Cotton MS Titus B XIII/1

Collection of records and papers relating to Ireland, dating from between 1558 and 1580. This is the first of two volumes.

ff. 1r-2v: Contents list.

ff. 3r-4v: Collection of items concerning instructions for Thomas Radclyffe, third Earl of Sussex and Lord Lieutenant of Ireland. By Sir William Cecil. 1559-1560.

ff. 5r-5v: Letter from Sir William Fitzwilliam, deputy of Ireland, to Shane O’Neile, son of the Earl of Tyrone. Agreeing to name commissioners on the part of Queen Elizabeth I to meet those of O’Neile, concerning the massacre of some men of the latter. Thomas Court, February 23 1559-1560. Latin.

ff. 6r-9v: Letter from Sir William Fitzwilliam, deputy of Ireland, to Thomas Radclyffe, third Earl of Sussex and Lord Lieutenant of Ireland. Reporting various transactions in Ireland concerning Shane O’Neile. [Dredunugh], March 15 1559-1560.

f. 10r-10v: Letter from one B. Hampton to Thomas Radclyffe, third Earl of Sussex and Lord Lieutenant of Ireland. Sending intelligence concerning negotiations with Scotland, and matters at court. Greenwich, June 29 1560.

ff. 11r-12v: Letter from the Privy Council to William Parr, Earl of Essex. Recommending Gilbert Gerrard, the attorney general. Greenwich, July 24 1560.

f. 13r: Letter from the Privy Council to William Parr, Earl of Essex. Reporting the conclusion of a treaty between the Queen’s commissioners in Scotland and France. Greenwich, July 12 1560.

ff. 14r-16r: Notes on Irish affairs, including those in pay in Ireland.

f. 16v: Notes of the matters concluded between the Queen’s commissioners and the French commissioners in Scotland. July 6 1560.

ff. 17r-18v: Letter from Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester, to Thomas Radclyffe, third Earl of Sussex and Lord Lieutenant of Ireland. Complimentary, discussing hobbies and galloways for Queen Elizabeth I. Windsor, September 7 [1560].

ff. 19r-23v: Four letters from the Privy Council to Thomas Radclyffe, third Earl of Sussex and Lord Lieutenant of Ireland. On various matters of government in Ireland. August 4 and 17, December 28 and September 28 1560.

ff. 26r-28v: Letter from Sir Henry Radclyffe to Thomas Radclyffe, third Earl of Sussex and Lord Lieutenant of Ireland. Reporting that he has completed the instructions given. Chara Row, London, December 2 1560.

ff. 29r-30v: Deposition of Donell McVicars. Concerning a contention between Neil McLice and Lisagh McKedowe. Signed by John Chaloner and Nicholas Sharon. January 13 1560.

ff. 31r-32v: Letter from John Chaloner to Thomas Radclyffe, third Earl of Sussex and Lord Lieutenant of Ireland. Sending a report concerning mines. Dublin, April 1 1561.

ff. 33r-34v: Letter from George Stanley to Thomas Radclyffe, third Earl of Sussex and Lord Lieutenant of Ireland. Sending domestic intelligence. Tryme, February 28 1560-1561.

f. 35r: Notes containing instructions for Thomas Radclyffe, third Earl of Sussex and Lord Lieutenant of Ireland. By William Cecil. 1561.

ff. 36r-37v: Letter from Sir William Cecil to Thomas Radclyffe, third Earl of Sussex and Lord Lieutenant of Ireland. On various official matters. Greenwich, May 28 1561.

ff. 38r-40v: Letter from Sir Henry Radclyffe to Thomas Radclyffe, third Earl of Sussex and Lord Lieutenant of Ireland. On official matters in Ireland. Dublin, March 31 1561.

ff. 41r-42v: Letter from Sir William Cecil to Thomas Radclyffe, third Earl of Sussex and Lord Lieutenant of Ireland. Sending two patents for the creation of two earls: MacArley, Earl of Muskery, and O’Donel, Earl of Tirconnel. Savoy, May 30 1561.

f. 43r-43v: Letter from the magistrates of Younghill to the Lord Deputy and Privy Council. Complaining of the violent actions of James Fitz John, a Lieutenant of Desmond. June 16 1561.

ff. 44r-76v: Seventeen letters from William Cecil to Thomas Radclyffe, third Earl of Sussex and Lord Lieutenant of Ireland. On public and private affairs, concerning the O’Neile and O’Donell families; some orders denying a passage to Mary, Queen of Scots; news that Lady Katherine (possibly Grey) is with child by Edward Seymour, Earl of Hertford; and on several bishops and Thomas Butler, tenth Earl of Ormond. June 19, July 15 and 25, August 12, 15, 21, 23, and 26, September 17, October 7, November 1, 6, and 28, December 20, 14, 18, and January 7 1561-1562.

ff. 77r-78v: Draft letter from the Council in Ireland to William Parr, Earl of Essex. With a proclamation to be published, concerning the coin in Ireland. [1 July 1561].

f. 79r-79v: Draft letter to the Irish Council, or an unnamed Irish nobleman. Concerning a pacification. Arbraken, 7 November 1563. Latin.

f. 80r-80v: Memorandum of the Lord Lieutenant and Council of Ireland. Agreeing that the old and new council books be brought to England. Kilmainham, January 14 1561.

f. 81r-81v: Notes on instructions for Thomas Radclyffe, third Earl of Sussex and Lord Lieutenant of Ireland. By William Cecil. May 5 1562.

ff. 82r-83v: Letter from the townsmen of Dundalk to Thomas Radclyffe, third Earl of Sussex and Lord Lieutenant of Ireland. Complaining on the depredations of the rebels. November 30 1562.

f. 84r-84v: Draft order of the Irish Council. Concerning the detection of eight sacks of grain. Arbraken, November 4 1562.

ff. 85r-86v: Draft instructions given to William Pyers by Thomas Radclyffe, third Earl of Sussex and Lord Lieutenant of Ireland. Concerning his dispatch to Lord Pers. McConnel. December 10 1562.

ff. 87r-88v: Letter from Piers Butler, Lord Cahir, to Thomas Radclyffe, third Earl of Sussex and Lord Lieutenant of Ireland. Complaining of the treatment of his people by the Earl of Ormond and the Butlers. Cahir, October 11 1563.

ff. 89r-90v: Letter from Adam Loftus, Archbishop of Armagh, to Thomas Radclyffe, third Earl of Sussex and Lord Lieutenant of Ireland. Sending a book or account of cessable lands received from one Plunket. Termonsenghan, October 18 [1563].

ff. 91r-94v: Articles demanded of the Earl of Thomond by Teige McMorghe O’Brien.With an answer by the earl. Inchiquin, November 17 and 19 1563.

ff. 95r-96v: Letter from Robert Horne, Bishop of Winton, to Thomas Radclyffe, third Earl of Sussex and Lord Lieutenant of Ireland. Recommending the bearer, and reporting that he had removed the earl’s brother Ergremont from his house, on account of the plague. Waltham, December 27 1563.

ff. 97r-98v: Letter from Queen Elizabeth I to Thomas Radclyffe, third Earl of Sussex and Lord Lieutenant of Ireland. Concerning various promotions in Ireland, both in church and state, and regarding the feuds between the Earls of Ormond and Desmond, and a demand made by Shane O’Neile. Windsor, January 17 1564.

ff. 99r-100v: Letter from Sir William Cecil to Thomas Radclyffe, third Earl of Sussex and Lord Lieutenant of Ireland. Recommending a suit of William Lyche. Windsor, January 30 1563-1564.

ff. 101r-102v: Two copies of a report on the state of the garrison when Sir Nicholas Arnold was first Lord Justice in Ireland.

ff. 103r-104v: Letter from Thomas Radclyffe, third Earl of Sussex and Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, and the Council of Ireland, to the Earl of Kildare and Sir Henry Radclyffe. Sending instructions to negotiate with the O’Mores. Kilmainham, February 4 1563-1564.

f. 105r-105v: Letter from Sir William Cecil to Thomas Radclyffe, third Earl of Sussex and Lord Lieutenant of Ireland. Requesting he act with vigour against the rebels and pirates. Windsor, March 3 1563-1564.

ff. 106r-107v: Articles for the consideration of Queen Elizabeth I, concerning Ireland. 1563.

ff. 108r-109v: Letter from Thomas Radclyffe, third Earl of Sussex and Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, and the Council of Ireland, to Sir Henry Radcliffe. Concerning the prosecution of the O’Mores, or a parley with them. Kilmainham, April 15 1564.

ff. 110r-111v: Letter from Sir Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester, Thomas Radclyffe, third Earl of Sussex and Lord Lieutenant of Ireland. Reporting the granting of leave by Queen Elizabeth I for his return to England. Windsor, April 23 1564.

ff. 112r-113v: Letter from Hugh Curwin, Archbishop of Dublin and Chancellor, to Thomas Radclyffe, third Earl of Sussex and Lord Lieutenant of Ireland. Arguing against the erecting of St. Patrick’s in Dublin as a university. Dublin, June 21 1564.

ff. 114r-115v: Directions given to the sheriffs and justices of Ireland, for the establishment of watches. July 21 1564.

ff. 116r-117v: Patent of Queen Elizabeth I. Creating Donald McCarthy More as Earl of Clancare and Baron Valentia. With McCarthy’s oath of allegiance. June 24 1565. Latin.

ff. 118r-124v: Four letters from Sir William Fitzwilliam to Thomas Radclyffe, third Earl of Sussex and Lord Lieutenant of Ireland. Concerning his proceedings in Offaly. Thames Court, November 22 and 23 1564, and January 7 and 17 1564-1565.

ff. 125r-126v: Letter from Adam Loftus, Archbishop of Armagh, to Thomas Radclyffe, third Earl of Sussex and Lord Lieutenant of Ireland. Reporting on a letter sent to court by the Lord Justice, containing many exceptions concerning the management of affairs in Ireland. Dublin, January 31 1564-1565.

ff. 127r-149v: Fourteen letters from Sir William Fitzwilliam to Thomas Radclyffe, third Earl of Sussex and Lord Lieutenant of Ireland. On public matters. From Thomas Court, Dublin, and Glassenhall, February 3, January 31, February 11, April 1, 13, and 24, August 24, May 13, 16, 18, and 30, and July 12 and 19 1565.

ff. 150r-151v: Letter from Sir Robert Dudley to Thomas Radclyffe, third Earl of Sussex and Lord Lieutenant of Ireland. Recommending Francis Challoner. Court, August 21 1565.

ff. 152r-155v: Letter from Sir William Fitzwilliam, possibly to Sir William Cecil. Sending a copy of an official letter of the war with the O’Reillies. Thomas Court, August 23 1565.

ff. 156r-157v: Letter from Sir William Fitzwilliam to an unnamed lady. On some public and domestic concerns. Lessenhall, August 24 1565.

ff. 158r-159v: Two copies of instructions given to Sir Henry Sidney, on his promotion to Lord Deputy of Ireland. October 5 1565.

f. 160r-160v: Letter from one Clanyrckard, possibly to the Earl of Surrey. Reporting the devastation committed by the O’Neiles in Connaught. Balloughreugh, October 15 1565.

ff. 161r-164v: Two letters from Sir William Fitzwilliam to Thomas Radclyffe, third Earl of Sussex and Lord Lieutenant of Ireland. Thomas Court, October 10 and Dublin, October 22 1565.

ff. 165r-166v: Letter from Adam Loftus, Archbishop of Armagh, to Thomas Radclyffe, third Earl of Sussex and Lord Lieutenant of Ireland. Reporting plans to visit England for his health, and on the state of affairs in Ireland, including the motions of O’Neile. Hethfelde, 3 September 1566.

ff. 167r-168v: License of the Privy Council. For Sir Henry Radclyffe to continue in England until a cause he has before the Lords be decided. Westminster, October 18 1565.

ff. 169r-170v: Letter from Sir Henry Fitzwilliam to Thomas Radclyffe, third Earl of Sussex. Concerning O’Neile’s proceedings. Lessenhall, November 28 1565.

ff. 171r-172v: Letter from Hugh Brady, Bishop of Meath, to Thomas Radclyffe, third Earl of Sussex. Apologising for not repaying a loan, recommending Walter Hope, and sending some news. Ardbrachan, January 23 1565.

ff. 173r-174v: Letter from Sir William Cecil to the Marquess of Winchester. On various matters, including remittances into Ireland. Fotheringay Castle, July 29 1566.

f. 175r-175v: Account of the garrisons in Ireland established in 1567.

f. 176r-176v: Submission of Garret, Earl of Desmond, at Howard Place. July 12 1568.

ff. 177r-178v: Letter from Sir William Fitzwilliam to Thomas Radclyffe, third Earl of Sussex. Sending intelligence from Ireland, concerning Desmond, Tyrlolenno, and Surley-boy. St. Pulcher’s, February 12 1570-1571.

f. 179r-179v: Deed restoring the Earl of Kildare, along with his siblings, to their blood. 1570.

ff. 180r-181v: Letter from Sir Henry Sidney to Thomas Radclyffe, third Earl of Sussex. Complimentary. Dublin, December 21 1570.

ff. 182r-183v: Commission of Sir Henry Sidney. To stay certain hulks, and to provide cellars and vaults for the goods detained. Dublin, February 15 1570.

ff. 184r-185v: Letter from Thomas Radclyffe, third Earl of Sussex to Sir Henry Sidney. Recommending the cause of Hugh Pore, a servant of his. Court, March 22 1570-1571.

ff. 186r-186*v: Paper on the state of Ireland. March 31 1571.

ff. 187r-190v: Two letters from Sir William Fitzwilliam to Thomas Radclyffe, third Earl of Sussex. Chiefly on private concerns: expressing gratitude to Sir William Cecil, and lamenting his want of money. St. Pulcher, August 21 1571 and Dublin, March 2 1573.

ff. 191r-192v: Covenants between Queen Elizabeth I and Chatterton, for Orrerie or O’Harlon’s country, the Fuse and the Galloglas lands in Ulster. 1573.

ff. 193r-196v: Draft commission for the levying of men to be sent into Ireland. January 24 1573-1574.

f. 197r-197v: Draft commission to the sheriffs of several counties, for the mustering of men to be sent into Ireland. June 1574.

ff. 198r-199v: Letter from Sir William Fitzwilliam to Thomas Radclyffe, third Earl of Sussex. Urging the necessity of a speedy supply of victuals or money, and reporting issues in Kilkenny and Tipperary. Dublin, February 1 1573-1574.

ff. 200r-201v: Plan for a garrison in Ireland, with the consent of Sir Henry Sidney, Lord President of Wales. October 30 1574.

ff. 202r-205v: Copy of a feoffment by Gerald, Earl of Desmond. Testified under the Lord Deputy and Privy Council’s hands, possibly seven weeks after the combination. 1574.

ff. 206r-209v: Letter from Sir William Fitzwilliam to Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester. On matters concerning revenue in Ireland. Dublin, November 17 1574.

ff. 210r-212v: Instructions sent by Nicholas Malby to Walter Devereux, Earl of Essex. For his reduction of the province of Ulster. April 11 1575.

ff. 213r-214v: Letter from Sir Ralph and Sir Nicholas Bagenall to the Earls of Warwick and Leicester. Recommending the cause of Tyrlough Lenough O’Neile. Dynghame, Offaly, November 24 1575.

ff. 215r-222v: Instructions given by the Lord Deputy and Council to Sir William Prurie, president, and the Council of Munster. Dublin, June 20 1576.

f. 223r-223v: Royal mandate for the promotion of Maurice O’Brien to the bishoprick of Killaloe. Hampton Court, January 30 1576.

f. 217r-217v: Letter from the Privy Council to James Fitzmorris. Concerning his restoration to his castles in Ireland, and a protection demanded by him. Court, August 11 1576.

ff. 224r-225v: Letter from an unnamed correspondent to the Privy Council. Requesting indulgence, and to be restored to his rights. Dublin, September 29 1576.

ff. 226r-230v: Three letters from Sir William Gerrard, Chancellor of Ireland, to Queen Elizabeth I and Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester. On the affairs of Ireland, and the necessity of reform. Dublin, October 15, November 16 and 15 1576.

ff. 231r-232v: Letter from Sir Henry Sidney to Thomas Radclyffe, third Earl of Sussex. A conciliatory message. Dundalk, February 4 1576.

ff. 233r-234v: Letter from Edmund Grindal, Archbishop of Canterbury, to Adam Loftus, Archbishop of Dublin. Authorising him to hold the chancellorship, a canonicate, and a prebend, with his archbishoprick. May 10 1577.

ff. 235r-236v: Letter from Joseph Golde to Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester. Concerning the expedition of Sir Henry Sidney into Kerry, and the conduct of the Earl of Desmond. Limerick, October 4 1577.

ff. 237r-238v: Letter from an unknown correspondent, possibly Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester, or Sir William Cecil, to Adam Loftus, Archbishop of Dublin. Assuring him of the favour of Queen Elizabeth I. March 21 1576-1577.

f. 239r: Note concerning livings in Meath, granted by the Lord Deputy and coming by devolution to the crown. 1577.

ff. 240r-242v: Letter from William Gerrard, Chancellor of Ireland, to Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester. Concerning the detention of passengers arriving from Ireland. February 24 1577-1578.

ff. 243r-248v: Establishment for the diets and entertainments of the Lord Justice, Chief Officers, and others in the pay of Queen Elizabeth I in Ireland. 1578.

ff. 249r-254v: Instructions given by Queen Elizabeth I to Sir William Drury, Lord Justice, and William Gerrard, Lord Chancellor of Ireland. May 1578.

ff. 255r-256v: Copy of the combination of Garret, Earl of Desmond, attainted for high treason. July 18 1578.

ff. 257r-258v: Letter from Sir Henry Sidney to Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester. Wishing that his son Philip might not go to serve in Flanders. Dublin, August 1 1578.

ff. 259r-260v: Letter from Nicholas Bagenall to Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester, on behalf of the Earl of Desmond. Dublin, August 1578.

ff. 261r-262v: Letter from Bernard, Baron of Upper Ossory, to Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester. Concerning the sending of goshawks to England. Dublin, August 7 1578.

ff. 263r-264v: Contents of letters patent to George Ackworth and Robert Garvey. For ecclesiastical jurisdiction in Ireland. December 20 1578.

ff. 265r-269v: Note delivered by Robert Garvey, concerning the authority of the governor of Ireland to grant commissions, dispensations and faculties. With answers to objections made by certain bishops. 1578.

f. 270r-270v: Paper concerning instructions for passing faculties in Ireland, and a note of the profits which came to Queen Elizabeth I by the execution of the commission for faculties. 1577.

f. 271r-271v: Letter to the Lords, Justice and Chancellor in Ireland, possibly from Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester. On behalf of the Bishop of Ossory. Richmond, January 22 1578-1579.

ff. 272r-273v: Letter from Sir William Drury, Lord Justice of Ireland, to Thomas Radclyffe, third Earl of Sussex. Professing his zeal in the service of Queen Elizabeth I, and reporting on the state of Ireland. Dublin, February 11 1578-1579.

ff. 274r-275v: Royal mandate for the appointment of chief justices of the common pleas, and the Queen’s Bench in Ireland. 1579.

ff. 276r-289v: Two articles giving a statement of the garrisons in Ireland. June 5 1579.