"Finally, divine grace permitting, I intend to gather together my own and my friends' powers, and lead them in person against Piers Butler, deputy of the King of England, and against Limerick, Wexford, and Dublin, the cities which the King holds in Ireland. "For the aid for which I look from your Majesty, I desire especially cannon available for land service and fit for breaching castles. May it please your Majesty, therefore, to send me cannon, that I may be the better able to do your Majesty service. "And for myself, I promise on my faith to obey your Majesty in all things. I will be friend of your friends; enemy of your enemies; and your Majesty's especial and particular subject. If ever I chance to displease you, I will submit myself to your correction and chastisement. "Written in my town, this 28th day of April, 1529, in the presence of Gonzalvo Fernandez, Denys Mac D----c, Doctor of Arms and Medicine, Denys Tathe, Maurice Herly. JAMES OF DESMOND." --_The Pilgrim_, pp. 171-175. [313] "You remember how the lewd earl your kinsman," he said to him, "who passeth not whom he serve, might he change his master, sent his confederates with letters of credence to Francis the French King, and to Charles the Emperor, proffering the help of Munster and Connaught towards the conquest of Ireland, if either of them would help to win it from our king. What precepts, what messages have been sent you to apprehend him? and yet not done. Why so? Forsooth I could not catch him. Yea, sir, it will be sworn and deposed to your face, that for fear of meeting him, you have winked, wilfully shunned his sight, altered your course, warned his friends, stopped both eyes and ears against his detection. Surely this juggling and false play little became an honest man called to such honour, or a nobleman put in such trust."--Campion, p. 165. [314] _State Papers_, Vol. II. pp. 146, 147. [315] Norfolk to Wolsey: Ibid. p. 135. [316] _State Papers_, Vol. II. p. 146. [317] It had been partially subdued by Lord James Butler.--Irish statute, 28 Henry VIII. cap. 1. [318] O'Brien of Thomond to Henry VIII.: _State Papers_, Vol. II. [319] Report of 1533: _State Papers_, Vol. II. pp. 163-179. [320] _State Papers_, Vol. II. p. 180. [321] Ibid. p. 177. [322] _State Papers_, Vol. II. p. 192. [323] _State Papers_, Vol. III. p. 10. [324] It is remarkable that, as I believe, there is no instance of the act of heresy having been put in force in Ireland. The Irish Protestant church counts many martyrs; but they were martyrs who fell by murder in the later massacres. So far as I can learn, no Protestant was ever tried and executed there by form of law. [325] 28 Hen. VIII. cap. 1. Irish statutes. [326] Cowley to Cromwell: _State Papers_, Vol. II. p. 198.