THE GOVERNMENT OF JRELAND VNDER THE HONORABLE IVST AND wise Gouernour Sir IOHN PERROT Knight one of the Priuy Councell to Queene ELIZABETH beginning 1584. and ending 1588. Being THE FIRST BOOKE OF THE CONTINVATION OF THE Historie of that Kingdome formerly set forth to the yeare 158â— and now continued to this present 1626. Whereof The rest succeeding this already collected but not fully perfected shall shortly follow Historia vera vera vita temporis LONDON Printed for THOMAS WALKLEY and are to be solde in Britaines Bursse at the Signe of the Eagle and Childe 1626. TO MY MOST REspected and worthy Cossin BEVELL GRENVILE Esquire AT your instant entreaty I spent many houres in a Commentary vpon Londognos disscourse which was no sooner ended but lost through a mis-fortune which fell vpon my Papers by the last Yeares Infection lighting in my Lodging And not being able yet to recouer another of the same Bookes I cannot begin againe till my defect be supplied In the mean such being your desire J aduentured on the Story of our Irish Warres But as I was in my trauaile J discouered the best part of my Iourney already perfected by a better vndertaker J therefore here stopp and present you with thus much Jf this little like you I will proceed againe another way as the time shal permitt me Wherin you shall view no further then my owne Eyes haue seene So shall J not turne backe till J haue finished All being but to please you dispose as you may in any thing Your Kinseman and true Friend E. C. S. To the Reader THis Noble Gentleman liking the plaine writing of a Soldier in whose profession an Honorable minde hath made him add experience to his affection better then the eloquence and elaborate work of a professed Scholler affecting Caesars matter not his words especially amoÌ„gst our late writers delighting in two plain discourses of the famous Knight Sir Robert Williams And finding iust fault that our English are to idle in memorizing their owne exploit Entreated nay coÌ„manded me for such is his power since he could draw no better pencill to so good a picture to put my selfe in print though to the censure of euery busie body wherein in obseruance to his will I spent some time in discoursing vpon the Spanish forme of Discipline by such exploits of our Nation against the Spaniard as I my selfe had seene performed But by misfortune already mentioned in the Epistle my labour miscaried And not hauing meanes to begin againe at this time as willingly I would for his satisfaction I was by him enduced to treat of another Subiect being yet matter of the same profession and some part acted within the compasse of mine owne experience wherein because the fountaine might better shâ—w the streame I could not chuse but ascend to a time foregoing mine as well to begin where the former Historian of that Countries Gouernment left as because that from that time the later and succeeding troubles had their likely beginning purposing to haue proceeded thence to the end of the last Warres of Ireland In most part of which I had spent many of my endeuours thether remooued from the Netherlands where from a childe I had receiued breeding then liuing in those Warres when this worthy Gouernour Sir Iohn Perrot ruled in Ireland where if such had beeue Gods pleasure we may guesse it had beene happy that he had gouerned much longer as well for the good of that Kingdome as for the honour and contentment of our late most famous and euer renowned Queene to whom the ensuing troubles through the faulty Gouernment of his Successours brought dishonour and griefe First by the losse of many worthy men the flower of our Nation with an infinite number of guiltlesse soules torne out of this world by misery and slaughter in those Warres the expence of a wondrous masse of Treasure with other prouision enough to haue shaken the Walls of the greatest Monarchy in Europe if all these had beene so imployed which was not vnlikely if Sir Iohn Perrot had beene returned into Ireland as vpon the beginning of the Warres the Queene determined Then by being so long resisted by such base Rebels concluding her Raigne that had flourished with so many famous Acts against the capitall Enemie of her and her neighbours by which they at this day redeemed out of misery flourish againe in greatnesse with a strong Warre against so petty Traytours Whereon since time will discouer the passage it selfe I shall neede to insist no longer This purpose of the Queenes to returne Sir Iohn Perrot was preuented by the two sinnes of Couetousnesse and Malice raigning in the then Gouernour there and a person here transcendent both in power and authority the one to maintaine his profit whereunto some powerfull friend of his had too much relation the other not brooking Sir Iohn Perrots high and indeede too chollerick spirit and condition being fearefull of his aduancement ioyned with the other So grounding a combination builded vp by the helpe of two other instruments of that State the one in his owne Nature euill the other contentious for his particular ends Thus an Enemie Armed it was no difficult thing that a condemned Traytor should bee encouraged in hope of pardon and some other mercenarie persons to accuse an Innocent To this forged accusation That great and iust Prince incensed to displeasure by such an one as was neere in fauour who pretended her safety as the colour of his intended malice and that displeasure exasperated by some part of the accusation which to her was personall was vrged to giue way euen against her heart to his prosecution as appeared by her answer to the newes of his condemnation for she casting into the ballance of her iust iudgement his former weighty Seruices and zealous endeuours and weighing them with those base persons his Accusers and their light proofes produced against him said thus in the hearing of men of good account and some neere to me in bloud and acquaintance Is he found guilty Then in my conscience they haue found an Innocent guilty And had she restored his Estate to his issue as shee respited his Execution being hardly drawne to giue way to his sentence The fault had wholly layne vpon the false accusations and sentence thereupon procured by the power of his Prosecutors and Periurie of his Accusers But so long a Reigne as hers hath seldome escaped being spotted with greater blots then this omission which if God had spared her a little longer life she had as I haue beene credibly tolde repaired by a Reall restitution of his Estate to such as he had disposed it in his life time Thus much I am moued the more to mention by writing his Gouernement which gaue me occasion to looke further then others haue done into the course and cause of his condemnation As I was proceeding in my intended discourse I gayned notice that this Story succeeding Sir Iohn Perrots time was already
yearely as the commodity of their Lands encreaseth the wages to abate and so at length cleane to extinguish 10 Item to the end the Ports in Ireland especially of Mounster may be inhabited and fortified against forraigne attempts it shall bee well your Maiesty doe not onely strengthen the Priuiledges already graunted but also graunt new 11 Item that Merchants in generall be prohibited vpon paine of death to sell Powder or any kinde of Warlike Munition to any of the Irish 12 Item that honest and skilfull men be taken out of euery Court of Record here and placed there for the setling of the due course of the Lawes And for their better encouragement to doe well that in respect of their honest trauels they be promised preferments of Offices in the Courts here as any doe fall fit for them 13 Item that the Glybb and all Irish habite of men and women be presently abollished and that Orders be set downe for enlarging the English tongue and extinguishing the Irish in as short a time as conueniently may be 14 Item that the factions of Butler and Geraldine with the titles of Ahmabo and Crâ—ghmabo be taken away 15 Finally to the end your Maiesties State be more followed and depended vpon then hitherto it hath beene and the Lords of the Counties lesse reseruing to them the honour and reputation due to their places as the Noble men here haue I thinke it very necessary that a suruay be taken of all their Lands and that your Maiesty by good aduice shall take such a third part thereof into your hands as shall lye fittest for the furtherance of your Seruice Giuing them of improoued Lands in England by way of exchange a valuable recompence So shall your Maiesties followers encrease and theirs diminish to the great assurance of your State there Besides that by that meanes your Highnes shall haue alwayes A CONTINVATION of the History of IRELAND vnto this time 1626 whereof this is the first Booke beginning 1584. and ending 1588. the rest shall follow Queene Elizabeths prosperous and peaceable gouernment WHen Queene Elizabeth the mirrour of women and most famous of Princes had to the wonder of the world and her owne euer flourishing fame gouerned these her Kingdoms of England and Ireland 1584 for the space of almost sixe and twenty yeares and did now plainely finde that the Romish and Spanish practises those ambitious States affecting vniuersall Supremacie the one in ouer ruling Religion the other in coueting absolute Monarchy had taken holde of the reuolting disposition nature of the Irish now wearier of the English yoke of obedience then euer in respect of their contrariety in Religion which through their wildnesse and barbarisme they would not haue beene The Romane Locusts and especially Sanders incendiaries of Rebellion so sensible of but by the stirring vp of the Romane Locusts the instruments of strife bloud and dissention as late manifestation was made in the fruit of that wicked Priest and Traytor Doctor Sanders his worke who not onely drew in the inuading Popish-Spanish forces one of those States aucthorising the other The Popish-Spanish forces defeated by the Lord Gray then Deputy supporting into Mounster where at Smerwick they were defeated by her Maiesties forces vnder the commaund of the right worthy and religious Deputy the Lord Gray but had likewise incited the Lords of Desmond and Baltinglasse with many their confederates to an insurrection not without suspition of the Earle of Kildares conniuencie therein which fire being well quenched by the wisedome The too specdy recalling of the Lord Gray hindred the vtter extinguishing of Desmonds insurrection and valour of that noble Gouernour but not vtterly extinct he being too speedily reuoked thence by the meanes of his enemies at Court enuying his vertues and malicing his successe And the sword committed vnto two Iustices who as in bodies and qualities so varied they indispositions and affection Way was giuen by neglect the Handmayde of diuision to the reuiuing those sparkes which lay hid and couered in the embers of the Iesuites forge which her Maiestic discerning repented no doubt the calling away of the former Deputie but like a great minded Prince vnwilling to confesse errour or to shew the power of such as had preuailed with her in this particular called her selfe home to a new election of such a Gouernour as was likely to answere the necessity of her seruice and to rule that Kingdome to the good and quiet of her people wherein though her happinesse was such as to haue plenty of worthy seruants Regis ad exemplum c. yet most worthily the lot of Sir Iohn Perrott elected Lord Deputy of Ireland her iudgement fell at this time vpon Sir Iohn Perrot a Gentleman discended of an auncient and Noble family and that illustrated by his owne vertue which being supported with a faire Patrimony the effectuall grace of Ancient Nobility gaue glory to his minde His profession being a Souldier for as his meanes bestowed grace vpon the profession so the profession returned the more honour to his vndertaking free hazard being indeede the high path to honour especially when it is guided by a transcendent iudgement which hee had formerly manifested by diuers imployments In her Maiesties Nauie hee had not long before Sir Iohn Perrotts imployment against Stukely the commaund of sixe of her Shipps to encounter Stukeley expected with the Papall banner to haue inuaded Ireland Hee was the Sir Iohn Perrott the first Praesident of Mounster first Lord President of the Prouince of Mounster made by the aduice of Sir Henry Sidney While he was Deputy of Ireland wherein hee had gouerned with good successe to her Maiesties Seruice and such notice had she taken of his iudgement and experience in that Kingdome as shee required his opinion in writing Sir Iohn Perrotts opinion for reformation of Ireland applauded by the Queene and Councell for reformation of errours and establishing a perfection in the gouernment there which he performed to her good liking and the applause of her Councell This iudicious and exact discourse I haue added for the satisfaction of the Reader to my Preface These merrits induced that prouident Prince to this his Election So as commission Sir Iohn Perrots taking of the sword was giuen and the sword deliuered him in Christes Church in Dublin on the 26. of Iune anno 1584. by the afore mentioned Iustices at which time peraduenture in imitation of the ancient Romane Gouernours who were euer accustomed at their Election into Sir Iohn Perrots speech when he receiued the sword publique Office to make Orations to the people hee made a briefe speech more plaine and pithy then glorious or eloquent the words being to this effect That since it had pleased God and her Maiestie to commit to him that great gouernment how weake so euer hee were to vndergoe so heauy a weight yet hee would doe his best endeuour to distribute
State opened and coppied by a Captaine trusted with the conueyance thereof and by him certified to the Traytor Tyrone but in the way intercepted by the Marshal Sir Henry Bagnall The originall of these Cyphers are yet to bee seene with the worthy Sonne of that most worthy Father Sir Henry Wallop of whom since my heart vpon good knowledge of him guides my Pen I craue pardon for digressing from my matter now in hand to speake a word of him He was of an auncient family and an Inheritour of a faire fortune which he managed with so much prouidence as it being seconded by a well knowne wisedome hee was Elected to this place of Vice-Treasurer and Treasurer at Warres in Ireland which as I haue often credibly heard he was vnwilling to accept of not because the place was in the Market at a price to be had according to the Custome of France but freely disposed as all Offices were by that glorious Queene who well vnderstood that he which buyes deare must sell at the same rate by which meanes the poore Subiect whose weale lay next her heart must suffer inconuenience but out of feare that treasure which corrupts most men might doe no lesse to him This place hee discharged many yeares with so cleane hands and so vpright a heart as hee added not to his fortune any matter of moment but at his death was found vpon an euen ground neither in debt to the Queene nor to be charged with any gratuity from Officer Captaine or other in that Kingdome and carried this report to his graue that neuer Treasurer so wise and prouident enioyed so long and reaped so little benefit by so beneficiall a place and dyed without the Taynt of corruption either in that Office or any other which hee held by the fauour of the State in that Kingdome The Lord Deputy hauing performed this with many other things of importance set forwards on his iourney into Connaught where hee dealt with the chiefe Lords to change their custome of strife and controuersie at this time frequent into amity and friendship Charity breeding Piety and both establishing ciuility as the Earles of Thomond and Clanrichard the Lord Bremigham the Burghs of Euter Connaught the Okelleis Oconnor Roe Oconnor Don Oconnor Sligo Mac-William Eughter Murtho-ne-doe-Oflarty The Oneales Mac Trenor Mac Mahond Mac Enispoc both the Mac Nemurroes the two Mac Mahones and all the Chiefes of Connaught and Thomond that both they and the meaner Subiect might be preserued in peace without priuate wrongs for assurance of their loyalties and the readier payment of their compositions He put to death Donnogh Beg Obryan Donnogh-Beg-Obryan put to death a bioudy murtherer and spoyler of the good Subiect with sixe of his accomplices This naughty person shewed as much resolution in suffering death as before he had manifested cruelly in his bloudy actions which did argue the goodnesse of the seruice in cutting him so timely off for he that wants remorce of conscience at the time of his death is in his soule delighted in doing mischiefe The practise of Surleboys inuading Vlster discouered Hee passed on to Limbrick in the Prouince of Mounster where hee receiued intelligence from the Baron of Donganon Sir Nicholas Bagnall the Marshall Captaine Mince then lying in Odonnells Country and others of the approach of a Thousand Scottish Islanders called Redshankes being of the Septs or Families of the Cambiles Macconnells and Macgalanes drawne to inuade Vlster by Surleboys one of that Nation who had vsurped and by power and strong hand possessed himselfe of the Macguilies and other mens Lands in Vlster called the Glimes and the Routes meaning to hold that by force which hee had gotten without right by violence fraud and iniurie The Deputy at the same time receiued priuate notice of a Messenger sent from the Irish of Vlster to stirre vp the Lords and Chiefes of Mounster and Connaught to ioyne with them in Rebellion for whom he caused wayte to be Tirlogh Leynaghs fosterer taken layde and had him apprehended and brought to himselfe who vpon examination after some deniall confessed that hee was Tirlogh Leynagh then called Oneales fosterer and by him imployed to procure those people to ioyne in Rebellion with him and his Accomplices according to a former combination made before his Lordshippes arriuall in that Kingdome when it was destitute of an vnderstanding Commander or such a Garrison of Souldiers as was fit to answere such an occasion hereby expressing the condition of that people to watch all opportunity to deliuer themselues from the yoake of the English gouernment and hee confessed withall that now hauing moued the Lord Fitzmorrice and some other Lords of Mounster to enter into The opinion of the Deputies Iustice kept the Lord Fitzmorrice and others frō Rebellion the promised Insurrection hee was answered by them that since Sir Iohn Perrot who all that Country knew and esteemed to be a iust man was arriued and made Deputy none of them would stirre so long as hee and the Earle of Ormonde continued in that Kingdome so as the cause which makes the English gouernment heauy to that people plainely appeares to be the corruption of our Gouernours else had not Sir Iohn Perrot whose sincerity was knowne to them had more power to containe them in obedience then another of his Country and quality should haue had in the processe of this Story it will likewise appeare that Oneale himselfe was wonn to loyalty and a peaceable subiection merely by the Iustice of this Deputy when hee came once to be knowne amongst them of the North. Neuerthelesse the newes of the Preparation in Vlster The Deputies returne to preuent the Ilanders and the danger of a discent of the Scottish Islanders there being by the Deputy wel weighed broke off his farther proceedings in that Prouince and called him backe to the preuention of the same leauing this Prouince secured by taking Pledges of all suspected persons and constituting in each Country trusty and able Gouernours to keepe the people in obedience if any stirre should happen in his absence taking the President of Mounster who was desirous to accompany him along with him to the Northerne Expedition and appointing such as he suspected to attend him to Dublin ordaining in his absence the County of Corke to be gouerned by the Iustices Walshe and Miagh The Sheriffe Sir William Stanley the Lords Barry and Roche the County of Limbrick to the Prouost Marshall the County of Desmond to the Earle of Clancarthie Sir Owen Oswilliuan and Oswilliuan More The County of Kerry to the Sheriffe and the Lord Fitz-Morris with others whose pledges hee tooke with him The Liberty and County of Tipperary whose Iurisdiction was by Charter challenged to belong to the Earle of Ormonde he left as he found it to the auncient course of gouernment vnder Thomas the then Earle a man of singular wisedome and loyalty and by her Maiestie highly fauoured This Earle first
promise of from the Queene who sent him word shee would shortly prouide him a Successour In the meane time to preuent farther trouble in Ireland that he might leaue all things in as great security as possibly he could hee as one of his last but not least Seruices sends for all the Lords and Chiefes which might in any The Deputy taketh pledges of all the suspected persons in Ireland part bee suspected to take part with the forraigne Enemie if any attempt should be made in that Kingdome by them as was doubted and of all these demaunded Pledges for their owne faithfulnesse and the quietnesse of their people and for the more easie enclining them to this demaund which seemed at first harsh vnto them he made a solemne speech wherein hee declared that it was done as well for their owne good as for the Kingdomes quiet for hee knew that the Queene would be well pleased with their willingnesse to yeeld testimony of their loyalty vnto her which could not but make them better accepted trusted in the time to come protesting that if the case concerned him as it did them he should chuse rather at this time to be bound then to be left at liberty within the danger of suspition being a deepe corrosiue to euery well meaning man as he assured himselfe they all were howsouer their former slips had made them apt to be doubted aduising them to vse all good meanes for the conseruation of Peace in each of their Dominions whereby their pledges might shortly haue freedome and they themselues gaine a better estimation for euer By this perswassion they did with lesse grudging and contradiction yeeld pledges which were bestowed in the Castle of Dublin so as all the Heads of all the Prouinces in Ireland were tyed by this meanes to quietnesse and subiection which at that time was most necessary because the Deputy by diuers good intelligences out of Spaine whereof hee had giuen speedy and often information into England knew the Spanish preparations were great and whether intended for England or Ireland or for both was not certaine but Ireland threatned by the common bruite This done the Deputy writes againe to the Queene humbly thanking her that at his suit and for the recouery of his health which now began to impaire shee had beene pleased to promise his discharge from that Gouernement and withall besought her speedily to send his Successour vsing the same reasons he had formerly done when it was bruited he should bee remoued before it was intended the loose people being indeede apt out of their euill affection to take aduantage of the time and to attempt that which they durst not doe in a confirmed and well countenanced Gouernement At length when this good Deputy had gouerned foure yeares with much trauaile and good successe notwithstanding the opposition mentioned in this discourse of priuate and particular Aduersaries the enuiers of his felicity hee obtained his discharge And Sir Sir William Fitz-Williams sent into Ireland William Fitz-Williams was sent to succeede him who had formerly gouerned that Kingdome with liking and commendation which though it bred some hope in the people that hee would build well vpon his Predecessours platforme yet it could not keepe the peoples eyes from teares for the losse of Sir Iohn Perrott such impression had his vpright and cleane handed Gouernement vnusuall to that vnhappy Kingdome taken in their hearts as appeared at his departure The Deputy giueth a Cup to the Citie of Dublin Before his deliuery of the Sword he gaue a couered Cup of Siluer guilt to the Maior and Citie of Dublin with these words vppon the top engrauen In Pace relinquo meaning that hee left the Citie and Kingdome in peace At the deliuery of the Sword in Christs-Church hee tolde the new Deputy Sir William Fitz Williams in the publique hearing of many of whom some are yet liuing Now my Lord since that by her Maiesties direction I haue giuen vp the Gouernement of this Kingdome into your hands I must giue your Lordship to vnderstand and I thanke God I may say so that I leaue it in perfect peace and tranquility which I hope your Lordship will certifie vnto her Maiestie and the Lords of her Councell to whom the Deputy made answere that he confessed it to be so and wished he might leaue it no worse Then my Lord replyed Sir Iohn Perrot I must adde thus much That if there bee any man in this Kingdome suspected to be euill minded to the State who is able to drawe but sixe Sword-men after him into the field if he haue not already put in pledges for his fidelity so your Lordship shall thinke it necessary I will vndertake though now but a priuate man to send for him and if hee come not within twentie dayes I will forfait the credit and reputation of my Gouernement whereto the Deputy answered that all was well it needed not The loue of the Irish State vnto Sir Iohn Perrot At Sir Iohn Perrotts departure from Dublin after hee had left the Sword many of the Nobility Gentry and Commons of that Kingdome came thither to see and take their leaue of him so that as hee went from his Lodging to the Key to take Boate. The presse of People comming to salute him some with cries of applause and some with teares bemoaning his departure was so great that he was well-neere two houres before hee could passe the Streete and was enforced twice or thrice to take house for his ease to auoyde the throng amongst whom Tirlogh Leynaugh was one who comming along with him to his Boate and standing at the Key vntill hee sawe his Ship vnder sayle did then weepe and grieuously bewayle his departure Such power hath the opinion of Iustice and sincere gouernement to make euen them that are barbarous to loue the Ministers thereof though themselues know not the things but by the effects At Sir Iohn Perrots going to Sea the Citizens of Dublin in testimony of their loue sent with him some of their young men with Shot to guard him into Pembroke Shire who passed with him to his Castle called Carewe whence hee was not long after called to the Court to be made a Priuie Councellour the step to his fall and ruine Sir Nicholas Whites expression of Sir Iohn Perrots Gouernment Of his Gouernement Sir Nicholas White Master of the Rolles in Ireland and a learned man wrote these fewe words Pacificauit Connaciam Relaxauit Mediam Subiuganit Vltoniam Fregit Lageniaem Ligauit Mononiam Extirpauit Scotos Refrenauit Anglos Et his omnibus per aquè vectigal acquisiuit Reginae Thus Englished He pacified Connaught loosened the bonds of Meathe subdued Vlster brake the bonds of combination in Leynster and bound fast in obedience Mounster Hee extirped the Inuading Scots bridled the bolde Extortions of the English and to all these added much to the Queenes reuenew for besides the compositions in Vlster and Connaught mentioned in this discourse hee drew new encrease and reseruations of Rents Tenures and Seruices from many Lords of Territories and Seruices from many Lords of Territories and sundry other persons in the seuerall Prouinces The particulars are yet extant to be seene though tedious here to be set downe which hee did vpon Surrenders renewing of their Estates which bred a double benefit vnto the Crown the better assurance of their Loyalties and the aduancement of reuenew These Seruices so well begun if they had beene perfected had made that Kingdome more peaceable rich ciuill and subiect to good Gouernement but want of time which makes the best begunne workes to misse the period of their perfection And Enuie which crosseth the best Designes left this mans Gouernement though successefull yet without the full fruite with his longer stay well seconded might haue brought forth But all humane affaires must haue their Periods and the successe of good or euill in them all will bee euer in some sort answerable to the Actors intentions FINIS