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 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
whom the Queene had not in her Dominions a more able and sufficient Gentleman and that did more neerely lay his actions to a good conscience so as he did nothing but by the warrant thereof and nothing did argue his duty to God and his Princemore then his The hard cause held against Sir Richara Bingham vniust fall notwithstanding his prime desert in that â—nhappy Kingdome by the deprauing and malicious courses of those Instruments that in time prosecuted the like against him as they did now against this Deputy of whom wee now treat till the light of his innocencie cleared him though too late from their aspersion brought him to a new further aduancement in that Kingdome though his great heart disdayning the iniustice was done him would not hold out long enough to prosecute the seruice which was in his power to performe but ere I come to relate this tragicall misdeede I must mention his vertuous actions by which hee got the hate of his worthlesse Aduersaries and must recommend the Earle of Clanrikard who being a most noble Gentleman and loyall Subiect was one of the principall in this Seruice After treaties succeeded Inquisitions to finde what quantity there was in each Barony The couenants between the Queene and the Lords of Connaught and who were found owners thereof Indentures were drawne betweene the Deputy in the behalfe of the Queene on the one part and the chiefe possessioners in the seuerall Precincts on the other expressing so many quarters and quantities of Land with the Rents thereon reserued and such other couenants as were therein contained In the County of Clare and Thomond the Earle of Clanrikard the Baron of Inseâ—â—uin the Bishop of Killalowe the Elect Bishoâ— of Kilfanorough with diuers Knights and chiefe Gentlemen subscribed to an Indenture of couenants for the perpetuall paying out of the nine Baronies of that County amounting 177 quarters Certaine Freedomes were granted to some speciall persons some quarters of Land to be exempted from this imposition In consideration whereof the Lords and Owners of those Lands did likewise couenaot with the Deputy that the names stiles and Titles of Captainship chiefly and all other Irish Authorities and Iurisdictions heretofore vsed by the Lords Chiefetaines and Gentlemen together with all elections and customary diuisions of Lands which had occasioned great strife and diuision amongst them should be thenceforth vtterly renounced extinct and abollished The like composition was made vpon the same conditions with the Lords spirituall and temporall The Chiefetaines Gentlemen and Freeholders in the County of Maio containing nine Baronies and 1448 quarters of Land euery quarter esteemed to be 120 Acres so that out of this 1448 quarters found in this County there being graunted so much to bee free as there remained 1200 quarters chargeable which amounted to sixe hundred pound sterling in that County There was also by the same composition and couenants to be maintained by the County for the Seruice of the Prince forty good able Horsemen furnished and two hundred Footemen well Armed at their owne costs and charges whensoeuer they should be called or commanded thereto by the Deputy or chiefe Gouernour of the Realme or by the chiefe Officer of the said Prouince and to finde fifteene good Horsemen and fifty Footemen well furnished in such sort as the Peeres and English Bishops ought to doe the same The like composition was made for the County of Sligo all other Counties Countries Baronies and Territories of this Prouince By the eighth of September 1585 the Commissioners had trauailed through the Okelleys Country all Thomond Clanrickard Eighter Connaught and the rest of the County of Galway which Mac William Eighter and the rest of his name which were of many branches besides the petty Lords and other of the second ranke in their Sir Nicholas White his letter to the Lord Deputy Countries So that as Sir Nicholas White certified to the Lord Deputy they conceiued hope to come home loaden with Pledges and leaue that Country vnloaden of many Macks and Oos translated by their owne assent vnto which their hands Seales were had to a better course and more certainty of liuing then hitherto they could afford themselues In the aduertisement of these affaires Sir Nicholas White did propound vnto the Deputy an ingenious Enigma or Ridle That all sorts were eased with their bearing and yet her Maiesties reuenue with the Liuings of the Lords encreased From the County of Mayo the Commissioners were to repasse to the County of Sligo and so homewards to the County of Roscoman The Commissioners doubtfull to meddle with Orurk With Orurkes Country called Letrim they were doubtfull how to meddle considering the condition of himselfe and his Country both vnciuill and vnruly In those places where they had dealt they began to erect Mannours to hold of her Maiestie besides the Compositions and Royalties reserued vnto the Crowne Vpon the returne of this Commission and the Indentures thereupon drawne as formerly mentioned It appeareth there were found in that Prouince 8169 quarters of Land whereof Freedomes were graunted to 2339 so then remained chargeable 6836 whereon there were reserued in yearely Rent to her Maiesty and the Crowne 3418 pound fiue shillings eight pence sterling with the Seruice of so many Horse and Foote as is already mentioned and hereafter set downe Horsemen for rising out within the Prouince of Connaught vpon their owne victuals 224 Horsemen for rising out within the same Prouince for forty dayes vpon their owne victuals 88 Footemen for rising out within the Prouince vpon their owne victuals 1054 Footemen for rising out of the Prouince for forty dayes vpon their owne victuals 332 The Tawnist was cut off in that Prouince Mac William Enghters Country being the lower Bourkes was deuided into fiue parts The Lords and their Tenants were agreed together for a certaine Rent in lieu of all exactions That Prouince was deuided into sixe Counties or Shieres where there were but three before for so I finde it in a note vnder the Deputies Sir Iohn Perrots owne hand yet by another painefull Author I see it mentioned that Sir Henry Sidney made the whole sixe Counties Clare Galway Sligo Mayo Roscomon and Letrim then but one as he had formerly done the County of Longford in Lemster being before called the Annaly or Oferralls Country but I suppose he is mistaken being deuided and The Counties of Connaught deuided by Sir Iohn Perrot not by Sir Henry Sidney peraduenture named by Sir Henry Sidney but perfected by Sir Iohn Perrot Iustices of Assize were ordained and Shriefes and Iustices of the Peace with other inferiour Officers were established in most parts of this Prouince This Seruice so auaileable to the State by cutting off the Inferiours depending onely vpon the Superiour was affected beyond the expectation of many who could not conceiue that Chiefetaines would easily condiscend to quit their cuttings Cosherias and other Irish exactions of so long
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