary, to call before them the Archbishop, his chaplain, Gerald Aylmer, and the Irish priest; to examine all such warrants, bills, and letters as they have obtained of the King; to keep the same until they know your pleasure, and to hear such articles and matters as I shall object against them. It might also please you to send to Sir John Russell, Doctor Bell, "and such others as promote bills or letters to the King's sign," to pass none concerning Ireland till you be made privy to them. I desire to know whom you will appoint to be Deputy, and remember your old servant James, "the rather that the King is well minded.

One Bath, of Ireland, has made a book to present to you, feigning it to be for the reformation of Ireland; but the effect is but to drive the King to the extremity to send home my Lord of Kildare with authority. He has no more experience of the land than I have of Italy. He deserves to be "a little touched for his presumption.

Addressed: "To my Lord Legate's good Grace." Sealed.

State Papers II., 140.

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 26.