Electronic edition compiled by Beatrix Färber and Benjamin Hazard
Introduction and bibliography by Benjamin Hazard
2. Second draft, corrected.
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This text has two parts. The first, Briefe relation of Ireland, and the diversity of Irish in the same was originally written in Spanish by Philip O'Sullivan Beare in the early seventeenth century. The second part, Parish Priests in Ireland and Gentlemen gone abroad, is an independent source addressed to the English authorities. Both sources identify key religious and political figures for the period, preserved in a manuscript which belonged to the Anglican archbishop of Armagh, James Ussher (1581–1656).
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The present text covers pages 362–373; and an Introduction exclusively written for CELT by Dr Benjamin Hazard covers pages i–xiii.
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Created: First part by Philip O'Sullivan Beare; second part by an English government agent. Date range: first part 1618–1619; second part c.1613–24.
Beatrix Färber (ed.)
Beatrix Färber (ed.)
Beatrix Färber (ed.)
Benjamin Hazard (ed.)
Beatrix Färber (ed.)
Beatrix Färber (ed.)
Beatrix Färber (ed.)
(2010-07-01) (data capture)
The following documents were written in the opening quarter of the seventeenth century. The contents and provenance tell us much about political, religious and cultural interaction in early-modern Ireland. The first, Briefe relation of Irland and diversity of Irish in the same, is a contemporary English translation of an intercepted document drafted in Castilian. James Ussher, Protestant archbishop of Armagh, assigned it to Philip O'Sullivan Beare. This point was corroborated by Sir James Ware. Ussher once referred to O'Sullivan Beare as ‘the most egregious liar as any that this day breatheth in Christendom.’ In his Decas Patritiana, a verse life of St Patrick published at Madrid in 1629, O'Sullivan Beare called his reply to Ussher's censure Archicoringeromastix: A Whip for the Arch-Horned One.
O'Sullivan Beare regularly enumerated items in his written work. In the 1620s, he compiled lists of Irishmen and women living abroad; the Irish saints; Irish ecclesiastics and lawyers; a catalogue of birds animals, plants and minerals; and writers ancient and modern.
James I's ambassadors and agents at the court of Philip III paid close attention to Irish activity. This composition illustrates the tensions which existed between the different Irish factions in Spain and its dominions. The second text, Priests of Ireland and Gentlemen gone abroad, is a composite source. It consists of a set of lists compiled for the English authorities in the 1610s and early 1620s. Both texts are preserved in a manuscript which belonged to Ussher, now kept at Trinity College Library, Dublin. James Ussher was Protestant bishop of Meath before his appointment to Armagh. The dates for the second set of lists suggest that they came to Ussher from his immediate predecessor, Christopher Hampton, who was primate of the state church in Ireland from 1613 to 1625. Ussher also acquired the text of the papal commission by which Paul V appointed David Rothe Catholic vice-primate in 1609.
The Briefe relation, termed the Breviate in the Manuscript Catalogue by Abbott and Gwynn, was originally compiled for the benefit of the Council of State in Madrid. It reflects the consistent content of reports presented at the Spanish court by Gaelic exiles from the early 1600s onwards. This was a time when hopes of a military assault on Ireland were hindered by the Spanish administration's preference for peace with England. As the Breviate explains, Gaelic exiles traced their origins to the Spanish king Milesius. His three sons are said to have conquered Ireland about the time of Alexander the Great.
Born on Dursey Island, Co. Cork, and sent to Spain as a child, Philip O'Sullivan Beare was educated at Santiago de Compostela, trained as a soldier and served in the Spanish fleet. The opening description of Ireland's past and the terms of the Laudabiliter in the Breviate neatly summarize O'Sullivan Beare's Compendium of the Catholic History of Ireland, published at Lisbon in 1621. Both sources attest the strength of ‘affection and love to the Spanish nation’ felt by Gaelic families, defining the ‘Ancient Irish’, ‘Myxt Irish’, and ‘English Irish’ found in Spanish territories.
Two names in the Breviate and their accompanying descriptions show that it was completed between July 1618 and July 1619. On 16 July 1618, following a duel with Philip O'Sullivan Beare, John Bathe of Drumcondra killed Donal O'Sullivan Bearre. His son Dermot, a knight of Santiago, succeeded him as earl of Bearhaven. Donal O'Sullivan Bearre is not included in the Breviate, whereas his surviving son and heir Dermot is described as ‘Earle of Bearhaven, in Madride.’ Raymond de Burgo died the following summer. Named here
The names of the ‘Auncyent Irish Ecclesiasticall’ open with ‘Owen M'Mahon’, i.e. Dr Eóghan Mac Mathghamhna, aliter Eugene Matthews, Catholic archbishop of Dublin. Related by birth to the Ulster earls, he was educated at Salamanca. After his consecration, Mac Mathghamhna made his way from Leuven to his diocese. This corresponds to the Breviate which states that he was in Ireland. Mac Mathghamhna died in 1623.
The document then declares that ‘Don Florence Conrio’, i.e. Flaithrí Ó Maoil Chonaire, was ‘entertayned by his Majestie in the states of Flaunders’. He had returned to Leuven in the Spring of 1618, indicating that the Breviate was written after his departure. The name of Donatus Mooney occurs next. He was elected minister provincial of the Irish Franciscans by the chapter held at Waterford in 1615. In the closing months 1617 and the early part of 1618, Mooney wrote a history of the Franciscan province of Ireland. His name is mentioned here in conjunction with that of Francis Colman, ‘who hath bene provinciall of the order of St Frauncis in Ireland.’ Colman held office for the usual three-year term, from 1609 until 1612.
Rocque de la Cruz OP, i.e. Roche MacGeoghegan, was a native of the diocese of Meath related to the O'Neills. Minister provincial of the Irish Dominicans, MacGeoghegan later became Catholic bishop of Kildare. His confrères Bernard O'Brien and Vincent Hogan, ‘of this order’, were the priors of St
Of the ‘Auncyent Irish Seculars in his Majesties dominions’, ‘John O'Neile, Earle of Tironne’ had succeeded to the title after his father's death at Rome in 1616. Albert Hugh O'Donnell, named ‘Earl of Tyrconnell, Page to the Infanta in Flaunders’, arrived at Leuven with his father Rury in 1607. ‘Don Eugenis O Neile, Serjeant Major’, i.e. Eoghan Ruadh O'Neill, accompanied his cousin Henry to Madrid in 1609. ‘Don Artus O Neile, Capten’ was Eoghan Ruadh's brother. ‘Don Thadie O Sulivan, Capten’ may refer to the Captain Tadeo Osullevan in Spanish sources for 1618. ‘Samuel M'Donnell’ is almost certainly Somhairle Mac Domhnaill, the young earl of Tyrone's cousin, who arrived in the Low Countries in 1615. Promoted to the rank of captain, he fought in the battle for Prague and returned to the Army of Flanders after Spain's renewal of war with the United Dutch Provinces in 1621. At Oostende and Leuven, he commissioned Irish scribes to copy Gaelic manuscripts for him. In 1621, ‘Owen O'Hanlon’, Eugenio Hanlon, received a commission as captain which fell vacant on the death of Rury O'Doherty. As he shared the same name as his father, he was also known as Owen Ogy.
It is difficult to say who is meant by ‘Robert Davies’ in the Breviate, particularly when placed among the names of Gaelic exiles. It may refer to Captain Robert Daniell of Waterford
‘Cormock O Neile’, aliter Conacio O'Neill, was nephew of Hugh, earl of Tyrone, who had escaped capture in Ireland and took refuge at St Anthony's College, Leuven, after the execution of his brother in London. At the request of the Archduke Albert, Philip III granted Conacio an allowance for his studies in September 1616. Some confusion arises in the case of ‘Owen Carty’. There are several individual references to the name in the first half of the seventeenth century: at Lisbon and Valladolid in the early 1600s; and in the infantry company of Conor O'Driscoll. In each case, these are the names of principal individuals as the Breviate states at this point: ‘cum multis aliis, quos nunc prescribere longum.’
Among the ‘Mixt Irish ecclesiasticall’, Fr Robert Nugent SJ had been based in the Low Countries, where he helped to place Irish students. Nugent succeeded Christopher Holywood as superior of the Jesuit mission to Ireland and was a skilled harpist. Of the ‘Mixt seculars’, Balthazar Bourke, son and heir of the McWilliam Bourke, was made a knight of Santiago in 1607. Baptized Walter, his name was adapted to overcome pronunciation difficulties for the Spanish. William Burke was one of five brothers who left Ireland to enrol in Spanish service in the late 1580s.
Without specific accompanying information, however, caution must be exercised with some of these names. This is especially in the case of families who used the same Christian names from one generation to the next.
The names of ‘English-Irished, eclesiasticall’ begin with Peter Lombard, ‘archbishop of Armagh and Primate in Rome’. Lombard was born at Waterford and excelled at the University of Leuven. He died at Rome in 1625. He and Thomas Walsh, ‘of the habite of St John of Jerusalem in Ireland’, were first cousins of Luke Wadding. Thomas Walsh was also related to the Whites of Clonmel. In a separate source, Philip O'Sullivan Beare states that Walsh ‘preached the faith in Ireland’ before becoming Catholic archbishop of Cashel and Emly in 1626.
Luke Wadding was theologian to the Spanish embassy which Philip III sent to Rome in 1618. Nevertheless, the description of Wadding as ‘Vice Secretary to the Governor of St. Francis in Rome’ appears not to match to the 1618–19 chronology.
‘Richard Convoy’ refers to Richard Conway of the Society of Jesus who was born at New Ross in the early 1570s. After leaving Ireland, he was educated at Monterrey and the Irish college in Salamanca, where he frequently served as vice-rector before becoming prefect of all the Irish colleges in the Iberian Peninsula. He then served as rector of the Irish college at Santiago until 1618 and died eight years later. Conway influenced Philip O'Sullivan Beare's outlook. Complete extracts of his work are copied into those of O'Sullivan Beare who frequently cited Conway's help. Christopher Holywood of Artane Castle, Co. Dublin, mentioned above, published three works at Antwerp in 1604, the second edition of which appeared in 1619. He lived in Ireland where he governed the Jesuit mission for twenty-three years. Holywood died on 4 September 1626.
Thomas White SJ of Clonmel, Co. Tipperary, is described as ‘Rector of the Irish Seminarie in Salamanca’. In 1592, he was granted a bequest by Philip II to establish the college and was subsequently placed in charge of the Irish college at Santiago before his second period as rector at Salamanca began in 1617.
Of the ‘Englished-Irish Seculars’ named next, Captain James Gearnon commanded an Irish infantry company at Oostende in 1616 when 112 soldiers under his command collected 850 escudos for the Irish Franciscans at Leuven. Gearnon may have been related to Anthony Gearnon, the Franciscan army chaplain and author of Parrthas an Anma. Born in 1585, Thomas Preston, son of the Viscount Gormanston, was married to a Flemish noblewoman named Margaret de Namur. He received a commission as a captain in the Army of Flanders in 1605 and rose to the rank of maestre de campo. The military career of Walter de la Hoyde lasted forty years, the first four with the Catholic confederates during the Nine Years Wars in Ireland, and the others as the captain of an Irish infantry company in the Spanish Army of Flanders. In 1621, Captain George de la Hoyde received a commission to raise a company of 200 Irish infantry. William Walsh was from Galway. He was awarded a commission in 1605 after recruiting sixty soldiers in Ireland at his own expense. Significantly, the majority of levies among Irish exiles that year were conducted by Old English captains. Walsh was wounded in 1616 while in the service of Colonel John O'Neill.
In 1608, one Nicholas Wise served with Captain Thomas Stanihurst's infantry company. Six years later, Ó Maoil Chonaire proposed that Nicholas Wise be appointed Irish consul in Andalusia.
Two members of the clergy who defy the set definitions are David Kearney, Catholic archbishop of Cashel since 1603, and the Jesuit Fr James Archer. The Breviate explains that Kearney, despite ‘descending by righte lyne from the auncient Irish [...] is of an Englished condicion’. Correspondence for the period clearly identifies him as a political ally of Peter Lombard and David Rothe. This the Breviate attributes to Kearney's training as a canon lawyer and the guidance he received from the Society of Jesus. He was retained at court in Madrid on 1,000 ducados per annum from 1619 until his death five years later. During this time, he sat on the Junta of six advisers who debated over negotiations for the Spanish Match. Conversely, James Archer of Kilkenny, ‘though alltogether Englished’, allied himself to the King of Spain and Hugh O'Neill during the Nine Years War. Born in 1549, James Archer had served as rector at the Salamanca Irish college. According to Edmund Hogan SJ, Archer was sixty-eight years of age in 1617, the oldest Irish Jesuit at the time. His name is not, however, in the catalogue of Irish Jesuits of 1626, so he must have died between 1617 and 1626.
Amongst Irish military officers, the Old English Captain Walter de la Hoyde had fought on the side of ‘the auncyent Irish in the last warres’; while the earl of Thomond, ‘being an auncient Irish did helpe the English’. The misspelling of his name as Whyte at the start of the manuscript, combined with James Ussher's ascription of the original source to Philip O'Sullivan Beare in Madrid, shows that this was a translated copy. Furthermore, the name of Fr Richard Caron OP of Co. Meath, known in Spain as Fray Ricardo de la Peņa, appeared in the earliest Spanish collation now kept at the Real Academia de Historia.
Although informed by different sources, comparing their contents suggests that the Breviate and Priests of Ireland and Gentlemen gone abroad were submitted together for inclusion in Ussher's manuscript. Towards the end of the Breviate, John Bathe is amongst the names of ‘English-Irished seculars.’ In Priests of Ireland and Gentlemen gone abroad, John Bathe of Drumcondra Castle, Co. Dublin, is referred to as aforementioned. John Bathe was consulted as an adviser at court and accompanied Henry O'Neill to Madrid in 1609. Before departing for Leuven nine years later, Ó Maoil Chonaire advised Philip III against appointing John Bathe as Irish representative in Madrid, alleging that he was a double agent.
In contrast to the Breviate, which clearly favours Spain and the papacy, the second set of lists was addressed to government officials at Whitehall and Dublin Castle. These lists were compiled from 1613 until 1624. They reveal the reliance of the Catholic clergy upon ties of kinship when community life for the religious was prohibited by law. Late sixteenth-century efforts to suppress the religious orders made it impossible to instruct aspirant Catholic clergy in Ireland, which led to the founding of colleges abroad. With the accession of Charles I, a period of partial toleration began. As was the case in England during the same period, use of the prefix 'Sir' denotes a priest rather than a knight.
David Rothe ‘bishop of Ossory [who] keepeth for the most parte with his brother Edward’, was born at Kilkenny and served as vice-primate in Ireland on behalf of Peter Lombard. Rothe was appointed Catholic bishop of Ossory in 1618. His Analecta Sacra, dedicated to the Catholic princes of Europe, was published at Köln. In his letters Rothe used the alias Nicholas Laffan. A synod of the ecclesiastical province of Dublin was convened at Kilkenny in 1614 and was probably held at the house of his brother Edward Rothe. The ‘Davy Roche [...] sente from Rome, since Tyrone's abode there [...] and hath beene in the North since his arrivall, but is nowe for the most parte in Munster’ refers to David Rothe's term as vice-primate of Armagh. The Roche family were cousins to the Rothes, which may explain the confusion surrounding the spelling of his name here. David Rothe died in 1650.
‘Bryan O Carne a jesuite, and a preacher’ was a brother of David, the Catholic archbishop of Cashel, referred to above, who was in Ireland until 1619. Here it is said he ‘keepeth for the most part at the upper court with Lucas Shee esq.’ ‘Sir Lucas Archer priest’ refers to the Cistercian vicar general in Ireland who was also abbot of Holy Cross, Co. Tipperary. John Coppinger was a graduate of Leuven. In 1608, he published Mnemosymum or memorial to the afflicted Catholickes in Ireland and Theatre of the Catholick and Protestant Religion twelve years later. In the State Papers, ‘Jean Copengere’, a priest from Waterford, is mentioned as one of the first students of the Irish College, Bordeaux. The ‘Henry Fitz Symons’ recorded in Ussher's manuscript refers to the Jesuit military chaplain who worked with soldiers from Ireland and England based in Flanders from the late 1580s onwards. In 1614 and 1615 he published two works at Douai and on 8 November 1620 he was at the battle for Prague. In the same vein as Rothe's Analecta Sacra and Coppinger's Mnemosymum, Fitzsimon's writings included Irish Catholic martyrologies.
‘Christopher Cusack, priest’ was from Meath. In 1594 he founded St. Patrick's seminary at Douai for the diocesan clergy. He died in office as president of the college thirty years later. In Ussher's manuscript, Laurence Sedgrave is recorded for his role as prefect at Douai. Sedgrave was a cousin of Christopher Cusack and his successor at the college. In 1624–5, his name was mentioned as being eligible for a bishopric in Ireland. ‘A Note of Divers younge Gentlemen, pentioners Soulders, and schollers gone beyond the seas’ mentions one ‘Steven White’. This is most likely the Stephen White who was the third scholar named in the foundation charter of Trinity College Dublin. He attended the Irish college at Salamanca established by his brother, Thomas. He researched and taught at Biburg, Ingolstadt, Kassel, Ratisbon, Schaffhausen and Dillingen where he held the chair of theology. He co-operated with the Irish Franciscans at Leuven in their work on the Lives of Irish Saints, helped Heribert Rosweide SJ and the Bollandists in their research and supplied manuscripts from Swiss and German libraries to the Protestant primate James Ussher. About the year 1613, Stephen White composed his Apologia pro Hibernia, refuting the errors of Cambrensis on the ecclesiastical history of Ireland before the Norman period. White was known amongst his peers as ‘Polyhistor’ and David Rothe described him as the ‘Wonder of Germany.’ The list of soldiers from Desmond who made their way to Spain and Flanders dates from 1602.
The names and descriptions reveal inconsistencies in the second set of lists compared with independent sources for years of appointment, service and travel. This implies that the compiler kept adding details over a long period. Two examples suffice, ‘Owen Groome Magrath [and] Morris Ultagh’, both from Ulster. They occur consecutively among the ‘divers priestes and fryers’ recorded around Westmeath. Owen Groome Magrath is described as guardian of ‘the fryers of Multyfernam where he liveth.’ He served as guardian at the abbey for five years and was suceeded by Maurice Ultagh O'Donleavy. During Magrath's guardianship the abbey was raided in 1613. According to Donatus Mooney's history, Magrath was still living in 1616.
Ussher's list states that Ultagh ‘was beyond the Seas and in Tyrone's companie and came lately from thence and lives neaer for most part at Multyfarnan.’ Maurice Ultagh O'Donleavy was one of the outstanding Franciscans in Ireland in the first half of the seventeenth century. He returned to Ireland in the early 1610s and became guardian of Multyfarnham in 1615. Christopher Nugent, ‘the principall countenance of the said fryers’, provided patronage and protection to the Franciscans. He died in 1626 and was buried at Multyfarnham Abbey. The following decade, Ultagh contributed one of the attestations in favour of the Annals of the Four Masters and died three years later in 1639.
The penultimate name recorded, ‘William Bathe, Jesuite’, refers to John Bathe's brother. Trained as a musicologist and linguist, William was educated at Oxford. In 1611 he published his Janua Linguarum, or Gate of Tongues, at Salamanca. This book provided a method for acquiring a working knowledge of Latin in a short time and was translated into nine languages within twenty years. William Bathe died in Madrid at 48 years of age on 17 June 1614.
A volume of Irish Franciscan manuscripts at University College Dublin preserves another seventeenth-century copy of the Breviate and extracts of O'Sullivan Beare's Zoilomastix, showing the popularity of his works among the exiled community. The transcripts from Trinity College Dublin which James Hardiman contributed to The Complete Catholic Directory in 1841 point to the development of nineteenth-century Irish nationalism.
In the kingdom of Ireland, there be three kinde of Irish, to wit—auncient Irish, English Irish and mixt Irish.
The aunciente Irish descend from the Spaniards whoe, above 1000 yeares agoe got that kingdome from the Graecians, and governed it with just and holie lawes, being holpen thereon by the doctrine and holynes of many holy miraculous and learned men of there owne, until the comeing of the Danes, the which by overthrowing and destroying churches and Universityes in that island, broughte in much barbaritie, and evill customes, with tyranny, after which there followed, even in the Irish themselves sinnes and offences against God, civil wars, and domesticall hatred, murthers, &c.
Notable was the wickednesse of Dermitius king of Leynster, one of the five kynges of Ireland, who took away by force the wife of O'Roarke, another king of the same island, for which the said Dermitius being pursued by O'Roarke, was fayne to fly the land, and to crave aide of Henry the second King of Englande, whoe at this time was in France, and gave free libertye to all his subjectes, that voluntarilie would, to helpe Dermetius to recover his lost kingdome, whereupon, with ayde of certaine of the king of Englands subjectes, he regained his owne, and laied hold on other men's lands besides.
Henry the second seeing the Irish divided amongst themselves by a false relation (as they say) to Pope Adrian the fourth, an Englishman; obtained of his holynes lycense to conquer the land, and to be collector of the church rentes, which the see Apostolicke had in Ireland, with the title of Lord of Ireland: But after the kings of Englande forsaking the true fayth have by their own proper authoritie intitled themselves Kings of Ireland.
These Englysh which at first passed over into Ireland with Dermitius, and others alsothat came after are divided into two sortes.
The chief nobility and gentlemen married with the daughters of the ancyent Irish, and so have their discentes down after them in such sort, that those whoe doe now inherite have equallie as much of the Irish bloud as of the Englishe, and in their language habite and custome doe conforme themselves for the most part with the Irish, and these are they whom I call mixt Irish. Such are the earles of Kildare, Desmond, Clenrickard, Ormonde, Viscount Barry, Roche, &c.
The Englishe that did not marry with the auncyent Irish, not took hold either of their customes, manners or language, but kept their former English stille, these are called English-Irished, and are all for the most part marchants, men of trade in all the cities and townes of Ireland.
There are also some knightes and gentlemen, which live in the county of East Meath and about Dublin and in the counties that the Irish call the pale.
These severall kindes of Irish agree all in one thing, to wit, in being true Catholickes, and children of the church of Rome; yet doe they differ in their manner of living, natural inclinations and desires to have princes and lawes over them, every one desireing his naturall inclination, and imitating his predecessors. And therefore, the auncient Irish, as these that are descended from the Spanyards, desire alwayes to be governed by the kings of Spayne and their successors, and beare greate affection and love to the Spanish nation. Contrarywise greate hate and enmity to their enemyes, and in sharpnes of wit and valour in warr are altogether like unto the Spaniard.
The Englished-Irish follow the inclination of the English, and affect the laws, manners and government, which they had first from them; and if the king of England would grant them libertee of conscience, or permitt to keepe in their houses priestes to say Masse privately and minister the holy sacraments, they would be right glad that there should be noe change of lawes at all in Ireland, nor of government of King, and amongst these sortes (unlesse there be some od ecclesiasticall men to whom the pope hath assigned some benefice or church rent) there is none that careth much whether there be ever made restitution of church livings or not, or whether the church obtain her publick government; nay many of them have no other landes nor liveinge, but such as were taken from the church when the kings of Englande withdrew themselves from her obedience.
The mixt Irish as their bloud is mingled with the English and Irish, so their inclynations and manners of life doe inclyne generally: for notwithstanding what most of them and the noblest and best qualified, doe follow the inclinations of the auncyent Irish yet doe other follow that of the English.
These three sortes of Irish have their abovesaid inclynations soe deepely rooted in them, that in what state soever they live, they keepe them still; which is true not only in seculars, as Knightes, souldiers, and others, but allso in others as schollers, priestes, yea and religous men; yet as man hath free will by which he may forsake his owne inclynation, and follow the contrary, soe wee have seene sometymes, that an English-Irished hath followed or imitated the auncyent Irish, and auncient Irish the English, as it fell out with Capt. Whyte whoe being an Englished-Irish fought against the Englishe for the King of Spayne, and the Earle of Thomonde being an auncient Irish did helpe the English.
The difference of naturall inclinations and love did plainely appeare in the last warres which the Irish, holpen by this Catholicke Majesty made against the Englishe, for the auncyent Irish, and allso the most and noblest of the mixt Irish held for the King of Spayne, and allmost all the Englyshed-Irish held with the King of England, yet after that peace was confirmed betwixt Spayne and Englande great persecution was used against all three sortes of Irish without exception, whereby the Englished-Irish now perceive how farre they were overseene in helping the English and resisting the auncyent Irish and mixt, and now at this present they repent it very much, and are very desirous to get occasion to
And to the end that the Lords of the Councell and Officers of his majestie may know of what Irish they make use of in the King's occasions, wee will lay down a table of the names and estates of such as have been bred here and speake the Spanysh tongue and serve his Majestie in severall places of his dominions.
Owen M'Mahon archbishop of Dublin which is the Court of Ireland, who was bred in Salamanca by his Majestie's appointment and now in Ireland.
Don Florence Conrio, arch. of Twomond in Ireland, entertayned by his Majestie in the states of Flaunders.
F. Fraunces Collman who hath beene provinciall of the order of St. Frauncis in Ireland.
F. Donnough O'Moonie provinciall that now is of the same order in Ireland.
The presented fryer Ross, Vicar-Generall of St. Dominick's order.
Vincent Ogane of this order.
Don de la Crux of this order in Lisborne.
Bernardus O Brien of the same order.
Hugh Cawill of St. Fraunces in Lovayne.
John Baptista of the Societie Rector in Lisborne.
Cornelius de la Roch of the same Societie.
William Macrath of the Societie Reader in the Seminary of Lisborne.
Cornelius de Schole Benedictine now going for Ireland.
Don John O'Neile, Earle of Tironne, Corronell of the Irish in Flaunders.
Don Hugh O'Donnell, Earl of Tyrconnell, Page to the Infanta in Flaunders.
Don Dermitius O'Sulivan, Earle of Bearhaven, in Madride.
Don Eugenius O Neile, Serjant Major.
Don Artus O Neile, Capten.
Don Thadie O Sulivan, Capten.
Cormock O'Donnell.
Samuel M'Donnell.
Owen O'Hanlon.
Robert Davies.
Cormock O Neile.
Owen Carty.
Morish O'Mahone, cum multis aliis, quos nunc prescribere longum.
Father Francis Nugent, of St. Dominick's order in Salamanca.
F. Robert Nugent, of the Societie, in Ireland.
F. Nicholas Nugent, his brother, of the Societie, Prisoner in Dublin for the Catholicke faith.
Don Redmond Bourke, Baron of Leytrime.
Don Balthazar Bourke Page of the Chamber, William Bourke—Murish Fitzgerald—Edward Fitzgerald—Thomas Fitzgerald—Gerald M'Murish, &c.
Peter Lombard, archbishop of Armagh and Primate in Rome.
Thomas Walsh of the habite of St. John in Ireland.
Paul Ragett, Vicar General of the order of St. Bernard in Ireland.
William of the Holy Ghost, Dominican in Madride.
Luke Waden, Vice Secretary to the Governor of St. Francis in Rome.
Thomas White of the Societie, Rector of the Irish Seminarie in Salamanca.
Richard Convoy of the same order, Rector of the Irish in St. James.
Christopher Hollywood, Superior of the Societie of Jesus in Ireland, who is a pure Englished, and allmost all those of this order, yea the very auncyent Irish that enter into the same order become allmost all Englished, conforming themselves to their superior, not only in their rules of Religion, but alsoe in their rules of policie, and government, and manner of life, procuring to conforme themselves to the tymes, and to winne the wills of the mighty.
Nicholas Wise—Capten Thomas Preston—James Gernon—Walter de la Hoyde who served the auncyent Irish in the last warres—George de la Hoyde—William Walsh—Capten Bathe—Thomas Stanyhurst—John Bathe, &c.
Noe where can we find place amongst the above names for Don David Carney, archbishopp of Cashell—nor for Fa. Archer of the Societie: for the archbishopp being intertayned by His Majestie with allowance of a 1000 Crowns Yearly, and descending by righte lyne from the auncient Irish, notwithstanding having somewhat of the English bloud, and not being a divine, but a canonist, and guided by the fathers of the Societie, his kinsman, is of an Englished condicion. On the contrary side Father Archer though alltogether Englished; yet is he of the inclynation and condicion of the auncyent Irish, and much affected to the Spaniards and their King, and their manner of living, more then to the auncyent Irish whom he followed and aided in the last warres.
These are those that are known here (i. e. in Spayne,) of the three sortes. Notwithstanding there be in Ireland many more, both lord knights captayns and souldiers, and other several persons of different qualitie and state.
Now if you aske me of what sorte there are most in number, greatest in power and dignity, I aunswere that the auncient are most in numbers for they have many lords of title and knights amongst them, and withall the vassalls of the mixt and Englished lords and knights for the moste part are auncient Irish. Next unto these the mixt are most in number.
For power and strength of money the Englished passe, because for the most part either they or their auncestors have bene or are officers and dealers in the Court. Neither doe they use such liberality and hospitality as the auncient Irish and mixt doe use, frankly and gratis to all
The auncient and mixt Irish are not only great soldiers but allso warriors; and the Englished are more inclyned to other imployments than to warre: As for their quality or nobility, the question is easily resolved, considering the originall of every sorte by itselfe; for all the titularyes and knightes of the auncient Irish doe descende from the Kings of Spayne and Ireland, and are of auncient bloud royall of that kingdome, derived from Iberus, Eremon, Evergin and Lucio, foure sons of King Milesius of Spayne which conquered that kingdome some 2900 years agoe, taking it from the Graecians, who had killed a Spanish prince whoe by chance landed in Ireland.
The mixt Irish, although they enjoy not this descent so well authorized by the right lyne of their forefathers, yet they have it by their mothers, who were married to the ancient Irish.
The Englished, although they have not this nobility, yet have they another given by them by the Kings of England, by Parliaments in Ireland, so auncient that it is above 500 yeares that some knightes and Lordes of title began.
And this is in briefe all the relation that may be made of Ireland for the above mentioned intent of the King of Spayne.
Inprimis one David Roehe titular bishop of Ossory keepeth for the most parte with his brother Edward Roehe merchant when he is in the cittie, and when he is abroad with the lord Viscount Mountgarrett at Ballimo.
Item. Doctor White a seditious priest when he resorteth to the cittie keepeth with his brother in law Henry Shee Esqr. now maior of the cittie. Besides he mayntyneth with him one Thomas Morrys a preacher native of the said cittie, whoe when he is in the cuntry keepeth with Mr. Purcell of Ballifoyle gent.
Item. Melchior Ragget a franciscan fryer keepeth usually with his father Richard of the said cittie Alderman, and is reputed as lord abbott of the monostery of Dawiske within the county of Kilkennie.
Item. Father Bryan otherwise named Bryan O Carne a jesuite, and a preacher, hath his residense in Sr. Richard Shea's house in the said cittie and theire is, at this instant, kept and maynteyned by the Lady Shea wyfe to the said Sir James Shea.
Item. Sir Thomas Howeghan priest keepeth with Mr. John Roche Fitz Pierce alderman.
Item. Sr. Wm. Lawles priest keepeth for the most part with Robert Roch esq.
Item. Sr. Laurence Remaghan supposed general Vicar from the pope keepeth in the sayd cittie, sayinge open mass, and is releeved especially by Mr. Thomas Archer Fitz Walter and hath an annuall stipend from the said cittie.
Item. Sr. Patk. Hoane prieste a native borne keepeth in the saide cittie and sayeth masse publiquely.
Item. Sir Lucas Archer priest brother to Patk. Archer esq. keepeth with his brother in lawe Nicholas Archer
Item. Sir Patrick Bolger prieste doth usuall say masse at one Lettice Shee's house widdow.
Item. Sir Edmond Seix priest saith mass ordinarily at his brother's house one Redmond Savage, and when he is abroad keepeth with Sir Richard Butler of Paulstowne knight.
Item. One Will. Maurus a franciscan doth commonly say masse within St. Francis Abbye in the said cittie.
Item. One Father Wall keepeth with one Nicholas Wall a Brasier in the saide cittie.
Item. One Sir Thomas Brehon priest keepeth with his father John Brehon in the said cittie.
Item. One David Kearney a titular archbishop of Cashell keepeth for the most part at the upper court with Lucas Shee esq.
It. Sir John Brenan priest keepeth for the most parte with Mr. Edward Butler of the old Abbye gent.
It Sir John Murphy priest, keepeth altogether at Thomastowne.
It Sir James Joyce and one Sr. Murlogh priestes keepe at Callan.
It Sir Teige O Heyly priest, keepeth with Walter Walsh of the Mountaine Esq.
It Sir James Daton, priest, keepeth with Mr. Daton Kilmodaley gent.
It Sir Nichs. Marus, priest keepeth with Mr. James Butler, gent. brother to the lord Mountgarrett, alsoe he Maintaynath one Sir Mathew Roch priest, whoe goeth once every yeare into Spayne.
It Teige O Fagho priest keepeth with Richard Comersford of Balibrin gent.
It John Coppinger also Father Coppinger, keepeth for most part with the lord Mountgarrett.
It Sir Henry Fleaminge priest keepeth at Dunfert.
It Sir Robert Cantwell priest, keepeth most with Mrs Mary Fitzgerrald, alias Cantwell, widdow.
It Sir John Archdeacon, priest, keepeth at Knocktoffer.
It Sir Pierce Stronge, keepeth at Dunkitt.
It Sir William M'Mahone, priest, keepeth with John Walsh of Kilcregan gent.
It Sir Edward Archer priest, keepeth with the Baron of Burnechurch.
It Sir Thomas Woodlock, priest, keepeth with Nicholas Fitz Thomas of the Gurtens, gent.
Item Sir Teige O'Duygin, priest, keepeth with Mr. Robert Grace, of Courtstowne.
Item Sir John Madden, priest, keepeth with Richard Grants of Curadduff, gent.
It. Sir John Fitz Robberts, priest, keepeth at the Grange.
It. Sir Daniel O Gowley, priest, keepeth at Bawnmoore, under Mr. M'Cody.
Item Philip More, priest, at Dunnamaggen.
It Mr Brookebery, of Castletiege, keepeth an English priest whose name is unknown, to whom doe resort the Baron of Burnchurch and his tennants every Sunday.
It Mr. Nath. Poole of Poulerath likewise keepeth an English priest whose name is unknown.
It One Father Arthure, keepeth with Oliver Shortall of Ballilorkan, Esq. who also keepeth another chaplin.
It. Sir Patrick Bowden, priest, is commonly at Radstowne.
It. Sir Lucas Archer, priest, is comonly maytayned by Mr. Denham, gent. dwellinge neere Thomastowne 4 miles from Kilkenny.
It. Sir Donagh O'Hellye, priest, mayntayned by Walter Walsh, whoe dwells twelve miles from Kilkenny.
It. Donagh O'Gonry, priest, whoe dwelleth at Ballyraggett, a towne of my lord Mountgarretts.
It. John Shea, priest, resident for the most part at Wm. Comersford of Killcooley, gent. in the parish of Fartie the small, in the said county.
Thomas Marny or Marry, Jesuite, keepeth in our about Kilkenny, alsoe Brian M'Morogho, preachers at Fermoy. He keeps about Clonmell.
Thomas M'Donogh, Vice Primate of Ardmagh, a Franciscan frier. He keepes commonly in the county of Clonmell, a great preacher.
Sir William Furlonge, Sir JohnWaddinge, Sir William Devoux, Sir John Garrold, Sir Richard Stafford.
Sir David Dowell—Sir Mathew Roche—James Fitz Nicholas.
John O'Dody—John M'William, Rawgh O'Dedy—Souldiars.
Bryan M'Chair from Trally, a Scholer.
A son of old Mr. Hussey—twoe sonnes of Gerrott M'Morice from Clammorris—A sonne to John M'Thomas of Ballykely—John Brenagh.
Henry Fitz Symons, Jesuite, Christopher Cusack, priest. Presedent . . .. . .. Laurence Sedgrave, prefecte: oute of the county of Dublin.
James Montell, priest from Mounster.
John O'Doly, Nicholas Fitz Garrett, John M'Daniell, Richard Fitz Garrett, son to Captain Moria Fitzgarrat. John Molgne. John Feild. Thomas Hay.
David Bourke.
Morsanos Celly, Thomas Derry, William Ovington, Felym O Neile, Christopher Dallahide, James Barnewall.
Marks Arsticin.
Hugh O Bewen priest from the North, Edmond Celly Civilian from Connaught, Guly Bridy O'Hoy fryer from the North.
Richard de la Hide out of Leinster.
Christopher Rochford studient from the county of Dublin.
Laurence Strong, John Fennell, Garret Scanell, John Costy, Thomas M'Diarmodo: Physitians out of Mounster.
Gille ne Neve O'Larkin, Nicholas O'Niadan: Priests out of Connaght.
Patrick Feyning, and Dominicke White: Departed from Lymrick to Bourdeaux.
Jordon Roch, son to Dominick Roch of Lymrick in Rochiell, Patk. Sarsfield, son to John Sarsfield of Lymrick in Bordeaux.
Thomas Archer, Nicholas Bourke, Steven White: Lately returned from several dominions beyond seas, whear they remayned 3 or 4 years.
James Branghan in Doway, with whome went one of Mr. Plunkett's sons of Dublin, in Michas. 1611.
A son of widow Wafer of Dublin, in Salamanca.
Edmund Purcell of Dublin, sent his son to Doway.
Doneghan of the county of Downe, Browne of Athboy: Sent their sons beyond seas.
Connor O Dwyeds . . .
John Fitz Thomas Fitz Gerrald, Dermod M'Conner M'Donagh, from Glanbark hane, Donnogh M'Connor went from thence also . . . Teige M'Donnell na Contey: Pentioners.—Barath alias Balrodagh. These are all Captens over Companies and did depart from the County of Corke.
Donell O'Sulyvane alias O'Solyvan, Beere.
Teige O Donughue alias O Donughue More.
Donell Mc Moragh, Mc Sweeny.
Donogh Mc Owen Mc Sweeny.
Turlagh Mc Owen Mc Sweeny.
Owen Mc Melmury Mc Sweeny.
Bryan Mc Hugh Mc Sweeny.
[gap: extent: one word] Mc Donell Mc Sweeny.
Donogh Mc Fynyne.
Cormock Mc Fynyne.
Melmore Mc Teigh Mergagh and his three sonnes.
Morris Moragh O Connell.
John O Falvey.
Dermott Mc Donagh Mc Cartye, Florence Mc Cartye; Sons of Daniell Mc Carttye' brother.
Donell Mc Dermod Mc Teig.
Dermod O'Hullagbane, Corcke O'Falvey, Bellagh Duffes 3 sons, John Mc Teige Mergago: Souldiers.
James Fitz-Garret from Bally Mc Adam, Solman Mc Davy Duff, Donelloge Mc Donell, Sir William Barrick, Sir Richard Fitz-Harris, Sir John O'Quitly brother to the Chauntor of Fearnes: Pentioners.
Sir John Peirse at Carne.
Sir John Sinnott a fryer.
Sir William Hampton neere Moyglass, besides many others in the Countrey.
The names of their maintayners, viz.
William Rosseter of Wexford and Susanna his wife.
Paul Furlong of Wexford, Vyntner.
The place of most publicke note whereunto the Priests doe resort to Masse in Dublin be theese, viz.
The Baker's hall in the College joyninge to St. Audoun's chancell.
A backroom of: Brownes by Newgate; Mr Plunkets, in the Bridg strete; Nicholas Queitrots, in the High streete; Caryes, in the High streete; Widow O Hagens, in the High streete.
Shelton's house beyond the bridge at the corner of hangman lane soe called.
Owen Groome Magrath, Gardian of the fryers of Multyfernam where he liveth.
Morris Ultagh a franciscan fryer, who was beyond the Seas and in Tyrone's companie and came lately from thence and lives neaer for most part at Multyfarnan, where there are eight or nine fryers more. There was a warrant out from the L. Deputy for his apprehension, whereof he having notice, he made meanes to Sir Christopher Nugent, knt. whoe is the principall countenance of the said fryers of Multyfarnnan, that he might have a word of safe comminge, and goinge to and from the lord Deputy, which he had accordingly.
Thomas Gitz-Garret, a franciscan fryer, that uset the moste in Munster.
John Fitz-Davy, a priest for the most part in Munster.
Rowland Bourke, a titulary bishop in Connaught.
One Father Owen, a seminary priest of Connaught likewise.
Henry Duff O Mulkreran, a priest for the most part resident in Connaught.
Paul Raggett. Father Nugent. Christopher Hollywood: These three do for the most part reside in the pale in the province of Leynster.
Edmond O'Mullkerty, a fryar whoe came lately from Rome, and preacheth very seditiously in the north.
Tyrloch Mc Creden, a franciscan fryer, lately came from beyond the seas, and is resident in the North, and hath divers, unlawful meetings, and assemblies upon hills, in severall counties, where he hath preached, and divers other priests, have been in his company saying mass unto great numbers of the natives, whoe have beene assembled together.
Patrick Duff, a priest that lived long with Tyrone, after his beinge beyond the seas, and came not longe since over into this kingdome, and lives about the lord of Slaine's lands.
There is one Davy Roche, a most seditious instrument, who was sente from Rome, since Tyrone's abode there. He takes upon him the name and authoritye of Protonotarius Apostolicus, to have and determyne all Ecclesiastical business for the kingdome of Irelande, and hath beene in the North since his arrivall, but is nowe for the most parte in Munster.
Edward Orpy priest. Christopher Barnewall priest: These two priests use about Leynster, and are upon bonds, to come before the Lord Deputie when they are called for.
James Plunkett.
Bryan O'Conelan.
Bryan O'Molely.
Hugh O'Domoghlan.
Rowry O'Choneghtyn.
Henry M'Bradye.
Philip O'Ferall.
Edmund Brady, fryer.
[gap: extent: two words] a young fryer lately come from Rome.
Francis O Mullaghlan priest provinciall of his order.
Henry Plunkett, priest.
James Plunkett, [gap: extent: one word] Browne: Archpriests.
Owen O'Gallahar, priest.
Conhore O'Donan priest, usuall with my Lord of Upper Ossory.
Sir Richard O'Conell, vicar Generall priest, usuall in Desmond.
[gap: extent: one word] Byrd, priest, usuall about Dublin.
In Collen, Germany
Luke Bath and Humphry Warren, capouchin fryers, and Henry Warren student.
In Spaine, Salamandia William Bath, Jesuite.
In Spaine, in the court of Madrid, John Bath Knight of Malta, as is reported.
[Copea vera.]
I have lately found in the manuscript library Trinity College, E .iii. 8, a transcript of the paper which I gave you. It is there headed Parish Priests of Ireland and Gentlemen gone abroad— and contains the following memorandum in the writing of Archbishop Ussher; ‘Presented to the Counsell of Spayne, circa an. 1618, by Florence (Conry,) the pretended Archbishop of Tuam, and thought to be penned by Philip O'Sullivan Bear.’
Notice the above, please, and believe me, truly yours,
James Hardiman
To W.J. Battersby, Esq.