My dutie most humblie remembreth to yor good Lord being not unmyndfull of the great chardge your Lordship gave me divers tymes, for the serchinge out of James Fitz Thomas, and especially when nowe last I was at Cork, I have both to satisfie your Lordship as alsoe to manifest my willingness to doe my Prince service, all this while endeavored my selfe to enquier after the saide James, for compassinge of which purposse, I protest to your Lordship I could tak noe rest, for I thinck if any other should take him but my selfe, my harte would burste. I came in conference with the harper Dermod O'Doan, John Shannyghane the priest, and the Baldons, whome your Lordship knoweth to be ther last releavers and company, privatly offeringe euie of them parteculerlie to have her Majesty's mercy and favor extended to them, their wiffes and children, with other great rewards, about which matter I spent a long tyme, yet euerie one of them dyd put me of, taking ther ots they kneewe not whear the saide James was at all, Yet I founde them periured therein because nowe I knowe the priest & Doan was that very day with him. Well, when that wey failed me I brought before me all those of my countrey that I moste trusted & that I kneewe to have loved my most. I fell into private conference with euerie of them particulerly, shewinge them what great danger was lik to ensue to me & my contrey unless I had don some seurice upon James Fitz Thomas whoe alwaies was founde to be borderinge upon my contrey. Wherfore they weare to be suspected for him. And the more to procure them to ventur themselves for me in my extremitie I published amongst them that Sir George Thorneton was bounde for me body for body to appeare at the next cessions. Wherupon I eftsones praied them as they loved me & my contrey, & to avoyde such great inconvenience, that they would wourck all the meanes they could to learne me newes of the said James, to which euerie one answered that they knewe nothinge of him at all. At last seing me in that perplexitie one whome I protest I least suspected of all my countrey, came to me a litle before supper, and tolde me that the said James and one Thomas Roe Offeighie lay at such a cave or denn be Slevgrott. I unwillinge to looss my opportunitie, seeing it pleassed God to send me such good newes, repaired thether presently with a very few company, and being right on the saide cave or denn, sent downe 3 or 4 men whoe fyndinge them their James retourned me one fourth putinge me in mynde of his kyndred, and prainge me, not to remember him at that tyme for any harme he dyd me before, promissinge to make great amends thereof, and that he was sure to be well hable to performe it within two monethes, for that he should haue, or that tyme 6000 men well prouided with munition and other necessaries in Mounster, with many other unreassonable offers which should be to my greate profficte. When I would not accept any thinge at his hands, but told him that he was nowe her Majesty's prisonner then began he to raile at me & laboured my followers & servants to foasake me & take his parte, and that he would rewarde them lardglie with lands for their posteritie for ever & other gifts of great value, whereof he failed, as of the rest. This is the maner of his takinge, having him and the saide Feighie in my safe keeping within my castell to be presented to her Majestie, and as I have performed this with manie other principall services heretofore for her Highnes, even soe doe I hopp that this shall not be the last. I sent to Sir George Thorneton to Kilmallock presently to bring me a good guarde of horsse and foote to leade him to your Lordship to Corck tomorrowe.
Even soe humbly tak my leave, resting your Honnours ever to doe your service.
Kilineheny