Catalogue description JOHN TALBOT of Dardyston to THOMAS AGARD.

I beseech you to help me to get some remedy of Sir William Darey of Platyng, who dwells in Drogheda, at the Grey Friars, for his lies about me. He has said I was indicted of treason for going to the siege of Dublin; [Siege of Dublin, Sept. and Oct. 1534, by FitzGerald.] that a bill was brought to him containing the name of 12 men who should suffer death, and that I was one of them; and that caused me to go over the sea, which was to my great charge, as you know. There was no such bill. Darcy himself has good cause to be troubled, for he sent his counsel to Thomas FitzGerrot, the which may be well known if you will examine Thomas FitzGerrot. Master James FitzGerrot married Darcy's own daughter, Margery Darcy; Master Richard FitzGerrot married his son and heir's daughter; Master Walter FitzGerrot married his daughter's daughter, the Lord of Dunsany's daughter; and Gerald McGerrot McShane married his son and heir's wife; "and they would come once or twice every week to Drogheda to Sir William Darcy to fetch his counsel to Thomas FitzGerrot; and that proveth well," for neither Darcy nor his tenants lost a single beast or any goods, and they had not one house burnt in all his lordship, during the war. My tenants were robbed, and my land burnt to the value of 40 marks a year. When Drogheda was "closed upon" Gerald McGerrot McShane, and other servants of Thomas FitzGerrot, in order to take them and send them to the King or the Deputy, Darcy conveyed the said Gerald over the town walls with ladders; but the others were taken (Brod being one of them), and put to execution. If Thomas FitzGerrot cannot deny this, Darcy ought to make amends for much of the hurt that is done.

I defy Thomas FitzGerrot to say that I ever gave him counsel, or that I ever was privy to any of his acts. I did my best against him. I beseech you cause FitzGerrot to be examined. If he say true, it will clear me. "The Deputy is rearing a great holding of 18 score pound upon Meath for McGwyyr's kerne, and another great holding for Gerald McGerrot McShane and his horsemen, the which cometh to 40s. every plowland through all Meath; and for because I spake against that for the King's poor subjects, the Deputy is not content with me.

Dardystown, 11 September.

Addressed: To my right heartily beloved master Thomas Agar, being with Master Secretary in the place [of the] Rolls in Chancellor Lane [in Lo]ndon. Endorsed.

See a letter from Robt. Cowley to Cromwell, in "State Papers," II., 323.

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 60.