Catalogue description The QUEEN to SIR WILLIAM RUSSELL, Lord Deputy.

This record is held by Lambeth Palace Library

Details of
Title: The QUEEN to SIR WILLIAM RUSSELL, Lord Deputy.
Description:

By our letters of the 12th inst. we authorized you to follow the articles signed by our Council, wherein we directed you within what limits we would accept the submission of the traitor Tyrone. We are persuaded that you have proceeded with him in that form. Out of commiseration for those poor people, whose ruin must follow by the prosecution of the heads of this rebellion, we give you liberty to assure him of further grace and favour, if he be not contented with the pardon of his life only. Our meaning is contained in these articles enclosed. They are to be carried secretly, and you are to draw them as low as possible you may. [Sir] John Norris is to be informed of these articles.

 

Under our Signet at Nonesuche, 28 September 1595, 37 Eliz.

 

II. "Articles concerning the submission of the Earl of Tyrone and other rebels in Ireland, 28 Sept. 1595."

 

When Tyrone seeks his pardon, he may petition for his living and estate. Though we could like best to have it simply referred to us, you may agree to his desires, rather than to break and leave him to utter despair.

 

Let him know that, besides his life, he has forfeited his whole estate, so as whatsoever he may have hereafter is to come to him anew from us. He must leave all combinations with all disobedient subjects and all strangers. If he consent to this, you may tell him you will procure that he shall be restored to his former estate of the barony of Dungannon, as granted to his father Matthew, when Con O'Neale, his grandfather, was made Earl by King Henry VIII.; the Earldom to remain in our disposition until he deserve to be restored to the same. It is to be considered what lands might be restored to him: none to be near the bridge or the fort at the Blackwater, nor to Armaghe, or Monaghan, or the Newrie.

 

Further, there is to be considered to how many things he did submit in England in April 1590, upon being charged with putting to death one of the sons of Shane O'Neale. All the captainries of the Irish on the east side of Lough Eawgh to be exempted from his rule. He is to put to liberty Shane O'Neale's son, and to suffer Turlaugh Lennagh to enjoy his castle of Straban.

 

These conditions seem more tolerable than to continue an uncertain war. For the observation of them, he shall deliver his eldest lawful son as a pledge, to be brought up at school in England, and three or four others, "whereof, if it may be, one of his brothers and one of his base sons, and one of the O'Hagans, and one of the O'Gwyns to be of that number;" to remain in the English Pale.

 

O'Donnell, McGwire, O'Rowrke, or any of the McMahons, are not to have pardon at the solicitation of the Earl, but on their own several submissions; and by a letter of the Earl's dated the 27th of August it appears that he yields to this. As for O'Donnell and McGwire, some portions of their countries are to be assigned to such others of their sept as have not rebelled, and that are competitors to their captainries, whereby to diminish their greatness. Those who are pardoned are not to have combination with any stranger or with any captain of the Irishry, nor suffer any Scots or other strangers to reside in their country. And if the Earl of Tyrone refuse these conditions, it shall be secretly procured that O'Donnell be received to grace and severed from the Earl, and thereby Connaught reduced to the former obedience; and the commodity of landing any Spaniards upon the coast of Tyreconnell may be also avoided.

 

Copies.

Date: 28 Sep 1595
Related material:

MS 617, p. 224 Other copies of the same.

Held by: Lambeth Palace Library, not available at The National Archives
Former reference in its original department: MS 612, p. 34
Language: English
Physical description: 4 Pages.
Unpublished finding aids:

Calendar of the Carew Manuscripts preserved in the Archiepiscopal Library at Lambeth, ed. J. S. Brewer & W. Bullen (6 vols., 1867-73), vol. III, document 170.

Have you found an error with this catalogue description?

Help with your research