Right Honourable I understand by late advertisement from my agent there Edmund Hussey, that my petition (preferred to His Majestie by your Honor, at the request of my Cousin germain Thos. Merry) hath bin referred by His Highness to the Committees for Ireland, reade before them, and considered off, and that their Honors gave orders to refer the consideration of that my honest request (more important a thousand times for His Majestie's general goode in countenancing the plantations ancientlie settled, than for my particular profit) to the Lords Justices, and Council of this kingdom and that a letter being drawn to that purpose from the Lords Committees was stopt by my Lorde Treasurer, which moveth me to conceive that my ancient adversary (Florence Mac Carty) doeth revive his old cunning sleights, by his misinformacions to gain him som frends about Court; But such ones they must be (in my opinion) that being not truelie informed of the disloyaltie, ambition and danger of that man, will give ear unto his own fictions, commiserat his restraint, (though deserved highly,) and credit the large promises he makes; which here his children and frends spare not to proclaim (to the no small terror of my English plantation,) viz that they will give to one frend or other half my lands or more to recover all from me. I am, in playne terms, at full defiance with them. If I have your Honor of my side to assiste me in my right, derived from the Crown in plantation lands, enjoyed by my Grandfather, & & father successivelie, being English, and descended to me. My intelligence from my cousin Merry and agent, doeth ensure me of your Honourable Lordship's noble favors, and though unacquainted I embouldened myself thus to troble your Lordship (for which I desyre pardon) and withal humblie entreat your Lordship to persist in furthering my occasions at this present, which you shall find to agree with His Majestie's profit, honor and safetie of this kingdom of Ireland ; and my adversary's aimes to tend to the contrary absolutely, however cloked and cullered.
And further I bind myself hereby to perform fairly whatsoever my said agent shall promise for me: and from time to time (by my thankfulnesse) to endeavour to merit your Honor's good opinion of me that am resolved to approve myself alwaies
Your Lordship's most humble & devoted Servant
VAL: BROWNE.
Ross