My most honorable Lord, I have briefly written to your Honour how that I despair to benefit myself by his Majesty's favour extended towards me by your Lordship's means for a lease of the lands of Dermod Meah Mc Cartie and Fynynn Mc Owen; for divers do oppose themselves against His Majesty's title to the same, especially Mc Carty Reoghe, who now intendeth to repair thither, hoping by some means to frustrate the good courses here taken in that behalf; for by my means, and to my charges of three hundred livres in buying of evidences & otherwise, an office hath been found for his Majesty of a good deal of land as yet in the possession of the said Mc Cartie and others. But I hope that as your Honor hath been the mean for me in obtaining of my suit in that behalf, so now you will prevent Mc Cartie in obtaining any thing there in prejudice of his Majesty's right; but referred to follow his suits here, as shall be agreeable to ordinary courses of law. I have a bordering neighbour (I mean Sir John Fitz Edmonds) who is now intended to make a surrender of all those lands which he possesseth (amounting to the number of three plowlands) to his Majesty, only to defraud such as have best right to those lands; and among the rest meaneth to have part of my ancient inheritance passed; wherefore I beseech your Honour to be a mean that every man's right be always saved; otherwise great inconveniences might arise, and a number of ancient English gentlemen prevented of their right. We have here a daily expectation that by your honorable means there will be a reformation of the extortion of Government's troops, soldiers, Sheriffs and cessors, who do altogether impoverish his poor kingdom, and commonwealth, and that His Majesty will be pleased to take some other course for the better establishing thereof, to the increase of his Highness' revenues. Which, leaving to your honorable regard, With the remembrance of my humble duty I do evermore remain
Ready to do your Honor every service
BARRY BUTTEVANTE.To the Honourable my very good Lord the Lord Cycell, Principal Secretary to the King's most excellent Majesty and one of his Highness' most honorable Privy Council.
Lord Barry to my Lord from Barry Court.