Catalogue description STATE OF IRELAND.

"The copy of the book sent from Sir Thomas Cusake, Lord Chancellor of Ireland, to the Duke of Northumberland's Grace for the present state of Ireland."

Munster, under the rule of such lords and captains as be there, and of the Earl of Desmond, is in good quiet, so that the Justices of the Peace ride their circuit in the counties of Limerick, Cork, and Kerry, being the farthest shires west in Munster, and the sheriffs are obeyed. "The lords and captains of those countries, as the Earl of Desmond, the Viscount Barrie, the Lord Roche, the Lord FitzMorris, and divers other, which within few years would not hear speak to obey the law, beeth now in commission with the Justices of Peace to hear and determine causes." The Irish captains in those quarters do not stir, but live in such quiet that the English captains [Sic. "Captain" below.] at Cork with 40 horsemen cause the offenders to stand to right. McCartie More, who is the most powerful Irishman in Ireland, and "who beforetime always was at war with the countries under the Earl of Desmond's rule, and did not much pass upon the same Earl nor his power, but well nigh by war upon every light occasion wasted the country, and is now very comformable to good order, having of late by persuasion of the said English captain obeyed and performed certain orders taken betwixt him and others of the country." If a stout gentleman, skilful and of estimation among them, were President at Limerick, to see right indifferently ministered amongst them, and the captain appointed to attend upon him to see the orders and decrees put in due execution, no doubt but the King should not only win many good subjects, but also within short time have great revenue where now he has nothing in Munster more than obedience. "And so between the abbey land[s] and other possessions, which be now waste and worth nothing, and the same countries being charged to be contributory to subsidies and other charges upon the ploughlands (like as other shires be), will be no small yearly profit to his Highness, and besides the charges of the President and Council there, which in short space will be borne upon the amercements and fines of the courts without putting his Majesty to charge; so as without such device it would be hard to make the said countries so civil, obedient, and profitable to his Majesty, as otherwise they would be."

"Leinster is in meetly good stay at this instant, for my Lord Deputy, of late repairing in those quarters, took order with Cayre McArte and the rest of the Kavanaghes, and appointed every gentleman his territory, and placed certain English captains with their bands amongst them, part at Leighlyn, part at Fearnes and Enescorte, and some at Tymolinge, a place wherein the Cavenaghs and other malefactors before time disturbed such as brought stuff by water from Rosse or Waterford to Leyghlyn or Carlaghe; and likewise placed certain of the King's kerne, so as between them and the county of Wexford (I suppose) the Kevenaghs must be content with their portions without disturbance, and besides must be at the said captain's commandment, whereby the strength of the Irishmen shall decay, being restrained of liberty take of the freeholders and husbandmen in the countries such as will ask or exact upon them, [So in MS.], and by such liberty they retain their men and increase their strengths; and so restraint thereof decayeth the same, as now they be used, whereby they were never so weak, so as I trust that country within short time may be brought to obedience to be at the King's Majesty's commandment with small charges.

"The Byrnes and such other of Irish sort dwelling in the rest of Leinster and next to the Kevenaghs be of honest conformity, and payeth no rent to the King's Majesty, but beareth six score galloglasse one quarter yearly, yielding to every of them 4d. sterling by the day, and beeth able to make 80 horsemen with many footmen within their country, being men alway ready to stand to good order at the appointment of my Lord Deputy and Council, so as they be men of honest conformity.

"Thomond is besides Limerick, wherein the Breanes do inhabit, and since the time that O'Brean was created Earl, the same is in good order and quiet, but after the decease of the late Earl of Thomond, Sir Donnough O'Brean, Baron of Ibrackan, being by the King's grant appointed to be next Earl, for fear of his brother Sir Donnold and the rest of the gentlemen of the country, did name his said brother to be Tanest, after the Irish custom; which being repugnant to the King's grant, my Lord Deputy hearing thereof sent for the same Baron, and laid that to his charge, and upon his own confession of his misbehaviour therein, sent also his letters to the said Sir Donnold and the rest of the gentlemen to stand to the King's Majesty's orders, and to refuse their Irish custom, whereby without war or force all they applied to refuse the same Irish custom, and obeyed the Baron as Earl of Thomond, according his Majesty's grant, and refused the self name of Tanest; and now there be few countries in Ireland in better quiet than they.

"Between Limerick and the county of Tipperary be these Irishmen of good power: the McWilliams, McBrene, O'Gonaght, McBrien Are, O'Molryan, with divers other, which within few years were all wild, and not conformable to any good order; and yet be they now ordered by the sheriffs of the shires, so as men may pass quietly throughout their countries at pleasure, without danger of robbing or other displeasure; and each of them lieth in his own country quietly without hindrance of other.

"Other Irishmen's countries betwixt that and Upper Ossory, as O'Kenedy and O'Dwyre and the Carrowlles, doth bear galloglasses to his Majesty without contradiction, which were wont to be mortal enemies to the English pale. So as in all the circuit before mentioned is contained half the realm, which with small charge will be brought to civil obedience; and if all the countries were made counties that the law might have his course, then they would prosper;" for the sheriffs would "put back their Irish laws and election of captains."

Between Thomond and Galway lies Clanrickard, a plain champain country, which was governed by McWilliam, who after was created Earl of Clanrickard, and during whose time the country was in good stay and quiet. After his death, as his son Richard Bourke was but young, and "the country doubted whether he was mulier born or bastard," Sir Ullycke Bourke was appointed captain during his nonage. When he came to his full age, he began to be at war with the said captain, and between them both the country was all wasted. Being sent with a small company to see them ordered, "within one fortnight, having put certain gentlemen to execution for their offences, by terror thereof and by other means, or that I left the country, I placed the Earl quietly, and made every one of the country willing to answer and obey him, and took orders betwixt them for their contentions to the parties' contentation, and left two [hundred] ploughs manuring the land, where, at my going thither, there were not past 40 ploughs in all the country, but all waste through war; which ploughing increaseth daily, thanks be to God! whereby the country [is] universally inhabited and so brought to quiet that now the people leaveth their plough, irons, and cattle in the fields without fear of stealing. The experience thereof declareth that there can be nothing so good to be used with such savage people as good order to be observed and kept amongst them; for execution of the law is more feared when it is done in order than any other punishment.

"Mac William Bourke, second captain of most power in Connaught, is of honest conformity, and doth hinder none of the King's Majesty's subjects, and is ready to join with the Earl of Clanricard and every other captain to serve the King's Majesty in every place in Connaught, so as a president, or yet a captain with a competent number of men, continuing at Aury or at Galway, will cause all that country to be true subjects; and they two, with a captain, will be able to rule all Connaught, which is the fifth part of Ireland.

"There is in Connaught, besides, O'Connour Slyggaghe, O'Connour Doyn, O'Connour Roo, and McDermott, men of no great power. The same Slyggaghe is the King's Majesty's, and it is the best haven town in all the country; and the same O'Connour and certain his predecessors keepeth the same by usurpation. And the one of themselves continually warreth against other. O'Connour Doyne and O'Connour Roo did strive about Rossecamman, a fair manor of the King's Majesty, ye[a], one of the fairest in all Ireland, lying in the plains of Connaught; and in their contentions this Earl of Clanricard gat the house out of their hands, and kept ward in the same, by a policy. And now of late, upon my repair to Athloone for certain conclusions there, the same Earl resorted to me and condescended to deliver the same castle to my Lord Deputy, to be kept to the King's use, and he to be considered otherwise, so as between that house and Athloone, being but 12 miles asunder, all their countries would be made obedient. O'Rowerke his country is but 14 miles from Rossecamman, O'Donnell his country is not passing 9 miles from it, and Sliggagh is but 14 miles from it, so as, thanks be to God! all those countries beeth now in quiet, but when one of themselves sometime war upon another; and so, between Athloone, Rossecamman, and the Earl of Clanricard, all the rest, of force, must be obedient with small charges.

"Between Athloone and Clanricard is O'Keally his country, a captain of good power of horsemen, galloglasse, and kerne, and no men of Ireland of wilder nature than they be, and many times in time of war they have done much harm to the English pale. And now lately, my Lord Deputy being at Athloone, I attended upon his Lordship, at which time O'Kelly, by persuasion, was content to bear and yield to the house of Athloone as other in the English pale did; nevertheless, soon after, he refused to accomplish the same. And my Lord Deputy, upon his repair to Leinster, having left the oversight and charge of those of Connaught and divers other Irishmen with me, in the last week of Lent I went to O'Kellie's countries, and assembled all the gentlemen of the country before me. And then, perceiving as well their untruth and slender keeping of promise, as also how that gentleness could not prevail, I took his son and put a handlock upon him, to have him brought with me to Dublin, and appointed a band of men to take up in his country such kine and victuals as he promised to my Lord Deputy for the victualling of Athloone; and then he, perceiving the same, immediately did send his servants to the country to levy and take up a hundred beeves and other victuals for the furniture of the house of Athloone. And after that, he came into the house of Athloone, and made merry there during our abode, and willed the captain to use his country as he would the English shires; so as it is not unlike but that he and his country will from hence use honest obedience; assuring your Grace that [he] durst not come within the same castle since it was newly builded till he came to my Lord Deputy when his Lordship was there last. The same O'Kelly condescended to find a 100 of the King's Majesty's galloglas for a quarter, at my said Lord Deputy's being there; and also at my being there he was contented that they should be cessed in his country accordingly, which is a great charge, payin[g] to every galloglas 4d. ster. by the day.

"O'Connour Roo aforesaid, upon eight days before my repair thither, was preyed by McDermod of 4,000 kine and 500 stud mares; and perceiving the obedience of O'Kelly, and the orders which was taken between him and other, he came to me to complain to Athlone; whereupon, to prove their obedience, I concluded with the Earl of Clanricard and divers other captains and gentlemen which then were with me, that unless he would make restitution upon my letters, they should meet together the Sunday after May Day, [with] 300 horsemen, 400 galloglas, and 800 kerne, with seven days' victuals, to punish the same McDermott, and to see the poor men restored, whereupon all they condescended; and after the same conclusion I determined with them that they should in no wise set forward till they should hear from my Lord Deputy and to have his consent; so as it is good obedience that gentlemen in such countries would be so willing to punish such offences upon a sudden, without putting his Majesty to charge; whereby it appeareth that, if there were a President amongst them to see them kept in good order, their country would be brought to good quiet."

Between Athlone and Offaly are the countries of O'Brynne, McCoghlan the Fox, O'Molmoy, and McGoghecan--"very strong countries for woods, moors, and bogs, by mean whereof much cattle were stolen out of the English pale." All of them condescended to cut passes in their fastnesses. I sent for the same Irish captains to answer complaints, and for as many thereof as were duly proved, I caused the sheriff of Westmeath with 10 horsemen to distrain to the value of all the goods stolen. I caused them within four days to restore to the poor people 300l., and besides to pay as much more to the King for a fine. "Before this time no Irishman used to pay more than to restore the goods stolen, and for that the countries be no shire land, no thief can be punished by the law." The sheriff "with so few company will be so regarded as to put such orders in execution in so strong countries, which within seven years 800 men nor yet a 1,000 were not able to bring to pass in any of those places."

Between the Shannon and O'Raylie's country is the Annale, a strong country, where the Ferralles dwell, men of good obedience, who pay yearly to the King 100 marks rent, and find 240 galloglas for a quarter of the year after the rate of 4d. sterling the spear by the day. Lately in the absence of my Lord Deputy, I being there for the order of their contentions, they obeyed my letters.

Next to the Annalee is a large country, well inhabited, called the Breany, wherein O'Raile is chief captain, who has seven sons. He and they may make 400 horsemen of the same name, and 1,000 kerne, and 200 galloglas. "The country is divided between them, which joineth to the English pale upon a country called Plounkett's country, betwixt which countries there hath been divers murders, stealths, and robberies by night and day committed." On the complaint of the inhabitants of both parties, in the absence of my Lord Deputy, I repaired to those borders. O'Reyly was accompanied with 400 horsemen and 800 footmen, whilst I had not more than 100 horsemen and as many footmen. I required him to come to me with a few horsemen, and accordingly he did. I commanded him to deliver such pledge into my hand as I would name, and though he was loth so to do, yet at length he condescended. Upon receipt of his pledge I made proclamation that every complainant at a certain day should meet to receive his due. On the next day of meeting I caused him to restore as much goods as were stolen and taken from the English pale in 6 years before, which came to 400l. I also caused him to pay 200l. to the King as a fine for maintenance of such stealths. "The like hath not been that a man of such power as he is of, would redeliver without greater circumstance do the same, whereby it appeareth that the poor and simple people be as soon brought to good as evil, if they were taught accordingly; for hard it is for such men to know their duties to God and to the King when they shall not hear preaching or teaching throughout all the year to edify the poor ignorant to know his duty."

If the countries of Lex and Offally were made shire land, that men might have states of inheritance there by copyhold or fee farm, and both the forts were made market towns, and if other former devices were put in execution, the King's profit would much increase, the countries would be well inhabited and manured, and his Grace's charges would be diminished. "Such manurance will bring good cheap of corn and cattle, and the English pale thereby will be discharged of exceeding yearly charges, for now there lieth between both the forts 6 or 700 soldiers daily in effect, and can do service out of the same countries, which standeth the King's Majesty as though they were extraordinary; assuring your Grace that the countries be now greatly charged with the finding of them, for they eat them the peck of wheat for 5s., which is sold in the market for 20s.; they also give them the beef for 12s. which is sold in the market for 4l.; yet the country do not grudge or gainsay the same, but like obedient subjects payeth the same without exclamation, which by alteration of the fort[s] would be redressed and a great redeem besides yearly had to his Majesty.

"Next to the Breany is McMahon's country, called Orryell, wherein beeth three captains, the one in Dartarie, and other and McMahone in Loghtye; [of] which three countries McMahons is chieftain. These countries both large, fast, and strong; among whom there continued intestive wars beforetime, whereby the most part of the country was made waste. Nevertheless they be tall men of the number of 80 horsemen, 200 kerne, and 120 galloglas, and all those for the most part doth occupy husbandry, except the kerne, and yet some of them occupy likewise." Of late, before Easter, by appointment of my Lord Deputy I resorted to them, to see the countries' order. They all assembled before me, and I caused them to find at their own charges yearly 120 galloglas, to serve the King and to attend upon an English captain of the English pale, who has the order of the country committed to him for the keeping of the King's peace. I also caused them to put their pledges into my hands for the finding of the galloglas, and for the due performance of the orders which I took between them. This was done without force or rigour. "Besides this, they pay and yield for all cesses to the soldiers of Moyneghan and in other places beeves and carriages, like as other in the English pale do.

"The next country, between that and Mac Gynnose's country called Iveaghe, is O'Hanlon's country called Orrer. The same O'Hanlon is an honest man, and he and his country both ready to obey all commandments. The next to O'Hanlon is McGynnes' country aforesaid, where in the Nivorye Mr. Marshal's farm is situated. The same McGynnes is a civil gentleman, and useth as good order and fashion in his house as any man of his vocation in Ireland, and doth the same Englishlike. His country is obedient to all cesses and orders. The same Iveaghe hath been parcel of the country of Downe, and he, being made sheriff thereof, hath exercised his office there as well as any other sheriffs doth."

"The next to that country is Mac Cartan's country, a man of small power, wherein are no horsemen, but kerne; which country is full of bogs, woods, and moors, and beareth the captain of Lecaill. The next to that country is the Doufrey, whereof one John Whit was landlord, who was deceitfully murdered by McRanyll Boy his son, a Scot; and since that murder he keepeth possession of the said lands, by mean whereof he is able to disturb the countries next adjoining on every side, which shortly, by God's grace, shall be redressed. The same country is no great circuit, but small, full of woods, water, and good land, meet for Englishmen to inhabit.

"The next country to the same, eastward, is Lecaill, where McBrerton is farmer and captain, which is a handsome, plain, and champion country of 10 miles long and 5 miles breadth, without any wood growing therein. The sea doth ebb and flow round about that country, so as in full water no man may enter therein upon dry land but in one way, which is less than than two miles in length. The same country for English freeholders and good inhabitance is as civil as few places in the English pale.

"The next country to that and the water of Strangfourde is Arde Savage his country, which hath been mere English, both pleasant and fair, by the sea, of length about 12 miles and 4 miles in breadth, abouts; which country is now in effect for the most part waste.

"The next country to Arde is Clannebooy, wherein is one Moriorthagh Dulenaghe, one of the Neyles, who hath the name as captain of Clannebooy, but he is not able to maintain the same. He hath 8 tall gentlemen to his sons, and all they cannot make past 24 horsemen. There is another sept in that country of Phelym Backagh's sons, tall men, which taketh part with Hugh Mac Neill Oge, till now of late that certain refused him and went to Knockefergus.

"The same Hugh McNeill Oge (as your Grace have heard) was preyed by Mr. Marshal, who hath made preys upon other of those confines for the same, so as he is no loser but rather a gainer by his preys. He sought to have his matter heard by my Lord Deputy and Council, whereupon a day was prefixed for the same till May; and now lately I repaired to his country to talk further with him, to tract the time till grass grow, for before then, the countries being so barren of victuals and of horsemeat, no good may be done to destroy him; whereby I perceived that though he was determined (as he said) to meet me and to conclude a further peace, yet he, hearing of the arrival of certain Scots to the Glynnes, refused to come at me, contrary to his writing and sending, and went to Colloe McConnill, who landed with 6 or 7 score bows, as was reported, and thought to bring them with him to war upon his next neighbours, so as there is no great likelihood in him of any honest conformity." I planted in the country a band of horsemen and footmen for the defence thereof against the Scots if they come; and upon the assembly of the Council, which shall be within these four days, good conclusions shall be taken for the defence of the King's subjects.

"The country of Clanneboye is in woods and bogs for the greatest part, wherein lieth Knockfergus; and so to the Glynns, where the Scots doth inhabit. As much of this country as is near the sea is a champion country of 20 miles in length and not over 4 miles in breadth, or little more. The same Hugh hath two castles, one called Bealefarst, an old castle standing upon a ford out from Arde to Clanneboy, which, being well repaired, being now broken, would be a good defence betwixt the woods and Knockfergus. The other, called Castle Riough, is 4 miles from Bealefarst, and standeth upon a plain in the midst of the woods, besides the Dooffrye; and, being likewise repaired with an honest ward of horsemen, would do much good for the quiet and stay of the country thereabouts, having besides a good band of horsemen in Lecayll continually to reasient, [i.e., to reside.] and to do service abroad upon every occasion. Then such men of small power, as the same Hugh is, must be content to be at commandment: for which purpose there be devices a making."

Next to the Glynnes is McQuoyllyn's country, "adjoining by the sea, and so to the Banne, a country of woods, and most part waste by their own wars and the exactions of the Scots, and may not make past 12 horsemen; but they were wont to make 80.

"When the Scots do come, the most part of Clanneboy, McQuoyllyn and O'Cahan must be at their commandment in finding them in their countries; and hard it is to stay the coming of them, for there be so many landing places between the high land of the Rathlyns and Knockfergus, and above the Rathlens standeth so far from defence, as it is very hard to have men to be there continually, being so far from help. The water of the Banne cometh to Loghnaye which severeth Clanneboy and Tyrone and McQuoyllyne and O'Cahan's country.

"O'Cahan's country is upon the other side of the Banne, and is for the most part waste. His country joineth by the sea, and is not past 20 miles in length, and most part mountain land. They do obey the Baron of Dongannen, but what the Scots do take against their wills. The next country to that, and the side of the Banne, is Tyrone, where the Earl of Tyrone hath rule, the fairest, and goodliest country in Ireland universal, and many gentlemen of the Neyles dwelling therein. The same is at least 60 miles in length and 24 miles in breadth. In the midst of the country standeth Ardmaghe, pleasantly situated, and one of the fairest and best churches in Ireland, and round about the same the Bishop's lands. And through occasion of the Earl and Countess his wife they made all that goodly country [waste]; for whereas the country for the most part within these three years was inhabited, it was within this 12 months made most part waste, through his making of preys upon his sons, and they upon him, so as there was no redress among them, but by robbing the poor and taking of their goods, whereby the country was all wasted; whereupon my Lord Deputy appointed a band of English soldiers to lie in Ardmaghe, and left the Baron of Dongannen in commission with other to see for the defence of the country and quiet of the people, whereby the country was kept from such raven as before was used; and the Earl and Countess brought to Dublin, there to abide till the country were brought to a better stay. And they perceiving the same, and that they could not return, they sent to the Irishmen next to the English pale, and so they did to other Irishmen, that they should not trust to come to my Lord Deputy nor Council. This was reported by part of their own secret friends; by reason whereof O'Rayle, O'Kerwell and divers other that were wont to come without fear, did refuse to come to us; whereupon I went to meet O'Rayle to know his mind what he meant. He declared that he feared to be kept under rest as the Earl is. And then I told him what the cause of his retainer was, both for the wasting and destroying of his country, [and] for the amendment of the same; and if there were but one plough going in the country he would spend upon the same, with many other undecent words for a captain of a country to say. And O'Raile, hearing the same, said that he deserved to be kept, and he, if he had done the like. So said O'Carroll and other of his own country. And then Shane O'Neylle, the Earl's youngest son, came to Dongannen, and took with him of the Earl's treasure 800l. in gold and silver, besides plate and other stuff, and retaineth the same as yet, whereby it appeareth that he and she was content with the same; for it could not be perceived that they was greatly offended for the same. And the same Shane, being at peace till May, hearing of the arrival of the Scots, sent to them to give them entertainment. So he sent to divers other Irishmen to join with him, and promised to divide his goods with them, which they for the most part refused to do, but some did. And hearing the same, on May day I went to him with such a band of horsemen and kerne of my friends, to the number of 400 men, and did parle with him, and perceived nothing in him but pride, stubbornness, and all bent to do what he could to destroy the poor country. And departing from him, being within four miles to Dungennen, he went and burnt the Earl's house; and then, perceiving the fire, I went after as fast as I could, and sent light horsemen before to save the house from burning. And upon my coming to the town, and finding that a small thing would make the house wardable, what I wanted I caused to be made up, and left the Baron of Dungennen's ward in the castle; and having espied where part of his cattle was in the midst of his fastness, I took from him 700 kine, besides gerrons and stud, and then cessed in the country 300 galloglas, and joined all the gentlemen and freeholders of the country with the Baron, wherewithal they was contented and pleased, and sware them to the King's Majesty; so as, I trust in God, Tyrone was not so like to do well as within short time I trust it shall; and do trust, if a good President were there to see good orders established among them, and to put them in due execution, no doubt but the country would prosper.

"Next to that country is O'Donnell's country, named Tireconnell, a country both large, profitable, and good, that a ship under sail may come to four of his houses. And by mean of the war which was between him and his father, the country was greatly impoverished and wasted, so as he did banish his father at last and took the rule himself. And now the like was between him and Callough O'Donell, so as their wars in effect wasted all the whole country; and I, being thither sent to pacify the same, brought them to Dublin, where order was taken between them; and now there is no war between them, but as yet they keep the King's peace and perform other orders.

"The next country to O'Donelle's is Fermanagh, McGuire's country, (a strong country,) and McGuire that now is a young handsome gentleman, and may make 200 kerne and 24 horsemen. And Calloug[h] O'Donell, Terrellagh Lynnaghe, and Terrelagh O'Nelle, Henry McShane, and all the rest be joined with the Baron of Dongennyn to serve the King's Majesty; and all these be young men and most power in the North; so as, if the Earl and O'Donnell were at such liberty as ever they were, without those they had no power; and so by God's grace the thing well followe[d], as I trust in God it shall this summer, will make a quiet Ireland.

"Irishmen are now soon brought to obedience, considering they have no liberty to prey and spoil, whereby they maintain their men, and without that they could have but few men. And the policy that was devised for the sending of the Earls of Desmond, Thomond, Clanricard, and Tyrone, and the Baron of Upper Ossory, O'Kerroll, McGynnes and other into England was a great help of bringing those countries to good order, for none of them ["Who" omitted?] went into England committed harm upon the King's Majesty's subjects. The winning of the Earl of Desmoud was the winning of the rest of Munster with small charges. The making O'Brien an Earl made all that country obedient. The making of McWilliam Earl of Clanricard, made all the country during his time quiet and obedient, as it is now. The making of McGilfadrick Baron of Upper Ossory hath made his country obedient, and the having of their lands by Dublin is such a gage upon them, as they will not forfeit the same through wilful folly. And the gentleness that my Lord Deputy doth devise among the people with wisdom and indifference doth profit and make sure the former civility, so as Presidents in Munster, Connaught, and Ulster by God's grace make all Ireland without great force to be obedient, and all Ireland being made shire land that the law may take his right course, and all men through good persuasions brought to take their lands of the King's Majesty to them and their heirs for ever, and preachers appointed among them to tell their duties towards God and their King, that they may know what they ought to do. And as for preaching we have none, which is our most lack, without which the ignorant can have no knowledge, which were very needful to be redressed." Irishmen were never so weak, and the English subjects never so strong, as now.

Dublin, 8th May 1553.

"And the Privy Council, [Sic.] I have seen in my time the King's Majesty's proceedings hindered by such, both for that they would embrace too much, and also for that, as they may be compared to an ignorant physician, they do not ponder the disposition of the patient in ministering remedy." It would be sufficient "to have one only President and Council set forth in due order as I have said within the five countries of Munster, other parts of the land being neither of such perfection nor yet divided into counties or shires, so that they may receive the rule of the law, are rather to be trained and as it were by degrees brought to civility. And no doubt but the Lord Deputy having his eye only to the North, to that part of Connaught, and to the Cavanaghes, and the Lord President being charged with Munster and the residue of Connaught, shall in short time be able to divide and establish much thereof into shires and counties, so that they may be of perfection to be governed with the courts of Presidents, as they yet are not." I have set forth a little plot declaring "the variety of state or condition that the parts of that realm hath," which I am ready to show.

"Some also hold opinion that it is good, for avoiding of charge, to let the realm of Ireland remain under the governance of the lords of the same, as it was before the going thither of Sir William Skevington, Deputy; and some others that it were good with the sword to destroy all the inhabitants of that realm for their wickedness, and to inhabit the land with new: which are two extremities, for by the first the King's Majesty shall fa[r]ther the detestable and stinking abominations of murder, adultery, rapine, destruction, and all other wickedness that by such licence they use. His Highness also should lose his own duties, which by this means they appropriate to themselves, whereof in fine they grow to rebellion. And by the third [Sic. Mistake for second.] way great numbers of faithful subjects which the King hath there for the offence of few evil disposed persons should be destroyed, which were ungodly and much pity. And it is to be used against rebellious and manifest traitors, example sometime of O'Connour and O'More, and now of Hugh McNeille Oge."

"I might rehearse the customs and ordering of Batlemore and the other west havens, the great riches of laure [Sic.] mine which is in Munster, and other sundry mines whereof no part can be recovered without the said erection. [i.e., of a President and Council.]"

I pray you to take this my poor information in good part, which I have studied "in hope that, the same taking place, I might serve in some stead, whereas now I serve in danger of my life, my fellow in commission, the Baron of Bruntchurch, being lately slain only for doing justice; and yet bestow I my time, travail, and great charges to small purpose."

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 200.