Catalogue description INSTRUCTIONS to SIR JAMES CROFTES, DEPUTY, and the COUNCIL OF IRELAND.

Instructions given by the King with the advice of his Council to Sir James Croftes, Deputy of Ireland; Sir Thomas Cusake, Chancellor; the Archbishop of Dublin; the Bishop of Meath; Sir Gerald Aylmer, Chief Justice of the King's Bench; Sir Thomas Lutrell, Chief Justice of the Common Pleas; Patrick Barnewell, Master of the Rolls; James Bathe, Chief Baron; Sir William Brabazon, Vice Treasurer; Thomas Hoth, Second Justice of the King's Bench; Sir John Travers, Master of the Ordnance; Sir Rauff Bagnall; Nicholas Bagnall, Marshal; Edward Basnett, clerk, late Dean of St. Patrick's; and Thomas Lockwood, clerk, Dean of Christchurch, Dublin; whom his Majesty has appointed to be his Privy Council in Ireland.

These instructions are similar to those given to Sir Anthony Sentleger and others. [See pp. 226-230.] Articles 5 and 14 of the latter are omitted. Instead of Article 8 is the following:--

Special consideration to be given to the ports in the south parts of the realm, that is to say, Waterford, Corke, Kensale, Balletymore, Berehaven, and Shepehaven, and also of the ports in the north parts, that is to say, Strangforde, Ulderflete, Knockfergus and the Banne; that these and such others may be safe and surely in our possession, and that we may be duly answered of such profits as may be levied. We have sent to the Deputy a furniture of men of war and ships, with certain masses of victuals and divers other things of great charge and expense, to be employed with all speed in the fortification of the said havens. We empower him to employ the said men of war and ships in our service there this summer from place to place. He shall practise with the port towns and such other cities and towns as do stand near any of the aforesaid, that they shall of their own charges now in time of peace fortify their towns and havens; and he shall aid them with good advice, and appoint to them "both the places and the manner of their fortifications and bulwarks."

Instead of the clause allowing farmers one or two years rent free, is the following:--"Providing, upon the sight of the survey, that in no case but upon our pleasure especially known, he let any manor in gross, or the great woods and royalties of manors; and further also that the lessees thereof shall demurre and remain upon their said farms, and be in their degrees furnished to the war, so as they may both surely keep those countries, and also do us further service in that realm, as they shall be by our said Deputy with the advice aforesaid appointed and commanded; all which leases so made by our Deputy and Council as aforesaid our Chancellor for the time being shall have full power and authority by warrant hereof to enseal under our Great Seal accordingly."

At the end is this additional article:--The Deputy shall certify to us or our Council, at the beginning of any enterprise of weight and moment, the purpose of the same, with the estimate of the charges thereof.

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 195.