It may please your Lordships. The 29th of May (being the next day after the date of my last to your Lordships herewith) the White Knight (by me employed, and earnestly spourred on to repaye his former errors) did his best endeavors (which I thanke God) had the successes desired. For the day aforesaid (havinge notice by his espyalls wheare James Fitz Thomas (the usurping Erle of Desmond) laye hidden within his countrye in the mountaynes of Slewgrott in an obscuer cave many fathoms under the grounde, upon intelligence with such companies as then weare in his house with him, not being of weaponed men above 8 in nomber, repaired to the place, discovered and there tooke him, and one horseman more who attended him, and brought them to one of his own castles, from whence Sir George Thornton with a good guarde convayed them safe to my house, where in irons he remayneth, out of the which I dare not els trust him to be kept, being (as he is) a man the most generally beloved by all sortes (as well in this towne as in the country), that in my life I have knowen.
I cannot sufficiently commende unto your Lordships this dutifull act of the White Knightes, who performed the same more in respect of his dutie to Her Majesty then for the benefitt of the £400 head money proclaymed, and presently to be paide, for The doinge whereof he was not ignorant to purchase to himself the generall malice of the Province, wherby his desert is made the greater, and (but by himself) I protest unto your Lordships I do not know any man in Mounster by whome I might have gotten him. Neither may I leave unrecomended unto your Lordships the dilligent and painefull endeuours of Sir George Thornton, who next unto the Knight himself, hath best deserved, being the chiefest and most effectuall instrument by me employed herein, and therefore (as wel for their incoradgmets to persevere in doinge her Majesty service as to move others to forward the same) I most humbly besech your Lordships that in her Majesty's name you wolde take particuler notice of yt, and by your lettres to give them the thankes they deserve. For this treator's hope (notwithstandinge all the miseryes which in this tyme of his distress he hath sustayned) was nothing abated; every day expecting either by Irish or Spanishe ayde (which ayde from Spaine (as he tells me) he was confident to receave before harvest) to be no lesse hable to mentayne the warrs then in former tymes; assuriuge your Lordships that he was the most potent Geraldyne that ever was of any of the Erles of Desmond his auncestors, as may well appear by the nombers of Provincialls pardoned and cutt short since my cominge hither, as also by the nombers of the Bonnoughtes by me from time to time banished. The manner of his apprehension, (for your Lordships more particuler satisfaccion) is expressed in a lettre of the White Knightes unto me which herewith I send your Lordships.
I once purposed to have sente the arch treator by this passadge into England; but upon better consideracion (whereof I hope your Lordships will give good allowaunce) I do staye him for a tyme, and by the same do hope to avoyde all inconveniences that may happen: for, yf he shold dye before he come to his tryall (as the judges heare inform me) the Queen (but by Act of Parliament) can not be interested in his lands; and also his brother John (by the same reason) is not by the lawe debarred from the title which this pretender holdes to be good, to the Erledome of Desmond: for theis reasons (by their opinions) I have resolved to have him arraigned, and adjudged, heare, and then do thincke yt meete he be sent into England, and left as your Lordships shall please to dispose of him. And because yt is likewise by the lawyers told me, that a man condemned in this realme cannot, by the ordinary course of lawe, upon the same Indictment be executed in England, I purpose to send with him 2 or 3 indictments readye drawne with sufficient matter, by the which he may be there at all tymes arraigned. The reasones that induceth me to send him lyvinge into Englande are grounded upon an apparent doubt conceaved that as soone as this arch treator shalbe executed, his brother John will ymmediatly assume the title he did, and perrchaunce therby prove no less powerfull than this traitor hath ben; whereas (whilest he lyves) he cannot make any pretence to move ther naturall followers, and dependants of ther howse of Desmond to assist him; likewise I hold yt (under reformacion of your grave iudgements) to be very daungerous to contynue him any longe tyme prisoner in Ireland, beinge (as aforesaid) so exceedingly beloved as he is, not daringe to comit him into any hands, out of myne owne.
Cork