Cotton Ch IV 35

Petition of County Kildare, represented by Nicholas, prior of Conall, Edward fitz Eustace, knight, the portreeves of Naas, the portreeves of Clane and others, to Richard (1411-1460), 3rd duke of York and deputy lieutenant of Ireland, complaining about James Butler (1420-1461), 5th earl of Kildare and 1st earl of Wiltshire, lieutenant of Ireland.

The petitioners say that no one can travel without fear of ambush and that the dispute between Butler and the Geraldine Thomas fitz Maurice over the manors of Maynooth (Kildare) and Rathmore (Meath) threatens to destroy the county. They also complain about Butler's followers Henry Bevan, knight and Treasurer of Ireland, and the earl's cousins Edmund and William Butler, who came into the county, burnt many towns and churches, and took hostages.

Given 23 January 1454.

Endorsed: 'A petition of the county of Kildare to Richard Duke of York, / 32 H.6, against the earl of Wiltshire, Lord Lieutenant of Ireland; / for his oppressions' (17th century).

Affixed with seven seals. The first, an unidentified seal, oval, green, with a heraldic shield with a cross. The second, an unidentified indistinct seal, oval, green. The third, an imperfect seal of Thomas of Preston, oval, green, with the Virgin with Child, an ecclesiastic kneeling before them, within a gothic niche. 's[igillum] thome de preston'. The fourth, an unidentified indistinct seal, oval, green. The fifth, an unidentified imperfect seal, oval, green, with an 'R' monogram. The sixth, an imperfect seal of Robert fitz Maurice, oval, green, with a heraldic shield with a saltire with five indistinct charges, an eagle above, the arms of fitz Maurice, within a pointed quatrefoil. 's[igillum] roberti f[ilii] maurici'. The seventh, an unidentified seal, oval, green, with a boar.