Hard-coded id of currently selected item: . JSON version of its record is available from Blacklight on e.g. ??
Metadata associated with selected item should appear here...
Add MS 48017
- Record Id:
- 040-001951026
- Hierarchy Root Ancestor Record Id:
- 032-001951006
- MDARK:
- ark:/81055/vdc_100000000392.0x0003a6
- LARK:
- ark:/81055/vdc_100153839280.0x000001
- SLARK:
- Format:
- ISAD(G)
- Reference (shelfmark):
- Add MS 48017
- Title:
- Transcripts of papers relating to the administration of Ireland, 1323-1599
- Scope & Content:
-
Copies of papers relating to the administration of Ireland from 1323 until the late 16th century.
ff. i-v: Front and rear covers. Vellum binding is a bifolium from a Sarum antiphoner printed in Paris, 1519-20. Leather ties. Numbered 17 on spine and back cover; coloured label ‘R’ on back cover.
f. iii: Slip affixed to f. 1r. 'This M.S. came out of the Coleraine Family. Last Ald. Townsend of Bruce Castle'. Late 18th-early 19th century handwriting.
ff. 1r-40v: Blank.
ff. 41r-43v: Orders to be observed by Sir Nicholas Malby (c. 1530–1584), as President of Connaught. 31 March 1579. Other copies can be found in Cotton MS Titus B XII, ff. 227r-237v, 607r-609v.
ff. 44r-48r: Instructions from Queen Elizabeth I to Adam Loftus (1533/4–1605), Church of Ireland archbishop of Dublin, and Robert Garvey, Bachelor of Civil Law, both commissioners for faculties in Ireland. 13 April 1579 and 25 May 1579. Another copy can be found in Add MS 48023, ff. 378v-380r.
ff. 49r-57v: Blank.
ff. 58r-61v: Copy of a plan for the establishment and government of Ireland. 1579-1584. Written while Sir Nicholas Malby was President of Connaught (1579-1581), according to notes on f. 58r.
f. 62r-62v: Blank.
ff. 63r-71v: Paper titled ‘A Discours touching the reformacion of Irland’. Present by Sir John Perrot (1528–1592), later Lord Deputy of Ireland, to Queen Elizabeth I, [1?] July 1581. Other copies can be found in: Sloane MS 2200; Stowe MS 159, ff. 181r-193v; and Harley MS 3292, ff. 5r-13v.
f. 72r-72v: Blank.
ff. 73r-75r: Paper titled ‘The division of the counties in Ireland’, naming towns, fortresses and havens.
f. 75v: List of havens in Ireland. Another copy can be found in Add MS 48015, f. 217r.
f. 75v: Notes on revenues of Ireland. Another copy can be found in Add MS 48015, f. 218r.
f. 76r: Description of Ireland, taken ‘Out of an old Pamflett’. Another copy can be found in Add MS 48015, ff. 223r-224v.
ff. 76v-78v: Blank.
ff. 79r-92v: Copy of a plan for the government of Munster, by Sir William Pelham (d. 1587), Lord Justice of Ireland.
ff. 93r-103v: Blank.
ff. 104r-112v: Two treatises by Swethin Johnson, a servant of Queen Elizabeth I’s sadler who had been trading to Ireland for 12 years (ff. 104r, 108v). Addressed to Queen Elizabeth I and the Privy Council.
- Advice for putting down rebellion and reforming abuses in Ireland, with particular reference to Munster. Written after the appointment of Thomas Butler, 10th Earl of Ormond and 3rd Earl of Ossory, as Governor of Munster (December 1582), but before the appointment of John Perrot as Lord Deputy of Ireland (January 1584), ff. 108r-108v.
- A plan for the carriage of corn and other victuals from England to Ireland.
ff. 113r-1113v, 117r-117v: A plan for the government of Ireland by Sir Henry Sidney (1529–1586), Lord Deputy of Ireland and courtier. With a list of advantages of appointing presidents in Munster and Connaught. July 1575.
ff. 114r-114v, 116v: Articles agreed by Walter Devereux, 1st Earl of Essex (1539–1576), nobleman and adventurer, for colonising Clandeboye, the Route, and the Glynns. January 1574. With an endorsement by Robert Beale (1541–1601), administrator and diplomat, f. 116v.
f. 115r-115v: Plot assigning lands to adventurers in Clandeboye, the Route, and the Glynns. January 1574. With a note: ‘Referred to Mr Carlton and Mr Wilfords instructions of the 22 Januarie 1573’. Endorsed by Robert Beale, f. 115v.
f. 117r-117v: Notes on the charges and commodities of Ireland.
ff. 118r-125r, 129v: Paper by Sir Humphrey Gilbert (1537–1583), explorer and soldier. Titled ‘A discourdse for the Reformacyone perticulerly of Munster'. 1 February 1573/4. Another copy can be found in Add. MS 48015, ff. 397r-407v.
ff. 125v-129r: Blank.
ff. 130r-158r: Memorial from Sir Henry Sidney to Sir Francis Walsingham (c. 1532–1590), principal secretary. Concerning his service in Ireland. Ludlow Castle, 1 March 1583. Containing minor variations from the printed text (see Publication Note): the introductory paragraphs are different, while the manuscript version ends 'Dura est conditio servorum' and lacks the concluding paragraphs, subscription and final memorandum of the printed text.
ff. 158v-160v: Blank.
ff. 161r-163v: Copy of a paper suggesting improvements to government and the administration of justice in the Pale and the Marches. Imperfect at the beginning. 1535-1539: after the rebellion of 1534-1534, but before the dissolution of religious houses in Dublin in 1539. With miscellaneous notes referring to ‘Godman fryer’ (f. 161r).
ff. 164r-165v: Paper titled ‘An Abstracte of mysordres and evill rule within the lande of Irelande’. On the abuse of power by lords in the Marches. Temp. Henry VIII.
ff. 166r-168r: Paper titled ‘A devyse for the Weall of Irelande’. On reform in the Pale and the Marches, and in Munster. With miscellaneous notes referring to ‘Wyllam Caremane in Charynge at the Syn of the Cheker’.
ff. 168v-169r: Blank.
f. 169v: Memorandum to enquire concerning barge traffic to Streatley or Abingdon.
ff. 170r-171v: Paper titled ‘The Irishe nobility in Irland. Ireland is devided into six partes’. Describing the Irish nobility and their clan allegiances. 16th century. Another copy can be found in Add. MS 48015, f. 241r-241v.
ff. 172v-177v: Copy of a paper by Patrick Finglas (d. 1537), judge. Titled ‘A Breviat of the Conquest of Ireland, and of the decay of the same’. c. 1533. Amended by Robert Beale. Another copy without Beale’s additions can be found in Cotton MS Titus B XII, ff. 487r-490v. A copy incorporating Beale’s alterations can be found in Add. MS 48015, ff. 243r-247v. A longer version is printed in Harris (See Publication Note).
ff. 178r-185r: Late 16th century copy of the ecclesiastical taxation roll for Ireland, presented to the English Exchequer. 1 October 1323. Latin.
f. 186r-186v: Survey of the lordship of Connello. c. 1576-1577.
ff. 187r-189v: List of baronies in county Limerick. c. 1576-1577.
ff. 190r-192v: Notes on the barony of Clanwilliam, county Limerick. c. 1576-1577.
f. 193v: Division of East and West Kerry, for assessment, agreed by the Lord President and Council of Munster. 22 January 1577.
f. 194r-194v: Blank.
ff. 195r-197r: Articles sent to Gerald fitz James FitzGerald, 14th Earl of Desmond (c. 1533–1583), nobleman, by the Privy Council before his return to Ireland. Titled ‘A note of certaine articles to be observed by the Earl of Desmonde’. 21 January 1573.
ff. 198r-199v: Blank.
ff. 200r-207r: Discourse by Robert Beale on the establishment for Ireland. Titled ‘Touchinge the plotte for Irelande’. 1578. Partly in Beale’s handwriting.
ff. 208r-211v: Blank.
f. 212r: Title ‘Irelande’.
ff. 212v-214v: Blank.
ff. 215r-219r: Irish letters patent of inspeximus of faints. To Henry Cowley of Castelcarbrye [Castle Carbury, county Kildare], and John a Lee, gentleman. Dublin, 6 October 1573. Annotated by William Cecil, 1st Baron Burghley (1520/21–1598), royal minister. Latin.
f. 220r-220v: Blank.
- Collection Area:
- Western Manuscripts
- Project / Collection:
- Additional Manuscripts
- Hierarchy Record Ids:
- 032-001951006
040-001951026 - Is part of:
- Add MS 48000-48196 : THE YELVERTON MSS
Add MS 48017 : Transcripts of papers relating to the administration of Ireland, 1323-1599 - Hierarchy:
- 032-001951006[0014]/040-001951026
- Container:
- View / search within Archive / Collection: Add MS 48000-48196
- Record Type (Level):
- File
- Extent:
- 1 volume
- Digitised Content:
- http://access.bl.uk/item/viewer/ark:/81055/vdc_100153839280.0x000001 (digital images currently unavailable)
- Thumbnail:
-
- Languages:
- English
Latin - Scripts:
- Latin
- Start Date:
- 1500
- End Date:
- 1599
- Date Range:
- 16th century
- Era:
- CE
- Place of Origin:
- England, Ireland.
- Access:
-
Please request the physical items you need using the online collection item request form.
Digitised items can be viewed online by clicking the thumbnail image or digitised content link.
Readers who have registered or renewed their pass since 21 March 2024 can request physical items prior to visiting the Library by completing
this request form.
Please enter the Reference (shelfmark) above on the request form.If your Reader Pass was issued before this date, you will need to visit the Library in London or Yorkshire to renew it before you can request items online. All manuscripts and archives must be consulted at the Library in London.
This catalogue record may describe a collection of items which cannot all be requested together. Please use the hierarchy viewer to navigate to individual items. Some items may be in use or restricted for other reasons. If you would like to check the availability, contact our Reference Services team, quoting the Reference (shelfmark) above.
- User Conditions:
- Physical Characteristics:
-
Materials: Paper.
Dimensions: 320 x 210 mm.
Foliation: ff. iv + 220.
Binding: Bound in a vellum bifolium from a Sarum antiphoner printed in Paris, 1519-20. Leather ties. Numbered 17 on spine and back cover; coloured label ‘R’ on back cover.
Script: Secretary, italic.
- Custodial History:
-
Origin:
England, Ireland.
Provenance:
Henry Hare, 3rd Baron Coleraine (1693-1749), antiquary: Former owner, according to 18th-19th century note (f. iii).
James Townsend (1737-1787), alderman of London, politician, and son-in-law of Henry Hare: Former owner, before 1787, according to 18th-19th century note (f. iii). See also Add MS 48024 and 48196 C, f. 62.
The manuscript is not recorded as missing from the Yelverton collection in a list of 1755 (Add MS 48196 C, f. 61).
George Chalmers (1742-1825) antiquary and political writer: Former owner, 1797. See Add MS 48196 A, f. 1.
Henry Yelverton, 15th Baron Grey of Ruthin and 1st Viscount de Longueville (1664-1704): Former owner.
- Former Internal References:
- Yelverton MS 17
- Publications:
-
The British Library Catalogue of Additions to the Manuscripts: The Yelverton Manuscripts, Part 1: Descriptions (London: The British Library, 1994).
The British Library Catalogue of Additions to the Manuscripts 1951-1955, Part 1: Descriptions (London: The British Library, 1982).
Canny, N.P., The Elizabethan Conquest of Ireland: A Pattern Established, 1565-76 (New York: Barnes and Noble, 1976) pp. 106-97.
Harris, Walter, Hibernica: Or, some Antient Pieces relating to Ireland (Dublin: John Milliken, 1770).
Heffernan, David, Debating Tudor Policy in Sixteenth-century Ireland: 'Reform' Treatises and Political Discourse (Manchester: Manchester University Press, 2018).
Hogan, James, and N. McNeill O'Farrell, eds., The Walsingham Letter-book Or Register of Ireland, May 1578 to December 1579 (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1959).
Moody, T.W., F.X. Martin and F.J. Byrne, A New History of Ireland: Volume III Early Modern Ireland 1534-1691 (Oxford: Clarendon, 1976), Map. 1.
Morrin, James, ed., Calendar of the patent and close rolls of the chancery in Ireland, 3 vols (Dublin: Irish Record Office, 1861-1862), vol. 2, pp. 18-21.
Perrot, John, The Government of Ireland under . . . Sir John Perrot (London: T. Walkley, 1626).
Sidney, Henry, ‘Sir Henry Sidney’s Memoir of his Government of Ireland 1583’, The Ulster Journal of Archaeology, 3 (1855), 37-52, 85-109, 336-57; 5 (1857), 299-323; 8 (1860), 179-95.
- Material Type:
- Archives and Manuscripts
- Legal Status:
- Not Public Record(s)