[Piers Lacy a rebel] In Munster, about the beginning of October, 1598, Piers Lacy, of the county of Limerick, a gentleman of good sort afore this rebellion, and so accounted of in his country, a justice of peace, Captain of 60 kern, and had been High Sheriff, grew malcontented, went into open action, and after him in manner the whole country. He complained of Sir Thomas Norris, the President of the Province, and of George Thornton, his own tenant. The 10th of August before, he, Gibbon McThomas, and Cadagh O'Magher, came to the Lord Lieutenant, showed their griefs and wrongs offered them in Munster. He protected them, and stayed them for that time from rebellion. This Lacy had done good service, and had gotten letters in his favour for England. Sir Thomas Norris, prying into him at Thornton's suit, stayed the course, wrote to the Lords Justices that he might not be pardoned. The Earl of Ormond wrote oft for his pardon, at length obtained it, sent it to Lacy. Lacy answered the Earl that it came too late, that he was sworn to the rebels in Leix, and received the sacrament upon it, the which he would not break. When the Earl of Essex came to Limerick, Lacy made means to come in; Sir Thomas Norris hindered the service, and told the Earl that he would shortly fetch him in by the ears. After he had practised with Wony McRory, Captain Tyrrell, and the Leinster rebels, and drawn them into that Province, the fear of them was so great, blazed by the horseboys and spies of Ireland, the messengers of the devil, that the whole county of Limerick became mutinous.
[John of Desmond a rebel] Next after, John of Desmond, second son to Sir Thomas of Desmond, brother to the late traitor, the Earl of that name, followed him. His grievances.
The Earl of Tyrone sent unto the Province, if James his brother would not be Earl of Desmond, they should choose this John, and take him for their Earl.
[James calling himself earl of Desmond writeth to the Lord Lieutenant] James FitzThomas, the elder son of the aforesaid knight and traiterous house burning with the fire of ambition, and desirous to climb to the title of an Earl, concealing in his bosom (as sparkles of fire covered with ashes) his discontentments, brake out, drew after him as many as he could, and from the traitors' camp (though formerly advised by the Lord Lieutenant to the contrary), wrote to the Earl of Ormond, who was then at Kilmallock of his greivances and in excuse of his lewd enterprises, as followeth:
Right Honourable,
I have received your letters, wherein your Honour doth specify that you think it very strange that I should go in action with these gentlemen of Leinster. It is so that I have ever at all times behaved myself dutifully, and as true a subject to Her Majesty as ever lay in me; and, as it is well known to your Honour, I have showed my willingness in service against my uncle and his adherents, whereby I have been partly a mean of his destruction. Before my uncle's decease, it may be remembered by your Lordship that I have been in England from my father, claiming title to his inheritance of the house of Desmond, which is manifestly known to be his right. Whereupon Her Majesty hath promised of her gracious favour to do me justice upon the decease of my uncle, who then was in action, and have allowed me a mark sterling per diem towards my maintenance, until Her Majesty's further pleasure were known; of which I received but one year's pay; and, ever since my uncle's decease, I could get no hearing concerning my inheritance of the Earldom of Desmond, but have bestowed the same upon divers undertakers, to disinherit me for ever, having all this while stayed myself in hope to be graciously considered by Her Majesty. Seeing no other remedy, and that I could get no indifferency, I will follow by all the means I can to maintain my right, trusting in the Almighty to further the same. My very good Lord, I have seen so many bad examples in seeking so many gentlemen's bloods, by false and sinister accusations cut off and executed to death, that the noblemen and chief gentlemen of this Province cannot think themselves assured of their lives, if they were contented to lose their lands and livings. As, for example, Redmond FitzGerald, upon the false information of a scurvy boy for safeguard of his life, was put to death, being a gentlemen of good calling, being threescore years of age, and innocent of the crime charged withal, Donogh McCreagh also was executed upon the false information of a villanous kern, who, within a sevennight was put to death within your Lordship's liberty at Clonmel, who took upon his salvation that all that he said against the said Donogh was untrue, that he was suborned by others. Of late, a poor cousin of yours, James FitzMorris, of Mochollapa, is so abominably dealt withal, upon the false information of an Englishman accusing him of murder, who never drew sword in anger all the days of his life, and is manifestly known that he never gave cause to be suspected of the like. Piers Lacy, who was an earnest servitor, and had the killing of Rory McMorrogh, and the apprehension of Morrogh Oge, till he left him in the gaol of Limerick, and after all his services was driven for the safeguard of his life to be a fugitive. To be brief with your Lordship, Englishmen were not contented to have our lands and livings, but unmercifully to seek our lives by false and sinister means under colour of law; and, as for my part, I will prevent it as well as I may.
Committing your Lordship to God, I end,
from the camp at Carrigrowe,the 12th of October, 1598,your Honour's loving cousin, James Desmond.
All his grievances and allegations aforesaid are found unjust and untrue. The parties that were cut off were by due course of law tried, convicted, and executed. And this traitor James, proceeding in his malicious practices, wrote for aid and munition to the King of Spain, the which letter (gentle reader) thou shalt find laid down in March following. This James and his brother combined with Tyrone, and swore unto him such faith and truth as is among traitors. He repented himself, and made means to come in to the Earl of Essex, but Sir Thomas Norris withstood it, saying: ‘He is but a rascal; I will shortly subdue him with the forces which I have.’