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Faction and the origins of the Desmond rebellion of 1579

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 July 2016

Ciaran Brady
Ciaran Brady*
Affiliation:
Carysfort College, Blackrock, Co. Dublin
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Extract

Alone amongst the major rebellions of the sixteenth century the Desmond rebellion of 1579 seems to have retained its romantic fascination untarnished. While the rebellions of 1534 and 1569 and the major uprising in Ulster at the end of the century have each been subjected to critical historical analysis, the uprising of the last Desmond earl seems to contain a mysterious element which has somehow deflected all attempts at detached assessment, and which continues to attract popular historians, like Richard Berleth, in search of a good Gothic tale at the close of the feudal age. The dramatic appeal of the Desmond rebellion, I suspect, lies in the aura of inevitability which appears to surround it. As Macbeth was doomed to be overthrown, as Othello was doomed to kill that which, he loved most, as Hamlet was doomed to do nothing, so it seems Desmond was doomed to destroy himself in rebellion.

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Articles
Information
Irish Historical Studies , Volume 22 , Issue 88 , September 1981 , pp. 289 - 312
Copyright
Copyright © Irish Historical Studies Publications Ltd 1981

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References

1 See Bradshaw, Brendan, ‘Cromwellian Reform and the origins of the Kildare rebellion’ in R. Hist. Soc. Trans., 5th series, 27 (1977), pp 69–94 CrossRefGoogle Scholar; Ellis, S. G., ‘Tudor policy and the Kildare ascendancy in the lordship of Ireland, 1496–1534’ in I.H.S., 20, no. 79 (Mar. 1977), pp 235–71;Google Scholar Canny, N. P, The Elizabethan conquest of Ireland (Hassocks, 1976)Google Scholar, ch. 7; ‘Hugh O’Neill, earl of Tyrone, and the changing face of Gaelic Ulster’ in Studia Hib., x (1970) pp 7–35. For conventional treatments of the Desmond rebellion, see Berleth, Richard, The twilight lords (London, 1979), pp 3–176Google Scholar, and McGurk, J J.N., ‘The fall of the noble house of Desmond, 1579–1583’ in History Today, 29 (1979), pp 578–85 and 670–75.Google Scholar The most recent scholarly account, which does not entirely escape from romanticisation, is MacCurtain, Margaret, ‘The fall of the house of Desmond’ in Kerry Arch. Soc. Jn., 8 (1975), pp 28–44.Google Scholar

2 The confusion over the last earl’s title is satisfactorily resolved in G.E.C., Peerage, iv, 233–58. On the Desmond Geraldines generally, see Fitzgerald, Brian, The Geraldines (Dublin, 1961);Google Scholar Russell, Thomas, ‘Relation of the FitzGeralds of Ireland’ in Hayman, Samuel (ed.), ’Unpublished Géraldine documents’, no. 1, R.S.A.I. Jn., 10 (1868–9),, pp 356–416;Google Scholar O’Daly, Dominic, The rise, increase and exit of the Geraldines, trans. Meehan, C. P (Dublin, 1878).Google Scholar

3 ‘Orders of the lord lieutenant and council’, 1 Aug. 1560 (P.R.O., S.P 63/2/29).

4 ‘Notes to be ordered with the earl of Desmond’, 20 May 1562 (P.R.O., S.P 63/6/10, 11); Desmond’s submission, 18 June 1562 (ibid., 63/6/25); Cecil to Challoner, 8 June 1562 (Cal. S.P for., 1562, p. 83); Desmond to Winchester, 26 July 1564 (P.R.O., S.P 63/11/36).

5 See Butler, George, ‘The battle of Affane’ in Ir Sword, 8 (1967–8), pp 33–47 Google Scholar

6 Elizabeth to Sidney, 3 Apr 1567 (Sidney S.P., no. 37).

7 Canny, Elizabethan conquest, chs 5 and 7; Quinn, Elizabethans & Irish, ch. 11.

8 Nicholas Walsh to Burghley, 30 Nov. and 3 Dec. 1573 (P.R.O., S.P 63/42/88, S.P 63/43/5); Walsh to Fitzwilliam, 21 Dec. 1573 (P.R.O., S.P 63/44/3 and enclosure).

9 Drury to Walsingham, 24 Feb. 1577 (P.R.O., S.P 63/57/27); Drury to Elizabeth, 20 Mar. (ibid., 63/57/42); Hooker’s, ‘Chronicle’ in Raphael Holinshed (ed.), Chronicles (3 vols, London, 1587), 2, 142.Google Scholar

l0 D.N.B., s.v., Russell, ‘Relation of the FitzGeralds of Ireland’, loc. cit., pp 371–2; A.F.M. sub anno 1558. For a more flattering view of Earl James, see Bradshaw, Brendan, The Irish constitutional revolution of the sixteenth century (Cambridge, 1979), pp 212, 272–8.CrossRefGoogle Scholar

11 Edward VI to Desmond, 15 Oct. 1547 (P.R.O., S.P 61/1/6); Desmond to Capt. Ovington, ? Dec. 1551 (P.R.O., S.P 61/3/79, enclosure i); Russell, , ‘Relation of the FitzGeralds of Ireland’, loc. cit., pp 373–4Google Scholar; A.F.M. sub annis 1558–60.

12 ‘Extent of Desmond’s lands’, 19 June 1584 (P.R.O., S.P 63/110/78).

13 ‘The yearly extent of Desmond’s lands’ (Lambeth, Carew MS 611, ff 205 et seq).

14 ‘Desmond’s rents’, ?1567 (P.R.O., S.P 63/22/74). I have chosen a later dating than the editors of the calendar, since the survey was most probably drawn up by the commissioners who visited the lordship in 1568.

15 Fitzwilliam to Cecil, 22 Jan. 1568 (Bodl., Carte MS 58, ff 225–6); Weston to Elizabeth, 18 Apr. 1568, enclosing letter of Countess Desmond of 19 Mar. (P.R.O., S.P 63/24/9 and enclosure i);’Note of Desmond’s letters’, 18 Aug. 1568 (P.R.O., S.P 63/25/66, enclosure i); Desmond’s letters to various recipients, 18 Nov 1568 (P.R.O., S.P 63/26/26–45); A.P C. (1571–5), pp 21–3, 25, 38;‘Diet of the earl of Desmond’(B.L., Egerton MS 2723, f. 48).

16 Desmond to Cecil, 26 September 1568 (P.R.O., S.P 63/25/89); Desmond to Privy Council, 1 Nov 1568 (P.R.O., S.P 63/26/11) and 12 Feb. 1569 (P.R.O., S.P 63/27/21); St Leger to Privy Council, 17 Oct. 1570 (P.R.O., S.P 63/30/80) and to Burghley, 6 June 1571 (P.R.O., S.P 63/32/54).

17 Gerrard to Burghley, 3 Jan. 1579 (P.R.O., S.P 63/65/3).

18 ‘Book of debts of the old earl of Desmond’, May 1562 (P.R.O., S.P 63/6/14, enclosure i); ‘Memorandum of Desmond’s arrearages’, Dec. 1565 (P.R.O., S.P 63/15/75).

19 Sussex’s ‘Orders for Desmond’, 1 Aug. 1560 (P.R.O., S.P 63/2/29); Desmond’s ‘Recognisance’, Nov 1565 (P.R.O., S.P 63/15/50). Elizabeth to Sidney, 24 Mar 1567 (Sidney. S.P., no. 34).

20 Sidney to Privy Council, 11 July 1556 (P.R.O., S.P 63/18/54).

21 See Bean, J M.W, The decline of English feudalism (Manchester, 1968)Google Scholar; Holmes, G. S., The estates of the higher nobility in the fourteenth century (Cambridge, 1957)Google Scholar; MacFarlane, K. B., The nobility of later medieval England (Oxford, 1974).Google Scholar

22 Bean, J. M. W, The estates of the Percy family (Oxford, 1958)Google Scholar; James, M. E., Family, lineage and civil society (Oxford, 1974)Google Scholar, and A Tudor magnate and the Tudor state (Borthwick Papers, no. 30, York, 1966); Smith, R. B., Land and politics in the England of Henry VIII (Oxford, 1970).Google Scholar

23 ‘Articles exhibited by Desmond’, 28 June 1562 (P.R.O., S.P 63/6/30); ‘Conference between Sidney and Desmond’, 6 May 1563 (P.R.O., S.P 63/18/54); ‘Articles of Desmond’, Dec. 1571 (P.R.O., S.P 63/34/39).

24 ‘Articles for Desmond’ and his ‘Answer’, 3 and 6 Jan. 1573 (P.R.O., S.P 63/39/1,5).

25 Fitzwilliam and council to Elizabeth, 24 Mar. 1573 (P.R.O., S.P 63/44/21).

26 ‘Instructions’ to St Leger, Pollard and Perrot in 1566, 1568 and 1571 respectively (P.R.O., S.P 63/16/22; ibid., 63/26/9; Collins, A. (ed.), Letters and memorials of state (2 vols, London, 1746), 1, 48–59Google Scholar. For a comparison between the council in Wales and the Munster presidency, see Williams, Penry, ’The council in Munster in the late sixteenth century’ in I.C.H.S. Bull, new series, 8, no. 94 (winter 1961), pp 2–3.Google Scholar

27 St Leger’s tenure of office as president with a full presidential retinue was recognised at least in financial terms by the crown. See payments made to St Leger in Fitzwilliam’s account, 1559–69 (Northumberland Record Office, Fitzwilliam MSS (Irish), no. 46); St Leger to Sidney, 3 July 1566 (P.R.O., S.P 63/18/54, enclosure i).

28 Cf. Gilbert’s ‘Instructions’, 3 Sept. 1569 (P.R.O.I., Lodge MSS, Patent rolls, Henry VIII — 12E1ÍZ., ff 29–31).

29 On Perrot’s conduct generally, see Rawlinson, Richard. The history of Sir John Perrot (London, 1728)Google Scholar; Perrot to Fitzwilliam, 14 Aug. 1571, and to Privy Council, 3 Mar. 1573 (P.R.O., S.P 63/33/4, enclosures 1 and 2; ibid., 63/39/40 and enclosure i).

30 D.N.B., s.v.

31 Tremayne’s ‘Advices’, June 1571 (P.R.O., S.P 63/32/64–6); Tremayne’s ‘Plat for Ireland’ (B.L., Cotton MSS, Titus BXII ff 357 et seq.).

32 Sidney’s ‘Notes for Ireland’ and ‘Advice for the garrison’, Oct. 1574, his ‘Plat’ for Ireland, 15 Nov 1575 (P.R.O., S.P 63/48/37, 40; ibid., 63/53/67).

33 For a discussion of the limited nature of Drury’s encroachment in Desmond, see Kennedy, D.J., ‘The presidency of Munster’ (unpublished M.A. thesis, University College, Cork, 1974).Google Scholar

34 Sidney to Privy Council, 17 Mar. 1577 (P.R.O., S.P 63/57/39); Drury to Walsingham, 27 Jan. 1578 (P.R.O., S.P 63/60/6); Sidney to Privy Council 20 Feb. 1578 (ibid., no. 14); ‘Sir Henry Sidney’s memoir of his government of Ireland, 1583’ in U.J.Α., 1st series, viii (1860), p. 187

35 Drury to Privy Council 24 Mar., 7 June, 1 July, 22 Aug. 1578 (P.R.O., S.P 63/60/25, 63/61/1, 30; Walsingham letter–bk, pp 135–6); Drury to Burghley, 25 Aug. 1578 (P.R.O., S.P 63/61/60).

36 Elizabeth to Desmond and his countess, 21 Dec. 1578 and 31 July 1579 (Walsingham letter–bk, pp29–30, 109–10).

37 Desmond and his countess to Elizabeth, 30 Sept. 1578 (P.R.O., S.P 63/62/22–23); Drury to Privy Council, 24 Mar 1578 (ibid., 63/60/25); Mr Croft to Secretary Wilson, 17 July 1978, Drury to Burghley, 25 Aug. 1578 (ibid., 63/61/35, 60); Desmond to Burghley, 9 Jan. 1579 (ibid., 63/65/15).

38 Drury to Privy Council, 28 Nov. 1578, Privy Council to Drury, 21 Dec. 1578, Gerrard to Burghley, 3 Jan. 1579 (P.R.O., S.P 63/63/29, 59; ibid., 63/65/3). For an example of one such composition in Nov. 1578, see Lambeth, Carew MS 555, f. 85.

39 Drury to Burghley, 6 Jan. 1579 (P.R.O., S.P 63/65/6).

40 Perrot to Burghley, 30 Apr. and 13 July 1573 (P.R.O., S.P 63/40/19; ibid., 63/41/76); Fitzwilliam to Lady Sussex, 12 Dec. 1567 (Bodl., Carte MS 57, f. 118) and to Leicester, 16 Mar. 1572 (P.R.O., S.P 63/35/33).

41 Sidney to Privy Council, 17 Mar 1576, Countess of Desmond to Privy Council, 28 June 1580, Desmond to Elizabeth, 12 Sept. 1574 (P.R.O., S.P 63/57/39; ibid., 63/73/67; ibid., 63/47/56. The importance of Desmond’s psychological incapacity is particularly stressed by Berleth, The twilight lords, op. cit.

42 Sidney to Privy Council, 20 Feb. 1578, Drury to Walsingham, 27 Jan. 1578 (P.R.O., S.P 63/60/14 and 6).

43 The politics of faction was so pervasive in sixteenth–century Ireland that extended contemporary treatments of this generally recognised phenomenon, as distinct from mere asides, are rare; but see Sussex’s ‘Opinion’, Sept. 1560(Lambeth, Carew MS 614, ff 271 et seq.) and the anonymous brief presented to ‘A friend going over into Ireland’, c. 1584 (Northampton Record Office, Fitzwilliam MSS (Irish), no. 68).

44 For general treatments of the dynamics of faction under the Tudors, see Neale, J E., ‘The Elizabethan political scene’ in Essays in Elizabethan history (London, 1958)Google Scholar; MacCaffrey, Wallace, ‘Place and patronage in Elizabethan politics’ in Elizabethan government and society, ed. Bindoff, S. T et al. (London, 1961)Google Scholar, and Ives, E. W, Faction in Tudor England(Historical Association, Appreciations in history no. 6, 1979).Google Scholar

45 For a more extensive discussion of this theme, see my unpublished Ph.D. thesis, The government of Ireland, c. 1540–1583’ (University of Dublin, 1980), chs 2 and 6; for a different perspective on St Leger, see Bradshaw, The Irish constitutional revolution, pt III.

46 Bradshaw, op. cit., pp 241–3, 273–80.

47 See my unpublished thesis, ‘The government of Ireland, c. 1540–1583’, ch. 6.

48 Desmond’s ‘suits’, c. 16 July 1559, and queen’s decision (P.R.O., S.P 63/1/44,63); ‘Book of Desmond’s debt’, May 1562 (P.R.O., S.P 63/6/14, enclosure i).

49 Ormond deeds, 1547–84, pp 110, 126–7.

50 Sussex’s ‘Relation’, 1562 (Lambeth, Carew MS 614, f. 225); his advice on Desmond, 8 Aug. 1565 (P.R.O., S.P 63/14/39).

51 Sidney’s ‘Conference’ with Desmond, 6 May 1563 (P.R.O., S.P 63/8/41); cf. also Sidney’s advice on Desmond, 8 Aug. 1565 (ibid., 63/14/40).

52 Elizabeth to Desmond, 15 Jan. 1564; Desmond to Winchester, 26 July 1564 (P.R.O., S.P 63/10/8; 63/11/36; ‘Order between Desmond and Thomond’, 2 Sept. 1564 (ibid., 63/11/82).

53 Stanley to Cecil, 3 Apr. 1565; Fitzwilliam to Cecil, 3 Apr. 1565 (P.R.O., S.P 63/13/4, 6).

54 D.N.B. s.v. On St Leger’s previous acquaintance with Desmond, see Elizabeth to Sidney, 11 June 1567 (Sidney S.P., no. 41).

55 Sidney to Privy Council, 11 July and 9 Sept. 1566 (P.R.O., S.P 63/18/54; ibid., 63/19/11); St Leger to Sidney, 3 July 1566; Desmond to Sidney, 6 July 1566 (P.R.O., S.P 63/18/54, enclosures i and ii).

56 Cecil to Smith, 16 Oct. 1565 and 26 Mar. 1566 (B.L., Lansdowne MS 102, nos 66 and 71); MacCaffrey, Wallace, The shaping of the Elizabethan regime (London, 1969)CrossRefGoogle Scholar, ch. 8, and Read, Conyers, Mr Secretary Cecil and Queen Elizabeth (London, 1965), ch. 16.Google Scholar

57 Sidney to Privy Council, 15 Apr. and 11 July 1566 (P.R.O., S.P 63/17/13; ibid., 63/18/54); Sidney to Cecil, 17 Apr. 1566 (ibid., 63/17/14; Sidney to Leicester, 28 June 1566 (H.M.C De Lisle and Dudley MSS, ii, 2–3).

58 Elizabeth to Sidney, 6 Jan. 1566 (Collins (ed.), Letters and memorials of state, i, 7).

59 Elizabeth to Sidney, 14 May 1566 (P.R.O., S.P 63/17/49).

60 Elizabeth to Sidney, 13 Aug. 1566 (Sidney S.P., no. 23).

61 Elizabeth to Sidney, 24 Sept., 12 Nov., 30 Nov. 1566, 6 Jan. 1567, 3 Apr. (P.R.O., S.P 63/19/15, 42, 68; Sidney S.P., nos 32 and 37).

62 Sidney to Leicester, 19 Aug. 1566 ( Collins, (ed.), Letters and memorials of state, pp 15–17); Sidney to Cecil, 4 Mar. 1567, and to Elizabeth, 20 Apr. (P.R.O., S.P 63/20/41, 66).Google Scholar

63 Sidney to Leicester, 5 Sept. 1566 (H.M.C., Pepys MSS, p. 92).

64 St Leger to Burghley, 12 July 1571, and to Privy Council, 13 Aug. 1571 (P.R.O., S.P 63/33/7, 31); Desmond to Burghley, 6 Aug. 1571 (ibid., 63/33/28).

65 Fitzwilliam to Leicester, 16 Mar. 1572 (P.R.O., S.P 63/35/33); Perrot to Privy Council, 2 Nov. 1572, 9 Apr. 1573, and to Burghley, 13 June 1573 (P.R.O., S.P 63/38/29; ibid., 63/40/6; ibid., 63/41/76).

66 ‘Articles devised by Sir John Perrot’, May 1572 (P.R.O., S.P 63/36/33); Desmond to Privy Council, 18 May 1573 (P.R.O., S.P 63/40/39 and enclosures); Fitzwilliam and council to Elizabeth, 25 May 1573 (ibid., 63/40/52 and enclosures i and ii).

67 Fitzwilliam and council to Desmond, 20 Nov 1573 (P.R.O., S.P 63/42/84); Justice Walsh to Burghley 30 Nov. 1573 and 3 Dec. 1573 (ibid., 63/42/88 and 63/43/5).

68 Sussex’s ‘Orders’ for the Decies, 3 Dec. 1558 (P.R.O., S.P 63/1/2); ‘Matters to be ordered with Desmond’, 20 May 1563 (ibid., 63/8/11); Elizabeth to Sir Maurice Fitzgerald, 28 Feb. 1565, ‘Deposition of Sir Maurice Fitzgerald’, Feb. 1565 (ibid., 63/12/44, 52); Elizabeth to Sidney, 16 July 1568 (P.R.O., S.P 63/25/39).

69 Desmond’s ‘Articles’, 28 June 1562 (P.R.O., S.P 63/6/30); ‘Matters to be ordered with Desmond’, 20 May 1563 (ibid., 63/8/11); Sidney’s ‘Conference’ with Desmond, 6 May 1653 (ibid., 63/8/41); Commissioners in Munster to Fitzwilliam, 20 Dec. 1567 and 26 Mar. 1568 (Bodl., Carte MS 57, f. 129 and MS 58, f. 340); Jasper Horsey to Sidney, 18 June 1569 (P.R.O., S.P 63/28/15).

70 Lords Justice to Lord Barry, Cormac MacTeig MacCarthy et al., 7 Apr 1568, and to Munster commissioners, 7 Apr 1568 (Bodl., Carte MS 58, ff 99, 402); Elizabeth to Fitzwilliam, 8 Mar. 1568 (P.R.O., S.P 63/23/68); Lords Justice to Clancar, 20 Sept. 1568 (ibid., 63/26/4, enclosure xv).

71 Carew to Sidney, 12 July 1569(P.R.O., S.P 63/29/10); Sidney to Privy Council, 26 Oct. 1569, Gilbert to Sidney, 1 Dec. 1569 (ibid., 63/29/70 and 82); Perrot to Secretary Smith, 28 Jan. 1573 (ibid., 63/39/16).

72 Russell, , ‘Relation of the FitzGeralds of Ireland’, loc. cit., pp 372–9Google Scholar; O’Donovan, John (ed.), ‘The Irish correspondence, of James Fitzmaurice of Desmond’ in R.S.A.I. Jn., v (1858–9), pp 354–69.Google Scholar

73 Lords Justice to Elizabeth, 8 Feb., 23 Mar. 1568 (P.R.O., S.P 63/23/22, 74); Weston to Elizabeth, 29 Mar. 1568 (Bodl., Carte MS 58, ff 70–72); Desmond to Fitzmaurice, 18 Nov. 1568 (P.R.O., S.P 63/26/35).

74 Fitzwilliam to Draycott, 8 Feb. 1568 (Bodl., Carte MS 58, f. 263); Lords Justice to Elizabeth, 16 July, 28 Aug. 1568 (P.R.O., S.P 63/25/45) and Wingfield to Cecil, 12 Nov. (ibid., 63/26/22).

75 Russell, , ‘Relation of the FitzGeralds of Ireland’, loc. cit., pp 379–80Google Scholar; ‘Yearly rents of Desmond’, c. 1568 (P.R.O., S.P 63/22/74); Piveronus, P J., ‘Sir Warham St Leger and the first Munster plantation, 1568–9’ in Eire–Ireland, 14, no. 2, (summer 1979), pp 15–36 Google Scholar; Desmond survey, c. 1572 (Lambeth, Carew MS 611, f. 205); ‘Survey of rebels’ lands’, 1584 (Carew MS 627, f. 126).

76 See Ronan, M. V, Reformation in Ireland, 1558–1603 (Dublin, 1930), pp 253–5,282–305Google Scholar; Dominic O’Daly, The rise, increase and exit of the Geraldines, passim.

77 ‘Sir Henry Sidney’s memoir of his government of Ireland, 1583’ in U.J.A., 1st series, iii (1855), pp 96–7; Fitzmaurice’s proclamation, 1569 (Lambeth, Carew MS 607, f. 40); A. Skyddeto Cecil, 20 June 1569 (H.M.C, Cecil MSS, i, 413).

78 Sussex to Fitzwilliam, 14 Dec. 1571 (Bodl., Carte MS 57, ff 190–91); Perrot to Privy Council, 3 Mar. 1573 (P.R.O., S.P 63/39/40 and enclosure i).

79 Sussexto Fitzwilliam, 18 Jan. 1574 (Bodl., Carte MS 56, ff. 284–6); Fitzwilliam and council to Privy Council, 31 Jan. 1574 (P.R.O., S.P 63/44/20 and enclosures i–v).

80 Essex to Desmond, 5 and 10 June 1574 (P.R.O., S.P 63/46/52, 57).

81 Fitzwilliam to Elizabeth 3 and 12 Sept. 1574 (P.R.O., S.P 63/47/54); Burghley to Fitzwilliam, 24 Sept. 1574 (Bodl., Carte MS 56, f. 154).

82 Commissioner Agard et al. to Fitzwilliam, 11 Jan. 1575 (Bodl., Carte MS 58, f 192); Commissioner Dowdall et al. to Fitzwilliam, 3 Sept. 1575 (ibid., Carte MS 57, ff 135–8); ‘Order of commissioners’, 30 Aug. 1575 (P.R.O., S.P 63/53/19).

83 Sidney to Privy Council, 27 Feb. 1576, and ‘Order against Lixnaw’, 27 Feb. (P.R.O., S.P 63/55/19,22).

84 Munster commissioners to Fitzwilliam, 20 July and 9 Aug. 1575 (P.R.O., S.P 63/52/66 and enclosures; Bodl., Carte MS 55, f. 347); ‘Recognisance’ of Imokilly (Bodl., Carte MS 55, f. 349); Imokilly to Sidney, 16Nov. 1576(P.R.O., S.P 63/56/50); Drury to Privy Council, 6 Jan. 1579, Desmond to Drury, 28 Nov 1578 (ibid., 63/65/4 and enclosures iii and iv).

85 Fitzmaurice to Justice Walsh, 12 Oct. 1573 (P.R.O., S.P. 63/42/70, enclosure ii); Desmond’s grant to Fitzmaurice, 23 Apr. 1574 (ibid., 63/45/80); ‘Survey of rebel lands’, 1584 (Lambeth, Carew MS 627, f. 128); Russell, ‘Relation of the FitzGeralds of Ireland’, loc. cit., p. 379; Munster commissioners to Fitzwilliam,£0 July 1575 (P.R.O., S.P 63/52/56); Imokilly’s deposition, 18 July 1575 (ibid., 63/52/66, enclosure iv).

86 P.R.I. rep. D.K. 10, App., Fiant no. 1007 It was Sidney who bestowed knighthood upon Sir John in 1567 (‘Creation of knights’, Lambeth, Carew MS 621, f. 12). For Sidney’s belief in the fatal consequences of the alienation of Sir John, see his ‘Memoir’ in U.J.A., 1st series, iii (1855), pp 33–44, 85–90, 336–57; ν (1857), pp 299–315; viii (1860), pp 179–95 passim.

87 Sir John of Desmond to Privy Council, 11 June 1569 (P.R.O., S.P 63/28/26) and to Leicester, 7 Feb. 1571 (ibid., 63/31/5); Desmond to Privy Council, 20 Aug. 1571 (ibid., 63/33/36); Sidney to Cecil, 12 Nov. 1568 (ibid., 63/26/18); Petitions of certain gentlemen, Apr. 1569 (ibid., 63/28/2).

88 Perrot to Fitzwilliam, 20 Aug. and 4 Dec. 1571 (P.R.O., S.P 63/34/4, enclosure ii; 63/34/33, enclosure i).

89 Deposition of Stephen White, Jan. 1580 (P.R.O., S.P 63/80/39, enclosure i); Sir John of Desmond to Leicester, 7 Feb. 1571 (ibid., 63/31/5); Desmond to Privy Council, 20 Aug. 1571 (ibid., 63/33/36); Fitzwilliam and council to Elizabeth, 25 May 1573 (ibid., 63/40/52); Sir John of Desmond to Justice Walsh, 22 Sept. 1573 (ibid., 63/42/27, enclosure i).

90 Fitzwilliam to Privy Council, 25 Nov. 1574 (P.R.O., S.P 63/48/59). Two documents headed ‘Extent of rebel lands’, 1584 (Lambeth, Carew MS 627, f. 126, and P.R.O., S.P 63/110/78) show Sir John to have been in possession of lands to the putative value of £300 p.a., but some of these were mortgaged away and his enjoyment of other properties was in doubt.

91 Russell, , ‘Relation of the FitzGeralds’, loc. cit., pp 380–81Google Scholar; Agard to Fitzwilliam, 10 Jan. 1575 (Bodl., Carte MS 55, f. 188); Drury to Burghley, 6 Jan. 1579 (P.R.O., S.P 63/65/4); Countess Desmond to Privy Council, 28 June 1580 (ibid., 63/73/67).

92 Sidney to Privy Council, 17 Mar. 1577 (P.R.O., S.P 63/57/39); ‘Matters against Desmond’, Nov. 1579 (ibid., 63/70/5–6).

93 Drury and Council to Privy Council, 22 July 1579 (P.R.O., S.P 63/67/40 and enclosures); Elizabeth to Desmond, 31 July (Walsingham letter-bk, p. 109).

94 Waterhouse to Walsingham, 2 Aug. 1579 (P.R.O., S.P 63/68/2); Malby to Walsingham, 10 Sept. 1579 (ibid., 63/69/17).

95 St Leger to Burghley, 2 and 3 Dec. 1579 (P.R.O., S.P 63/70/42); Waterhouse to Walsingham, 3 Feb. 1580 (ibid., 63/71/32); Pelham to Walsingham, 28 Feb. 1580 (ibid., 63/71/61).

96 ‘Matters against Lord Barry’, July 1580 (P.R.O., S.P 63/74/31).

97 St Leger to Burghley, 21 May 1580 (P.R.O., S.P 63/73/23).

98 Drury to Privy Council, 9 Aug. 1579, Desmond’s ‘Plot’, 7 Sept. 1579 (Walsingham letter-bk, pp 118, 164–5); Desmond to Perrot, 10 Oct. 1579, Countess of Desmond to Privy Council, 28 June 1580 (P.R.O., S.P 63/69/51, 63/73/67); ‘Note of proceedings with Desmond’, c. Nov 1579 (ibid., 63/70/40).

99 On Malby generally see D.N.B., s.v., Lambert, G. W, ‘Sir Nicholas Malby’ in Galway Arch. Soc.Jn., 23 (1948), pp 1–13 Google Scholar; Brady, , The government of Ireland, c. 1540–1583’, pp 405–12Google Scholar; and Malby to Walsingham, 10 and 20 Aug. 1579 (P.R.O., S.P 63/68/33, 45). For his plan for Ireland, see ibid., 63/68/46, enclosure i.

100 Malby to Walsingham, 4 and 12 Oct. 1579 (P.R.O., S.P 63/69/48, 52); Desmond to Ormond, 10 Oct. 1579 (ibid., 63/69/50); Countess of Desmond to Privy Council, 28 June 1580 (ibid.).

101 ‘Proclamation against Desmond’, 2 Nov. 1579 (Cal. Carew MSS, 1575–88, pp 16–24).

102 See the separate ‘Collections of matters manifesting the beginnings of this combination of treason’ after Nov. 1579 (P.R.O., S.P 63/70/5, 6).

103 Pelham to Elizabeth, 15 Dec. 1579 (Cal. Carew MSS, 1575–88, p. 183); Pelham to Burghley, 15 Dec. 1579 (P.R.O., S.P 63/70/57); Malby to Walsingham, 10 Dec. 1579, and 24 Oct. 1580 (P.R.O., S.P 63/70/51; ibid., 63/77/52).

104 Spenser, Edmund, View of the present state of Ireland, ed. Renwick, W L. (Oxford, 1970), pp l6, 27Google Scholar; Beacon, Richard, Solon his folie (Oxford, 1594), pp 17, 32, 76–7Google Scholar; Hooker’s, ‘Chronicle’ in Raphael Holinshed(ed.), Chronicles (3 vols, London, 1587), ii, 150–64.Google Scholar