Right Honourable I receaued your Lordships lettres wherin your Lrd dothe specifie that you think it verie straunge that I shoalde ioyn in action with theis gentlemen of Leinster. It is soe that I have euer at all times behaved myself dutifullie, and as a true subiect to Her Majestie as ever laie in me, and as it is well known to your Lord I have showed my willingness in seruice against my uncle, and his adherents, wherebie I haue bin partelie a meane of his distinction. Before my uncle's deseace it maie be remeubered by your Lord that I haue bin in England from my Father, cleamienge title to his inheritance of the House of Desmonde, which is manifestlie known to be his righte; whereupon Her Majestye hath promissed of her gratious favour to doe me iustice, uppon the deseace of my uncle, who then was in action, and haue allowed me a marke sterling per diem towards my maintenance, untill Her Majesties further pleasure were knowne, of which I neuer receaued but one yeare's paie, and euer since my uncle's deseace I could gett no hearinge concerning my inheritance of the Earldome of Desmond; but haue bestowed the same uppon diuers undertakers, to disinherite me for euer; haueing all this while staied myself, in hope to be gratiouslie delt withall by Her Majestie: seeinge no other remedie and that I could gett noe indifferencie, I will followe by all the meanes I can to mantaine my right, trustinge in thAlmightie to further the same.
My verie good Lord, I haue seene so manie bad exsamples, in seeking of diuerse manie Gents, bluddely false and sinister accusations, cutt off and executed to deathe, that the noblemen and chief gentlemen of this province cannot thinck themselves assured of their lyves if they were contented to loose their lands and liuings; as for example Redmond Fitz Geralde uppon the false informacion of a scurfey boy for safeguard of his leif, was putt to death, being a Gentleman of good callinge, being 3 score years of age, and innocent of the crime chardged withall. Donogh McCraghe alsoe was executed uppon the false informacion of a villainous Kerne, who within a sevennight was putt to death, within your Lordships Libertie at Clonmell, who tooke uppon his salvacion all that he said against the said Donogh was untrue, that he was subborned by others. Of late a poore cosen of ours, James Fitz Morrys of Mochollopa is soe abbominablie dealt withall, uppon the false informacion of an Englisheman, accusinge him of murder, who neuer drewe sworde in anger all the daies of his leife, and is manifestlie knowne that he neuer gave cause to be suspected of the like: Pierce Lacie, who was an earnest servitor, and had the killinge of Rory Mc Morrogho, and the apprehension of Morrogho Oge, till he left him in the Geoale of Limerick, and after all his services, was driven, for the sauegarde of his leif, to be a fugitive. To be briefe with your Lord: Englishemen were not contented to haue our landes and liuings, but immercifullie to seeke our leives by false, and sinister meanes, under cullor of Lawe; and as for my parte, I will prevent it the best I maie.
Committinge your Lord to God, I am your Lord's Loveinge Cosen,
JA: DESMONDE.
From the Camp at Carrigrone,