CALOUGH O'DONELL.

CALOUGH O'DONELL.

20 Oct 1566

Indenture, 20 October, 8 Eliz., between Sir Henry Sidney, K.G., President of the Council of Wales, and Deputy General in Ireland, and the Council in that kingdom, of the one part, and Lord Calough O'Donell, of the other part.

(1.) He confesses that he is greatly bound to the Queen, who has restored him to all his possessions and rules, and does not spare immense expenses or the labour of the Deputy and this army. Therefore, he and his successors, Lords O'Donells, will be always obedient to her Majesty.

(2.) He acknowledges the Queen to be his Sovereign Lady, and will expel all her opponents in Connell. He surrenders all royal rights and services in Connell appertaining to the Imperial Crown.

(3.) O'Donell and the other lords of Connell shall never confederate with any of the Queen's rebels, or engage any Scots or other strangers, without the licence of the Queen or the Deputy and Council. He will prosecute the rebel John (Shane) O'Neill and all his adherents.

(4.) As often as he shall be called upon, he will come in person to every general hosting with 60 horsemen, 120 kerne, and 300 Scots; or, should he be unwell, he will send the chief gentleman of Connell with the same numbers, with victuals for 40 days.

(5.) Whenever the Deputy and Council shall send letters for him, he will come to any places and parliaments named in those letters.

(6.) He will perform all the decrees which have been or shall be published by the Lord Deputy and Council between him and his brother Hugh McManus O'Donell, or his uncle, Hugh Duf O'Donell, respecting the division of hereditaments and other matters.

(7.) He acknowledges that he holds his lands of the Queen only. If the Queen should hereafter be pleased to change the usages and institutions of this country, and to reduce it to civil order and obedience to her laws, like the English parts of this realm, or if her Majesty should honour with any title him or any other gentlemen of Connell, he will render to her his assistance and support.

(8.) Whenever the Queen thinks good to erect any castles or to send an army into Connell for the defence of her subjects, as is now the case, O'Donell will consent to the same.

(9.) The Queen shall have the gift of all bishoprics and the nomination of all the bishops of Connell, and the presentation to all benefices to which she has title.

(10.) He will permit the Queen's tenants within his dominions to possess their lands and tenements. He shall not spoil them or take from them coyne and livery or any other exactions.

(11.) He will support the band of horsemen and footmen now left at Derrye under the conduct of Edward Randulphe, colonel of all the footmen in Ireland, and give 40 martes every week to the same colonel as long as he shall remain in Connell; the first payment to be made on 1 December, at which time also O'Donell shall give 480 martes, value 3s. 8d. each, for three months; and for every marte deficient he will give six sheep or four pigs of one year old and above.

(12.) He shall give to the same colonel sufficient oats in the straw ["Avenas in stramine."] for 100 horses, viz., 4 loads a day for each horse, each load containing 24 handfulls, or, instead thereof, two measures of oats called "a mether."

(13.) He will pay yearly 200 marks sterling into the Exchequer of Ireland, or else 300 martes in the town of Kelles in Meath.

Present:--Hugh McManus O'Donell; Hugh Duf O'Donell; Donald Magonnell, Bishop of Raphoe (Robotensis); O'Dohorty, chief of his name; McSwyne Fannagh; O'Boyle, chief of his name; McSwyne Bannaghe; McSwyne Duyne, and other gentlemen of Connell, who gave and affirmed their consent to the premises at Belleshinen, the day and year aforesaid. There were also present John O'Ghalloher, captain of Bondreis, and Hugh O'Donell, official of Raphoe.

Contemp. copy. Endorsed.

MS 614, p. 160

Latin

3 Pages.