vnder the pen of a more able hand one that had taken much paines in that Subiect onely hauing omittted Sir Iohn Perrots time for some particular reasons which must needes blemish my worke because not so substantiall I abruptly therefore brake off with such an excuse as to him belonged who was the motiue of my vndertaking And if this thus much come in Print I pray you know it to be his will onely But if this weake labour be not misliked I will proceede further as time shall spare me leasure To the Queenes most Excellent Maiestie Sir Iohn Perrots Opinion for the suppressing of Rebellion and the well Gouerning of Ireland written by him vpon the Queenes commandement in the time of the Earle of Desmonds and the Lord of Baltinglasses Rebellion 1582. I Haue found the charge that your Maiestie committed vnto mee for the setting downe of mine opinion how your Realme of Ireland might with the least charge be reclaimed from Barbarisme to a godly Gouernment somewhat difficult by reason of mine owne insufficiency many wayes for so weighty a cause Neuerthelesse entring into consideration first of your Maiesties most godly and Princely care in this behalfe and next of my most bounden duty to your Maiesty I haue beene emboldned to set downe what I obserued were the causes of the disorders of the Land whilst I had some peece of Gouernment in it and what I then thought and now doe thinke may bee some meanes to reforme the same most humbly referring both my selfe and this my simple discourse to your Maiesties and Councels grauer deeper consideration and as humbly crauing pardon if in seeking to discharge my duty truly and plainely I touch any thing that may seeme offensiue It is most apparant that the regard your Maiestie hath had to God and his will in all your Princely proceedings hath so wonderfully blessed your Estate that as wee your faithfull Subiects doe loue and honour you so all forraigne Nations doe admire and reuerence you for it A cause for vs to thank God most hartily and a patterne for all Princes to immitate most diligently Wee therefore to you and you to God are to giue all the honour and glory It is also apparant what continuall care you haue had of that your Realme of Ireland The great and almost insupportable charges that you haue sustained to doe it good doth well witnesse the same For so great a masse of Treasure haue you already imployed to that end that no Prince in the world except your Maiestie who hath bin moued with conscience of your people and feare of God only would in reason or good pollicy giue so much for the purchase of such an other Land to bee enioyed in peaceable possession And yet notwithstanding all that your Maiesties care and cost that way hath not hitherto yeelded that fruit that your Maiesty doth desire For the State of that Country hath growne dayly from worse to worse and from dangerous tâ— most dangerous Many men doe alledge causes hereof But next to the want of the true knowledge of God and of the due course of Iustice to giue euery man a peaceable propriety of that which is his owne I take vnder correction that the smoothing vp of all former Rebellions by Pardons and Protections hath beene the misery and cause of most of this mischiefe For if it were not too bitter a rehearsall it were no hard matter to make it appeare how one Rebellion during your Maiesties Raigne hath hatcht another and how againe of all them this last more dangerous then they all hath taken this strong rooting with forraigne combination Leauing this third cause a while I craue pardon to say a little of the two former principall causes want of Religion and Lawe It is a lamentable thing to behold how generally in that Realme they are so farre of not onely from true but also in effect from any knowledge at all of God thaâ— Saint Patrick is more familiar and of better credite with them then Christ Iesus our Sauiour How can a people so estranged from God and their duty to him haue any grace to know their lawfull Prince and their duty to her The like is to be said of the Lawes from which they flye as from the yoke of bondage and not desire to be tyed by it as by the linke of humane Society as they ought to be The reformation must therefore begin at God His will and word must be duly planted and Idolatry extirped Next Law must be established and lycentious customes abrogated The meanes to effect both is now most fitly offered by the Rebellion now a foore So as a man that should giue his opinion for the reformation of Ireâ—and might conclude all circumstances with this one short resolution Correct this Rebellion throughly and reforme Ireland presently I must therefore craue pardon to say a little more concerning this Rebellion before I meddle with other particularities of reformation There be three strong reasons to moue your Maiesty to correct this Rebellion with all earnest seuerity not allowing pardon or protection to be giuen to any man but vpon speciall and vrgent great causes The first reason is The charge that God hath committed to your Maiesty ouer that people to see the good maintained or at the least defended and the bad suppressed or at the least repressed Then the account that God will require for the innocent blood that hath beene there cruelly spilt by Traytors and for the miserable oppression of the better sort of your Maiesties Subiects who haue beene there burned rauished robbed and spoyled the cry whereof is now shrill in Gods eare for vengeance against these cruell Rebels and disordered dealers The second reason is a present vrging necessity which may not be neglected but with dangerous errour in pollicy of Gouernement For remit this Rebellion and yeeld wholly and for euer the Lamb to the Wolfe and the Subiect to the Traytor who will so keepe him vnder that hee shall neither will nor dare euer hereafter to oppose himselfe on your Maiesties behalfe or Seruice The third reason is commodity For besides that all rules and orders for reformation may thereupon be the more readily and lesse chargeably put in execution there will excheate to your Maiesty by due course of Iustice the better halfe of that Land whereof what great â—…ue may in short time accrew to your Maiestie ouer and aboue what may be imployed to reward and strengthen those that are dutifully disposed shall in part appeare in place where the commodities of Ireland shall purposely be spoken of Thus it appeareth that the seuere correction of this Rebellion is the first and soundest step of reformation and that the same is grounded vpon duty to God necessity pollicy and commodity all which points would yeeld a larger discourse if that it were either my purpose or needfull to your Maiesty who knoweth and vnderstandeth all Least some might draw this mine opinion of a seuere
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
met him in Connaught with Mac Morris Oswilliuan More the Knight of Kerry and certaine Septs of the Galloglasses who accompanied him to Limbrick where there came vnto him all the principall persons of that Prouince sauing the chiefe of the County of Corke as the Lords Barry and Roche Sir Owen-Mac-Carthie and others who did accompany their Sheriffe Sir William Stanley prouided to entertaine him and present themselues vpon the Confines of their owne County but were preuented by the Northerne newes already mentioned the Deputy hauing changed his purpose of visiting those parts Malachias Amalone a Fryar conuerted In this passage thorow Connaught Malachias Amalone brother to Mac William Eughter who had long beene a Fryar was brought vnto him and by him with priuate consultation and dispute made to vnderstand his errours Hee publiquely and before a great Assembly did renounce the Pope and Romish Religion gaue ouer his order and habit and made his Recantation by professing himselfe a Protestant and conformable to the Religion established in her Maiesties Dominions With these courses of Prouidence Iustice ending of Controuersies and taking security for the preseruation of future Peace the people generally seemed to be well pleased and satisfied but in nothing more then with the correction of the Sheriffes corruptions and limiting them to a small number of followers who had formerly vsed with Multitudes to trauaile and Cesse vnder colour of Seruice to the grieuous oppression of the Country so as mixing the peoples case from exaction with their reformation they gladly yeelded to the hardest conditions that colde bee desired to keepe them in obedience and due subiection These parts being left to the care of the Iustices and other selected Commissioners The Deputy retired with as much celerity as hee could towards Dublin and in his way as hee passed through Leix hee tooke Pledges of Fiaugh Order taken with the heads of Lemster for the certainty of their obedience Mac Hugh the Fierbrand of the Mountaines betweene Dublin and Wexford which were his Sonne and Vncle and for the rest of his Sept the Obyms and O-Tooles Sir Henry Harrington the Captaine and Commaunder of that Country was appointed to receiue the liâ—e The two brethren of the Oconnors who vsed to be followed with great troupes of Sauaging and idle people doing and threatning mischiefe to the Queene and Kings Counties and the parts adioyning submitted themselues there to the Deputy and were by him reduced to a more orderly course by putting away their idle men and bringing their Sept and followers into a smaller proportion according to their quality After the death of Iames More alias Meigh the Mores who challenge dominion in Lâ—ix were deuide into two or three Septs them the Deputy caused to render Pledges for their Loyalties as the Oconnors had done The Canaâ—aghs not being ready with their Pledges who are the bordering busie men of the Counties of Wexford Catherlogh and Kildare were respited to performe the same to Sir Henry Wallop Sir Nicholas Walsh and other Commissioners appointed for the suruaying the Forts of Mary Burgh and Philips Towne The Forts of Mary-Burgh and Philips Towne built by the Earle of Sussex Philips Towne and the Kings County was assigned to the commaund of Sir George Bourgier and Mary Burgh with the Queenes County to Captaine Warham St. Leger which Forts were built and Counties so named in Queene Maries time by the Earle of Sussex then Lieutenant of Ireland before begun by Edward Bollingham being otherwise called Leix and Ophaly these being the first Counties that The King and Queens Counties diuided by the Earle of Sussex had beene in this Kingdome since King Iohns Reigne at what time the twelue first Shires were established which enlarging of the English Plantation was a Seruice of very great moment those two Irish Septs of Mores and Oconnors possessing these two Countries being the most powerfull Rebels of Lemster at that time and by this good Earle and his Predecessour happily brought vnder The Orealies as wel Sir Iohn as Philip being then in controuersie were thence suÌ„moned by the Lord Deputy to repaire to him at Dublin which shortly after they performed and submitted their cause to his order who appeased their controuersie by setling an indifferent course betweene them to both their lykings Hauing secured all the Westerne parts in the manner as is declared which was certified vnto England by those of the Priuie Councell that attended him in this iourney he repaired to Dublin vpon the 9. day of August hauing bin absent a moneth wanting two daies where he remained sixteene dayes to make prouision of conuenient power and meanes for his Northerne iourney for to resist the Inuasion of the Scottish Ilanders whereof his intelligence did dayly encrease and to suppresse the rebellious purpose of the Vlster Confederates making the greater hast to keepe them from vniting His force which hee could on such a suddaine make was the Earle of Ormond and his Rising out The Earle of Thomond and his The Army for the North. From Mounster the Lord Barrys his Rising out sent by his brother The Lord Roche and Fitz Gibon called the white Knight with theirs The rising out of the County of Kildare The Lord of Trimelstowne with the rising out of Meathe The Vice-Count Gormâ—nstowne and the Lord of Heathe with other rising out of the English Pale being such of the olde English discent as were tyed by their tenures and custome of Seruice to leauy certaine Horse and Foote called Risings out to attend the Deputy or chiefe Gouernour for a time without the Princes charge in all Seruices of importance when hee went himselfe in person To these were added ten English Companies of Foote of one hundred in each Company vnder the Command 1 Sir Henry Wallops Company commanded by his Lieutenant 2 Captaine Rees ap Hugh the Prouost Marshall 3 Captaine Thomas Lea. 4 Captaine Bethell 5 Captaine Randal Brewerton 6 Captaine Merryman 7 Captaine Mince 8 Captaine Parker 9 Captaine Collum 10 Captaine Bangor These Companies Risings out and some halfe Companies of Kerne brought by particular Irish Lords being ready The Deputy accompanied with the afore-named Lords Generall Norreys Lord President of Moâ—nster Sir Nicholas Bagnall then Marshall of Ireland Captaine Iaques Wingfield then Master of the Ordnance Sir George Bourchier Sir William Stanley Mr. Thomas Norreys Sir Henry Harrington all Gouernours Commanders and most of them ancient Captaines well experienced with him likewise went Sir Robert Dillon chief Iustice of the Common Pleas Sir Lucas Dillon chiefe Baron of the Exchequer Sir Nicholas White Master of the Rolls Master Ieffrey Fenton Secretary of the State Master Henry Bagnall Sir Edward Denny Sir Iohn Tyrrell of Farrtallaugh Master Dudleigh Bagnall Sir Henry Cooley Sir Thomas More Sir Anthony Brabauson Warham Saint Leger Henry Warren and William Warren his brother set-forwards from Dublin the fiue and twenty day of August and came to the Newry the 29. thereof where
The Deputy against Bishops in commendam granting of Bishopricks in Commendam shewing the inconueniencies that follow the heaping of many Lyuings into one hand for the more sufficient men being imployed the more encrease of Religion is likely and on the contrary the diminution of Teachers must needs hinder knowledge and encrease ignorance In the second place Aduice was taken how to bring the rude and vnruly people to bee plyable to the Lawes which are the best ballances of right and rules of Iustice and to that end Letters were directed to the Lords and Chiefes of account that their Countries which were large in circuite might be deuided into Counties in places where now were none as in Vlfter and to place Officers therein according to the vse and custome of England as Shriefes Excheaters Feodaries Constables and the like whereby the poorer sort of people might be kept from oppression and speedier Iustice with lesse charge might bee had nearer at home The ignorant might bee instructed what to doe and how to liue The wilfull made subiect to the rule of Law or corrected by it The great men kept from tyrannizing ouer their Tenants and Vnderlings and the Inferiour sort should know how to support themselues by lawfull meanes against vnlawfull Vsurpations This course was consented to by most and not contradicted by any but some fewe of the worst condition and that rather by secret then open opposition Diuision of Counties in Vlster The Counties thus made in Vlster were these Ardmagh Monahan Tyrone Colerane Denegall Fermanagh and Cauan These circuites thus deuided and setled into Shieres the Deputy with the Chancellour appointed sundry of the best estimation to be Iustices of the Peace to whom hee wrote to shew into what degree of trust they were called and how important the charge was for her Maiesties Seruice and that if in them should Admonition to the Iustices of Peace be found such industry and sincerity as was expected hee then saw no cause but that the course of enormities which had heretofore runne with more impunity then was meete might be stopped and the State of that Country brought from good to better or at least not suffered to decline againe from bad to worse as heretofore in the late broken times it had done Further assuring them that as hee should be glad to finde them to performe their duties so hee gaue them to vnderstand that in which of them so euer hee found any crime or defect whereby so good a Seruice should bee hindered or cortupted they should bee brought vnder such leuere penalty and reprehension as the Law could any way permit besides the diminution of their credit and good opinion This Letter of admonition bare date the 15 of December 1584 and with it were sent certaine Articles of Order for Iustices of Peace Orders for the Iustices of peace and choice of a Coronor and Constables to bee obserued within their seuerall limits through the whole Realme To these were added an Authority and Writs directed for the choise of a Coroner in euery County and of two able and discreete men to be Constables in euery Barony besides â—â—tty Constables to be Assistants and yet inferiour Officers in the discharge of their duties These affaires for that Kingdome thus begun and in some sort setled in the first yeare A Parliament in England of this Deputies gouernment A Parliament beginning in the end of the yeare in England and his care continuing to prosecute alwayes for the support of that long vnstayed State finding but colde successe of the promises to his propositions from the Lords in England the Ruler of her Maiesties Purse being loath to aduance any neuer so important Seruice by the expence of Treasure especially such a summe as nothing but extremity could make him thinke meete should be disbursed which sparing indeede brought extremity to that Kingdome hee resolued to try what the Parliament would doe in so important a cause and to that end wrote ouer a Letter to craue their helpe for the reformation and strengthening of that ruinous Realme which because it was such a zeale and direction to doe good and may perhaps serue for a President when time shall require for the further establishment of that State I haue thought good to set downe and insert the Letter it selfe Sir John Perrot Lord Deputie of Ireland to the Commons House of Parliament in England The Deputies Letter to the Parliament in England MOst high and Noble Assembly the duty I owe to God her Maiesty and my Country and the interest I haue in you rproceedings though I now be not as often I haue beene a member of that House moues mee not onely to pray deuoutly that God will blesse all your Counsels but also to thinke carefully of any thing that I conceiue may be worthy your graue consultation and tend to the glory of God her Maiesties Honour and safety and strength and profit of the whole State The malice of the Pope and all combinations and practises both Forraigne and Domesticall thereupon depending which haue beene most apparently discouered from all quarters and of late partly from hence I humbly leaue to be by your grauities prouided for therefore her Maiestie hauing assigned mee though vnworthy to the charge of this Realme I am drawne by commiseration to present the torne and miserable estate of the same vnto your viewes together with the occasions and meanes of redresse that are now offered and which it humbly imploreth through your godly and Honourable aydes I trust I shall not neede to goe about to confute the bad opinion that hath beene held of some concerning the reformation of the same for I am perswaded that there is no one amongst you so vngodly as doth thinke all mischiefe sufferable in a Common-wealth for pollicies sake or so ill aduised as not to see the great charge this Realme hath beene vnto that and must still breede vnto it while it is in disorder or degenerate from the Noble courage of our Forefathers as to doubt that England shall not be able to rule and hold Ireland being reduced to good estate For sith all power is of God and that either of his mercie hee establisheth the happy continuance of all well ordered Kingdomes or of his iustice ouerthroweth or translateth the contrary No man that hath any spaike of grace or reason can hope that euer England may long enioy Ireland if it suffer it in this licentious impunity to embrewe it selfe in Heathenish and superstitious Idolatries Treasons Rebellions Murthers Rapes Robberies Mischiefes or doubt that it may become a strong and profitable ornament to England if on the other side religion duty obedience peace quietnesse true dealing order ciuility may be planted in it Because examples doe more perswade somtimes then reason I humbly beseech you to reuiew the ancient State of this Kingdom and it will appeare by good demonstrations not vnknowne to some of that
diligence and tooke in good part all his doings as proceeding from a speciall zeale to doe her seruice yet finding or suspecting a taxe withall to bee layde on his iudgement in some matters which did arise as he conceiued from the perswasion of his Euemies his nature would not suffer him to The Deputy writeih to the Queene suppresse or conceale his griefe Hee therefore wrote ouer vnto her as hee had already done vnto the Lords of her Counsaile shewing the good successe of his late Northerne iourney with the necessity thereof and the content of the Councell thereunto and to his proceeding in tendering the Oath of obedience hee pleaded warrant and pollicie of State and to all the other allegations as of Nouelties and supposed inconuemencies hee replyed that they were malicious furmises and without cause of doubt therein as his Aduersary pretended alleadging a dangerous consequence to breede feare doubt and disquietnesse in the Natiues which were but suggestions to hinder such seruices as would easily be performed without perill finding now the pride and power of the euill affected Irish to be altogether abated and the people enclined to yeeld conformity vnto his commandements Therefore it seemed fit to him to take the opportunity which the time offered to worke that which former time could not compasse But finding all this how necessary so euer crossed by them which should rather haue giuen furtherance to it construing his actions astending to innouation likely to stirre dissention and produce danger He confessed that he was much disconraged but yet would pursue his course in the best manner he could being so restrayned For the view of mens Charters wherewith hee was charged hee denied that euer he intended much lesse practised the Accusers malice and slander Hee confessed that hee had vrged some of them to take the Oath of obedience and gaue his reason for it for finding their obstinacie and repugnance to reason in Parliament he held this the best meanes to try their sidelily by concluding with all humility which tasted something neuerthelesse of passion and griefe for it must needes trouble him to see his zealous care to assure all things to the good of his Prince mistaken by the malice of his Aduersaries whose whole ayme being but at their owne particular were not so sensible as they should haue beene how they euerted the publique by pudling the water wherein their fish lay And to strengthen this their information to the end hee might be made the more distastfull to her Maiestie and the Lords of her Counsell Some of the Lords of the English Pale are incited The Lords of the English Pale write against the Deputy to write vnto the Queene 15 Iuly 1585 in complaint against the Deputy that ouer and besides a composition of two thousand pounds yearely reuennew formerly made in lieu of Cess and other charges claimed to belong by Prerogatiue vnto the State from the fiue Counties of the English Pale hee intended to impose a second charge of fifteene hundred pound per Anum sterling so making the yoake of her Gouernment to appeare heauie and insupportable But not long after some of those Lords finding themselues abused as the Vicount Gormanstowne the Lords of Slany The Lords by another Letter recanted their errour Heathe and Trimelstene by another Letter recanted their errour expressing sorrow for mistaking the Deputies meaning acknowledging his fatherly care of them the Country for those were the words of their Letter and that they would not haue written against him neither for the former particular nor for the suspension of Poynings Act if they had discerned or vnderstood what they now found of his disposition to doe them and the Country right This shewes in what a slippery seare they fit that gouerne that Kingdome for Innocencie is not alwayes safe though it be euer best for it cannot bee free from imputation when it is free from corruption the vnder-Instruments of State aduauncing themselues thereby Notwithstanding these complaints crossings and backbitings the Deputy like a carefull Common-wealths man and iust seruant to his Prince professed he would proceede on to the discharge of his duty as long as he held that place esteeming it better to be disgraced for doing well then to be remiss in doing well Therefore care is had to settle a Composition in Cannaught sutable to that in Vlster begun for the encrease of the Crownes reuennew and setling of some certainty in that Prouince betwixt the Lords and their Tenants for the preuention of such mischiefes as had happened formerly there by their disagreement and for the reformation of such enormities as were frequent by the dependencie of the mean person vpon the chiefe Lords To this purpose in the same yeare so soone as the late begun troubles of Vlster were pacified and the other Prouinces of Ireland began to be plyable and conformable to Iustice and Peace A commission is directed to Sir Richard Commission sent into Connaught for making the composition Bingham the Gouernour of Connaught Sir Nicholas White Master of the Rowles Sir Thomas Lestrange Charles Calthorpe the Queenes Attourney Generall Thomas Dillon Chiefe Iustice of Connaught Gerard Comeford Attourney there and Francis Barkeley to enter into a course for procuring a composition with the principall Lords spirituall and temporall The Chiefetaines of Countries Gentlemen and Free-holders of that Prouince of Connaught to passe vnto the Queenes Maiesty her Heires and Successours a graunt of tenne shillings English or a marke Irish vpon euery quarter of land containing 120 Acres manured or to be manured as the phrase went and was significantly set downe that beares either horne or corne that was with tillage or cattell in lieu and consideration to bee discharged from other Cess taxation or tallage excepting the rising out of Horse and Foote for the Seruice of the Prince and State such as should be particularly agreed vpon and some certaine dayes labour for building and fortifaction for the safety of the people and Kingdome According to which Commission and the directions therein contained These Commissioners did trauaile through the seuerall Counties of Connaught first calling and conferring with the Lords Chiefetaines Gentlemen and Free-holders in their seuerall Precincts and Possessions to finde their dispositions how farre they were willing to condiscend and yeeld to such a course for the satisfaction of their Prince and freedome of themselues from further burthens to make their charge certaine and that but small These things well The Commissioners handled the Commission discreetly propounded and discreetly prosecuted most and in a manner all the principall possessours of land in that Prouince as they were generally dealt withall did assent to this contribution for their owne ease as well as for the satisfaction and seruice of the Prince of the first themselues were sensible of the other they had onely aduertisement from the Commissioners being well chosen for that purpose especially Sir Richard Bingham the Gouernour then
continuance and custome which the people had borne so long as they thought it now no burthen knowing no better feeling that least wherwith they had so long bin acquainted But now the Chiefes vnderstanding that they should haue freedom of lands instead lieu of their Chieferies the people by perswasion brought to beleeue and perceiue they should by this meanes liue more free from exaction both yeelded to this composition which to this day doth continue If this Seruice had proceeded as the Deputy intended as well through the whole Prouince as in these parts and so extended to the rest of the Kingdome it had surely introduced peace and wealth amongst the people with obedience and encrease of reuenue to the Prince which at that time might easily haue beene affected but the bloud and fatall mischiefes threatned vnto that vnhappy Kingdome were not to bee preuented by the care and industry of this good Gouernour whose workes though built vpon the strong foundation of zeale knowledge and integrity were shaken by the stormes blowne from the breath of his maligners both here there vsing not the Engine of slander onely but like Magicians stirred vp euery spirit that might moue him to impatience the already mentioned fault of his Nature That begot The second information against the Deputy rash words which no sooner spoken but was enformed with aduantage which tooke away her Maiesties good opinion of his zeale to doe her Seruice so as his faith was interpreted to be vaineglory which being by him vnderstood discouraged his proceeding and finding all his actions if not slighted yet brought within the compasse of suspition a hard reward for so much merit hee was much perplexed But heere his misfortune rested not for now the most perillous practise of his Enemies began to breake forth which fatally in short time proued his ruine Denis Oroughans practise discouered One Dennis Oroughan who had beene a Romish Priest counterfeited certaine Warrants in the name of the Deputy directed to all the Queenes Officers within the Realme of Ireland vnto which Warrants the name of the Deputy was set in the vsuall place of Assignation In them was a generall pardon graunted to the Priest without limitation of time or exception of any offence terming the Realme of Ireland and Councell thereof as if they had beene his and hee King of it and them contrary to all vsuall forme which seemed not to be the Priests owne deuice because the extraordinary forme must needes bring it in question and thereby make it of no auaile to him but the Priest being a fit instrument in respect of his offence and the fitter through an extraordinary villany grafted in him was wrought by others to take vpon him this part to manifest the Deputies ambition and thereby make him odious to the State here which deuillish plot was more timely discouered then the Plotters wished for the Priest being taken with these counterfeited Warrants vpon other suspition and brought before the Archbishop of Cashell who taking paines in the examination of him discouered that these Warrants were written by one Henry Birde Register to the high Commission Aduertisement was giuen hereof to the Deputy a Commission thereupon was directed to the Lord Primate Sir Henry Wallop and Sir Nicholas White to call Birde before them and to make search amongst his papers thereby as by his examination to finde the meaning of these counterfeited papers of warrant At first hee denied the writing of the Warrants but afterwards being tripped in his Answeres hee confessed hee wrote them but stifly for swore the subscription of the Deputies name thereto which as it should seeme was done by the Priest himselfe for hee was the man that after accused Denis Oroughan the false Author of Sir Iohn Perrots accusation in England the Deputy in England vpon which hee was condemned so as either the Deputies owne remisnesse in seuerely punishing this man or his Aduersaries vnderhand protecting him from his deserued punishment gaue scope to his detestable accusation which the villaine Denis Oroughans repentance a little before his death being not many yeares since confessed with a seeming remorse for his so falsly accusing an Innocent by the procuring of others who were neuer knowne in this world to repent their misdeede how they answere in the next is onely knowne to God himselfe but it is a fearefull thing to obserue what power such false persons oftē haue to preuaile against the most innocent euen in the iustest Common-weales which neither the wit of man nor any thing but the miraculous hand of the highest can preuent or discouer Another practise about this time or shortly after succeeded against him which though it were not so dangerous yet it troubled him no The Deputies secrets bewrayed lesse being a meanes to preuent his intended Seruices for his Letters and secrets being bewrayed by as it should seeme Iohn Williams his owne Secretary vnto his Aduersaries and by them communicated vnto others whom they concerned her Maiestie was defrauded of her Seruice and he brought into suspition amongst those where the way of his preuailing lay vpon the first notice thereof he wrote vnto the Lords of the Councell in England who thereupon gaue commaundement vnto the Lord Chancellour and the Bishop of Meath to make the Authors knowne of that discouery shewing the dangerous consequence that followed such practises of publishing secrets which did concerne the State but they for some particular respects as it should seeme disobeyed that commaundement though the Queene her selfe did after expresly require it to be done And withall she wrote vnto the Lord Chancellour charging him to forbeare contestation with the Deputy which could not but hinder his seruice and embolden euill affected persons disposed to resist the power of her Gouernours when they should discerne such contention amongst those that were chiefe in authority Shortly after the Baron of Donganon went into England who hauing beene brought vp with the English shewed alwayes forwardnesse in the Queenes Seruice against Tirlogh Leynaugh and Shane Oneale in times of their disobedience wherein his speciall ayme was onely his owne aduancement into their title and place they once suppressed Comming into England with the faire shew of his former Seruices he professeth future fidelity in himselfe and aduiseth vnder colour of the Countries peace and quiet a suppression of the exorbitant Title and iurisdiction of Oneale which notwithstanding hee afterward assumed and extorted vnto himselfe though a knowne Bastard taking aduantage of the loose hand was held vpon the Irish in Vlster and the corrupt Gouernment at that time in the State as shall in his due time be made manifest with this profession of Seruice and by applying himselfe to the greatest in power and grace at Court he gained the Queenes fauour and The Baron of Donganon created Earle of Tyrone was created Earle of Tyrone but hereat his ambition was not leuelled for the name of an Earle was