I cannot but acknowledge myself much bound to your Lordship that vouchsafed, before the cause was known, to deal so effectually with Mr. Secretary Nanton for me, which I will rest ever ready to deserve with my best service; and because Mr. Secretary was then put in hope to have matter against me I suspended ever since to trouble your Lordship until I understood from thence what was pretended against me, which I am moved (having in the beginning found your Lordship my best friend) to acquaint you withal, who (I hope) will be as willing to friend me in the end, when (now it is known that there is no matter against me) your Lordship may best prevail for me. About 3 years past a man of Mr. Brownes (that holds the best part of my lands) being here, met a friar and a householder or farmer of that country, and when he told them that he was with me, they wished that they had also seen me; which Mr. Browne's man told me, who (suspecting that Mr. Browne employed that friar to make some matter against me) assured his man that if any friar or priest came to me I would bring him in question: about a fortnight after, that man told me that they were gone out of this land; whereof Mr. Browne (imagining that I had spoken to them) got an information made, and endeavoured to get some of the Council there to prefer it hither; which when he could not, he got it sent to one here that kept it about a year, until Mr. Secretary Nanton (unto whom myself and my cause was unknown) was persuaded to commit me thereupon; of this information (although I had intelligence from thence about two years past) I took no care, knowing that I who saw not, nor spake not to any of them, could not be touched withal; and judging that I should not be committed again upon an information of mine adversary that holds my lands, after my being by his Majesty, and the Council, upon the Lord Deputy of Ireland's certificate, and upon bonds of the Earls of Thomond and Clanriccaird, the Viscount of Downeliffes, the Lord of Delvin, Sir Daniel Obryen, Sir Patrick Barnewell and divers others, confined about this city, where I have lived in great want, being then abridged of 3 pounds a week for diet, and 20 shillings a week for clothes, that His Majesty allowed me; and by divers of that country dispossessed of my lands, in my long and close restraint, whereof they took advantage; and being, because I had no means, advised to sue for some of my lands I petitioned to the Lords, who referred it to the Earl of Thomond, the Lord Carewe, and Baron Denham, that certified my right to above 500 pounds land a year, purchased by my father, whereof I could have no benefit, being within a few days after committed hither, where I have remained above seven, months without means to maintain me and my children, when by my carriage and trial these 5 years past, upon those sureties I expected more liberty after 18 years endurance without being ever called to answer or charged for anything. The information whereupon I was now committed, if it were of any probability or substance, had neither been rejected by any of the Council there, nor kept still here from the King and Council's knowledge; and the said friar that is well known to Mr. Brown, who may have him if he will, being there in the country, and the other that was with him committed long since, and I contented to lose both liberty and favour if any can justly say that I saw or spake to any of them, or wrote to or by any of them, or saw or spake to any friar or priest from thence since my commitment, or kept or maintained ever any while I was there before; whereof when Mr. Secretary (that at my commitment was promised matter against me) finds nothing, he now alleges reasons to restrain me at the request of another, who is desirous to have in this prison my life that he hath already worn in prisons. It should seem that Mr. Secretary Nanton of himself was indifferently inclined to discharge me, for to a friend, that at the intreaty of Sir Thomas Roper dealt with him, he answered, that if the Lord Chancellor that joined to commit me, would join with him he would be contented to enlarge me; now to my petition he says that for reasons to him known he may not in his duty discharge me! but will further me to obtain the means that I had at His Majesties charges; And because I see no reason why His Majesty should be put to unnecessary charges for me and my children, and I by my restraint, hindered of those means of mine own that is (as aforesaid) certified for me, and myself without any cause kept here, to shorten my days, after the trial that hath been had of me these 5 years past upon those sureties, bonds which the clerk of the Council keeps; My humble request is that it will please your honorable Lordship to be a mean that I may be suffered to enjoy that little liberty that His Majesty and the Council granted me upon those sureties, if there be no matter against me, and to deal effectually with Sir Robert Nanton, for by the Lord Chancellor's answer to a petition of mine, I gather that all stands in Sir Robert, with whom I doubt not but your Lordship will prevail, your credit being greater with all men than his that works Sir Robert to restrain me. And your Lordship shall find that I will thankfully by my service deserve your favour, which I leave to your Lordships honorable consideration, resting ever
Your Lordships most humble
and faithful to be commanded