My very approved good Lord My humble and most bonden dutie remembered, I have according to your Lordships pleasure sent hereinclosed the copie of the bond wherin Donell Pypy is bound to me, which as I told your Lordship was don about 12 yeres past [1583], and neuer don, I protest by any compulsion of Sir Owen but onely by the sayd Donell's meanes, who when Sir Owen was about to com hyther at that time the sayd Donell got him to enter into those couenauts, fearing less that Sir Owen wold surrender the contry which he possesst then; and where your Lordship hath enquired who was heir of the said contrey; as for my parte I know not a more lawfull heir then myself, seeing Law doth allow custome as well in Englande as in Ireland, and that custome hath bene ever inviolablie kept there, which yf your Lordship and the rest of the Councell do think fitt to take any indifrent order for the contrey) your Lordship shall fynd me more comformable then Donell Pypy himselfe or Dearmed Mc Carthy, or Donogh Oge Me Carthy, or Donogh Mc Owen McCarthy or Florence Mc Owen, or any other of the Cept: assuring your Lordship that neyther they, nor the Councell of Ireland, nor Governor of Mounster doth not think it to be any parte of your Lordships meaning to disherit the whole Cept, because Donell Pypy is the eldest brother's heir, being a thing that was never don in Ireland hytherto, For in Beare and Bantrye although Donell O'Sulivan was the eldest brothers heir, yet Sir Owen O'Sulivan's heir, being but the second brothers son hath the best parte of the contrie. In the Brenhy also wher custome was lately supplest, although Sir John O'Reylly was, in possession, O'Reylly, and theldest brother, yet his owne second brother, Philip, and also Edmonde O'Reylly and Cahir O'Reylly have almost as good a porcion to every of them as the sayd Sir John Fergus Mc Bryen O'Farell being the eldest brother's heir having not so good a porcion of the Analie as others of the Cept. Wherefore seeing this is but a device of myne adversaries to hurte me being a thing don manie yeres past by the whole Cept, and the sayd Donell Pypy himselfe being aucthor thereof, and that I am ready to abyde the tryall of Law in Ireland for the whole matter, or els to surrender my right into your Lordships hands, and to submitt myself to your Lordships and the rest of the Councell's order, I humblie besech your Honourable Lordshp as I have allwayes found you my most approved good Lord and frend, to satisfie Her Majestie both in this, and in the rest of their deuices, for the well I shall (as I have ever had cause) rest most bound to pray for your Lordship
Your Lordships most humble and bonden,
flloR: McCARTHY.