The said Teige affirmeth that about 27 years past, he being a native of Carbry by the father's side, and his mother of Barrye's country, and entreated by the said Florence Mc Carty to his service, went with him as his footboy into England, and staid with him no longer than one quarter of a year; from thence went to travel into Spain and Germany, and so from one kingdom to another, for the space of 16 years; and then arrived back in England, being in the service of one Sir Thos. Beadle, whom he followed in France and Italy for two years; and coming into London he found Florence Mc Carty, in the Marshalsea, whom he often visited whensoever he came into the city, being his old maister. The said Florence, upon his visiting of him, would be very inquisitive of the state, strength, and wealth of the Spaniards, and how he heard them converse and talk of him, or of his imprisonment, or if he could attain his liberty, in being in Spain whether the king of Spain, or the Spaniards would make much of him? or be glad of his enlargement?
The said Teig seeing his own time spent but in travel, and that to be no means for his future good, and likewise conceiting that the old proverb might be verified in him, viz. 'a young serving man, an old beggar,' resolved to repair into his own native country; with which intent, coming to take his leave of his restrained maister Florence; the said Florence entreated his stay, with a great deal of earnestness; telling him that in his service he should not want means, which he himself daily expected, and that he would employ him into Spain; being the third year of his Majesty's reign of England. To which promise the said Tieg gave credit, and stayed well near a twelvemonth, expecting both means and employment from him; but in the mean time the said Florence did change his resolution in employing the said Teige, as aforesaid into Spain.
About a quarter of a year before the said Teige's coming into Florence's service, one Richard O'Connell, a seminary priest, by birth from Irrelagh in Desmond (his ancestors being constables of Ballycarbry, the principal seat of Mc Carty More) came out of Spain into France, and from thence into England, where he, disguised as a Frenchman, did lodge with Florence's men Cornelius, alias Cnoghor O'Rorke, and Dermond Mc Finn O'Haugelin, in the house over against the Marshalsea door, being the sign of the Crowne, at one Mr. Goodchild's; and every day for the space of a fortnight or 3 weeks came in that habit of a poor Frenchman into the Marshalsea to Florence, where he would continue sometimes from morning to night in private conference. The cause of knowledge of the said Richard's being so disguised, and of his frequenting the company of Florence, was his own confession in his often telling the said Teige that he would send him after the foresaid Richard into Spain, and also the confession of both of his men, and of the good man of the house who knew him not to be priest, but took him to be a Frenchman. But the said Florence would often tell Teige that he expected his quick return of Spain, with money, and for his hastening would send the said Teige after him, yet after altered his mind, and sent him not, but sent another of his men called Dermond Mc Fynn O'Haugelin into Spain; and sent his other man Cornelius O'Rourke into Brussels, to confer with Lieutenant Jaques, who was his great friend.
Dermond being in Spain for a quarter of a year, returned into Ireland, missing his expected purpose of getting money from O'Sulivan Beare; and the priest likewise, who went over for the same purpose, failing thereof, the said Dermond came to Florence into England; by whose message from the priest he was put in hope daily to be relieved with money, the want whereof only detained him from flying into Spain. To which purpose his plot for his escape was, that after the money being received, he should obtain (to effect his intent) a more convenient chamber from the under marshall, Mr. Richardson, being the highest in the house, and looking eastward upon the Bourdenn, where he thought to make his escape out of a window; his four men Cornelius O'Rourke, Thomas Hanloane, Dermond Mc Fynn and Tieg Hurly being ready without to receive him.
His other man Cornelius, that went to Jaques, after a month's time spent in Brussels, returned into Dover, being the harbour from whence he took shipping, and so came back to Florence, without interruption, and brought him, as a present from Jaques, a sword which as the said Tieg saith, was disguised with a broken and rusty hilt, but was in fashion between a sword and a rapier, with a back, and of a good length. This Cornelius had told and assured his maister Florence, that Thomas Francesco (who was brother to the forenamed Jaques) would be with him within a month after, and obtain money for him in London, which the said Thos. Francesco performed partly, in coming privately to London. And afore the month's end, every day Cornelius O'Rourke would duly watch at the Spanish Ambassador's house, expecting news from Francesco; who the second or third night after his coming to town, late in the evening walking as private in the street, and in as disguised a manner as he could, it was his fortune to meet with one Capt. Newce, who formerly had been of his acquaintance in the Low Countries; and being exceeding fearful that he should be discovered, had no shift to prevent his discovery, but bid him to a banquet, in his chamber; to whom the said Captain Newce went, and there received such a poisoned entertaintment that all his hair and his nails fell off, and thereof complained to the Council; whereupon Thos. Francesco was apprehended, and put into the Tower; where, remaining for the space of half a year, and no matter proved against him (none knowing his intent, but Florence and his men) upon the earnest suit of his wife, to the Council for his liberty, he was enlarged, and not daring to go into the Marshalsea, he and his wife went over into the Low Countries.
The said Tiege doth moreover affirm that Mc Gwyr coming out of Ireland in a disguised manner, came into London, Florence being then in the Marshalsea, and having through the favour of the Keeper the liberty to go abroad with his keeper, one Richard Lawson, and hearing by one of Mc Gwyre's men that one would speak with him, the said Florence going with him into the King's Arms, a tavern, and this Tieg Hurly with him, they found the aforesaid Mc Gwire in merchant's attire, with two men more in his company, and talking privately together; he craved Florence's advice how he might with security safely get out of England; who gave him all the counsel he could, which was to go to Dover, and carry his horses with him to avoid suspicion, which conference the aforesaid Tieg overheard. And they after meeting twice or thrice, and Mc Gwyre staying in London two days, went to Dover, and there left, his horses, assuring that within one month they would return, praying their horses to be well looked unto, as the said Tiege did afterwards hear.
Who likewise affirmeth that the same year, about the spring time, there came out of Spain one Owen Mc Tieg Merigeh, who having been a notorious rebel in Ireland, and despairing of pardon fled over into Spain with O'Sulivan Beare, where being entertained into the King of Spain's service, he was made his prisoner.103 This Owen Mc Tiege came into London, and two or three times visited the said Florence in the Marshalsea, and kept continually with his men; and after he had stayed there for the space of a sennight or thereabouts, having placed a son of his (whom he had brought with him out of Spain) with Florence, by the means and procurement of Cornelius O'Rourke he obtained out of the Custom house a pass, and went for the Low Countries, being accompanied by the said Cornelius to Gravesend. The aforesaid Tiege's cause of knowledge was, that during the time of the said Owen's abode at London he kept him daily company, as the rest of his fellows did. And as concerning the said Owen's son, whom he left with Florence, about a quarter of a year after he died of the plague at the forenamed Goodchild's house.
The foresaid Tieg likewise affirmeth that expecting means and employment from Florence, he staid after the sending away of his men aforesaid, and half a year after Jaques, his brother's enlargement, but then finding Florence's word to be no payment, and his expected hopes failing him, he was fain to come back again, and prostrate his service in a poor habit, and pennyless, to his former kind maister Sir Thos. Beadle, whom he served for a whole year afterwards; and when voluntaries were going to serve in the Low Countries out of England, after the year's end, the said Tiege went into Flanders; but before his going, took leave of Florence, who was removed from the Marshalsea to the Tower; to whom he could not have access, because he was close prisoner. But hearing, by one of his men, that the said Teig was going away, sent by his man Dermond McFinn a script about the breadth of two or three fingers to him, to be delivered to Corronell Jaques in Brussels, written in characters, the contents were unknown unto the said Tiege; but after the delivery of the letter to Jacques, he examined the bearer, what countryman he was, and after he told it him, he asked whether he would live there as a soldier?
The said Tieg answering his intent was to serve in the wars, he told him he would be a means to enter him into the King's list, and should be in pay, which he performed. Then the said Tieg serving for four years together in Captain Driscoll's company, under the King's colours, forsook the place, and came back again to London, and found his old maister Florence in the Marshalsea; whom he visited, and told, for anything he could find, he was not the better used in the Low Countries for his sake; upon which the said Florence grew strange towards him; and he, finding his unkindness, supposed it might proceed out of a suspicion of him; and then he became servant to the Lord Courcy, who was then in London, and in suit with Florence; who hearing thereof, imagined he should be discovered in his plots, the Lord Courcy being his adversary; and spake in the presence of divers and namely of one Donogh McDonell McCarthy, that he was sorry that he had not better rewarded his old servant Teig Hurly; and said he would give him the office of sergeantship, or overseer of his lands of Cariggenassy. Upon which report, the said Donogh coming where the lord Courcey and the said Tieg his man, were, told the Lord Courcy in his ear that he ought not to trust him; for Florence meant to do him good in conferring that place upon him.
The cause why Donogh bore him, the said Tieg, malice was, one Vallentyne Browne, son to Sir Nicholas Browne, then being in England, following his suit for abatement of part of his Majesty's rents, the said Tiege used to come to him; and one day being in his chamber, the aforesaid Donogh, in great want, came to borrow some money of him; Tieg, knowing his intent, and the ill affection he bore the said Vallentyne, and the Lord Barry in Ireland, to whom he did some wrong, rounded Mr Browne in the ear, and warned him not to lend him any at all! The said Vallentine having a boy, Donogh McFynnyn Carthy, a near kinsman to the aforesaid Donogh McDonell, who overheard the said Tieg's warning, revealed the same to his cousin. In revenge whereof he thought to put the Lord Courcie in suspicion with him; but the Lord Courcie hearing of Florence's proffer told the said Tieg he should be preferred into a great Office by Florence; to which the said Tieg replied, 'My lord, there is an old proverb in the Spanish ‘Palabras y plumas el vento los lieven,’ as much to say, as 'The wind bloweth away words and feathers,' knowing that Florence would perform no more to him in that promise, than formerly he had done in divers others. Afterwards hearing the said Tieg resolved absolutely to serve the Lord Courcie, or the said Vallentine Browne, spake to him himself, entreating him not to do it; and to stay with him in London, which Tieg denied; and so came over with the Lord Courcie; after which service for a time, hearing that Vallentine Browne came over into Ireland, prostrated his service to the said Vallentine, where he served for the space of four years and a half. In which time having a scruple in his conscience of the grounds of his religion, perceiving it rather founded on policy than of the word of God, he was converted from papacy to the true service of God; wherein continuing, and desiring to match with one of the same belief, he married an English woman, without the knowledge, or advice of the said Vallentine Browne; whose purpose it was to have preferred him to a better match. Whereupon the said Vallentine being sorry, and displeased that he had so cast himself away on one that brought him not any means, and himself likewise having none, would give no countenance to the said Tieg; upon which dislike he went away to Carbry, and there lived with his brethren for two months; and upon his wife's friends entreaty, both by word of mouth and letters, to come to them, he went into England, and staid about a fortnight in Wiltshire.
After which time the said Tieg going into London to see Florence, hearing he was for doing to him many injuries, and especially for altering his religion, to which the said Tieg answered. 'For any cause of injury, I have assuredly done you none; but for my religion, I think, maister, if you were not so old in your error, you would be of my religion too, as well as I,' these and a great many of other speeches passing at that time, and this was in August last past, 1616. But frequenting the said Florence's house, and lying in one bed with one of his men, called Thomas O'Hanloane for the space of three weeks, for some two or three days in that time the said Tieg, as his former custom was, came to Florences chamber to visit him, and still found him and his men absent; which he wondered at; but conceived not the cause, until one day coining thither early, he found one John O'Voleghane, Cnogher O'Voleghane, and Tieg Mc Cormock, all three Desmond men born, and one of them brother to the Franciscan friar Tieg O'Voleghane, all being new comers out of Ireland. The said Tieg Hurly bade them welcome, and was inquisitive of news out of Ireland; and asked them when they came into London, to which they answered some two days since. That very night coming into his lodging, where the aforesaid Thomas and he did lie, (being at the Boar's Head, without Aldgate) the said Thomas came late to his lodging, about 11 of the clock at night; where Tieg Hurly asked him where he had been so late? and he answered, 'with his maister;' and after other discourse he made relation to him of some friends of his that were two or three days in town, and were bound for beyond sea.
'What friends of mine—said Tieg—that have been here so long and would not acquaint me with their being in town? What dare they not walk the streets! or are they friars? or men ashamed of any of their actions?'
'John Entlea is one of them'—quoth Thomas.
'Then'—quoth Tieg—'what a devil should John here?'
'He is here, and Tieg O'Voleghane, the Franciscan friar, with him!' said Thomas.
'O, is it so? I know, said Tieg, 'it was to keep them company. Florence was missing this two or three days out of his chamber!'
'It is true!' said Thomas, 'although I was not with them, they did all live that came over, dine at the Boar's Head, within Ludgate, and Florence with them there, and they think no man can better procure them a pass from the four Maisters of the Custom house, than yourself, in regard you are acquainted there!'
'I assure you there is nothing I can do for them, but I will do it; said Tieg; but yet believe me, it is hard for me to undergo such danger; and how may I effect it?'
'Nothing said Thomas, but instead of Tieg O'Voleghane, let your name serve for the Friar, and it will prejudice you nothing!'
'And then after many persuasions to that purpose, the said Tieg, Thomas, and John Entlea, went to the Custom house, where there was gotten one pass in the name of Tieg Hurly, and John Entlea.'
This Franciscan friar, the said Tieg saw in Ireland before this time, and knew him to have been collecting of monies within the counties of Corke and Kerry, under pretence of mending an abbey within the county of Kerry, called the Abbey of Ircelagh; under colour of which work, the said Tieg saw him going up and down the country, and levying of monies, having some masons working of a few stones, only to colour his intent, and blind the people with a seeming zeal of mending a work so charitable; and thereupon through the devotion of many well-minded men, he obtained a good purse of money, wherewith he has taken his journey into England, and from thence beyond seas.
After the receipt of the pass out of the Custom-house, they went to the friar's lodgings in Thames Street, as he takes it, being the sign of the Sugar-loaf, where he saw the friar with Donell and Cormock, Florence's two sons; the friar's brother, called John O'Voleghane and Cnoghor O'Voleghane his kinsman; with whom the said Tieg there broke his fast, and warned the friar to make as much haste as he could away; and being so far engaged for him hastened him still. And after that, the very self same day, the said Tieg, and John Entlea, went to Billingsgate to provide a little boat to go down to Gravesend; and the said Tieg procured the Boat; but the tide serving not till night; in the evening went the friar, Tieg Hurly and John Entlea into the boat; on landing at Gravesend they took a chamber. The next morning the said Tieg and John Entlea went to inquire what ships were going for the Low Countries; and hearing certainly that there were in the harbour two barks ready to go, the one bound for Dunkirk, the other for Flushing, the said Tieg and John came back to the friar, and told him of these two ships that were immediately departing, and wished him pack away. The friar answering, I will go in the ship to Dunkirk; but Tieg told him it was unlikely he should have allowance to go in that ship, having in his pass but to arrive at Damme in Flanders; and that it were convenient for him to go into Flushing; but the friar's inclination being towards the Spanish shore, still resolved to go into the ship of Dunkirk; and with that resolution they went to the water's side! A boat then being ready with passengers to go to the Dunkirk bark, the friar stept into it; the searcher standing on shore asked him whither he was going or where his passport was?
He answering, 'Here it is!' delivered him.
The same which the Searcher reading, 'This bark,' quoth he, 'goeth to Dunkirk, and your pass is to Damme in Flanders.'
With that they cried, 'come ashore — you shall not go there.'
Whereupon the Searcher grew very angry, and told that the State was much abused by such dealing; and presently carried him to a Justice of the Peace; and was there examined what the reason was that he intended to go, contrary to the effect inserted in his pass
He made answer that he was unacquainted either with Damme or Dunkirk, but his business being to the Low Countries, he desired to arrive there in any place, and that he was desirous not to lose his passage.
'You shall not then go into Dunkirk!' said the Justice of the Peace.
And with that cold comfort they parted, and came to their chamber; whereupon they consulted what was best to be done; and then the friar, more dismayedly than he had any cause given, bewraying his guiltiness by his outward changing of colour, began to suspect the Searcher would follow, and search what he had about him; which Tieg perceiving, advised him if he had anything that might endanger him, he should do well to hide it in the chamber; who told him he had his book, and two letters that were folded like wrapt sheets of paper, without sealing or superscription, which they put between the hanging and the wall; being formerly sewed up in John Entlea's doublet; which being done, the said Tieg went out upon the quay, where he met with the former Justice of the Peace, who demanded of him where his company was?
And he answered they were in their chamber taking a pipe of tobacco; for getting no leave to go, it behoved them not to walk on the quay.
One of the standers by said that there was another bark going for Flushing; whereupon the said Tieg came back, and told the friar thereof, advising him to look boldly, and to intreat the Justice to let him have his pass back again to London, if he would not let him go! upon which admonition he went out, and met the Justice, whom he in treated with a great deal of fear (his heart failing him to look aright on the Justice), whereupon he looking on him said, 'I know not what to think of you! but I have nothing to say to you!'
After which words he took boat, and went to the ship. And this about middle of August, 1616.
About a sennight before the departure of the friar, one John Meogh, being son to Meogh the pirate, was by him employed into the Low Countries to Capt. Cnoghor O'Driscoll; upon whose coming to him the said Captain went into Spain.
And ever sithence the said Florence doth run in the score; having his three sons with him in England, not allowing them breeding, learning or education, ready upon the receipt of means, to be gone, having in his company, as his servant, one Donogh-ne-buille, a man of his own country of Carbry, and a very good linguist; also one Donogh Mc Tieg Duffe is gone into Spain, about a year and a half since from him, and is a Carbry man; and also Cormock Mc Calloghane, being a Desmond man, served him for a quarter of a year, and was by him then employed into the Low Countries.
All these before mentioned allegations, the said Tieg hath sworn by the holy evangelist to be true, and in witness thereof hath hereunto set his hand, the day and year first above mentioned.
TEAG HURLY.A note of all Florence Mc Cartie's men, and employed by him
Alive O'Falvy
Tieg Mc Cormock Carty, a Desmond man.
Cormock Mc Calloghane, a Desmond man.
Donogh-ne-buily, a Carbryman.
Thomas O'Hanloane, of Meath.
John Meogh, of Kinsale.