Catalogue description WALTER COWLEY to CROMWELL.

I wrote lately by one Sonnyng, parson of Wykloo. Master Treasurer will be occupied here for three weeks in making up his account books, and then must follow the Parliament into Munster. All next winter he will be diminishing the army till next March, or whatever time is thought meet for its thorough reformation. Every person in authority should attend to his own charge. The Deputy to follow the wars and debate with the Council. The Treasurer to attend his office, and, "forasmuch as he is even the best captain and fortunatest in the army without comparison, [to be] with the Deputy in places of great stead, when his absence elsewhere may be spared." As William Seyntlo's 300 foot will do little stead this winter, he should have 100 horse, and discharge the foot; "Mr. Treasurer to have another 100 horsemen at his leading, and my Lord Treasurer 100 horsemen, whereof 50 to be Englishmen, and the other 50 of this country; and that 300 to be resident in the com. of Wexford and in the castle of Fernis, now in possession with my Lord Treasurer." They could survey the said county, now the King's, and win the castles, holds, and cattle of the Kewanaghes and Brines "between Dublin, the English pale and the Earl of Ossory, the Butlers, and the said com.," so that by next March it would be desolate of Irishry and made habitable. Thus all the Englishry in Leinster and Munster, which contain three of the five parts of Ireland, would be linked together. Two hundred horsemen resident in the English pale will be sufficient, with aid of the lords and inhabitants there, as the other 300 before expressed are ready at any time to accompany the Lord Deputy on any business. These 300 "may as well at times peruse Munster as Leinster," in order that the whole army shall not be resident in the English pale, "but so part of them alway to be so occupied to step further, and not to trust to that ground they stand on alonely." My Lord of Ossory is a great stay here, and greatly furthers these devices. "Sir John of Desmond is dead, Cormok Og and MacWilliam." This day Ossory has sent to the Lord Deputy and Council [to inform them] that this new MacWilliam, who is son to the MacWilliam that was in my Lord of Norfolk's days, and was son-in-law to Ossory, will serve the King and follow such order as my Lord Deputy will have him. 19 June.

Addressed: Master Secretary, &c. Endorsed.

State Papers II. 332.

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 81.