For twenty years Parsons’ leisure had been devoted to trying to rob Felim O’Byrne, who stood by the Crown in trying times, despite the slogans of O’Neill and others to “rise out.” O’Byrne’s father (fighting Feagh MacHugh) had been made prisoner, and his head spiked over the Tower of Dublin Castle. His mother (Rose O’Toole) was convicted of treason and sentenced to be burnt on the 27th May, 1595. Queen Elizabeth, however, in 1598 ordered Felim Patents of his estate as a reward for good service, and issued a “general pardon” to him and his helpers on the 3rd March, 1603. James I. on 16th September, 1603, in his “instructions for Ireland,” commanded that O’Byrne’s “country” be given to Felim according to such limitations as the Lord Lieutenant should prescribe. Nevertheless Sir Richard Graham, one of the Commanders at the victory of Kinsale, obstructed the issue of any Patent, and got two “offices” taken by Parsons as Surveyor-General on the 14th March, 1604, to try to oust Felim altogether. These inquisitions—strive as they might—went in favour of O’Byrne, and on 26th March, 1606, he received a Patent. His territory was set down (by the usual trick of diminishing coveted land) at twelve thousand acres, exclusive of bog, wood, and mountain. It included the districts of Ranelagh and Cosha in Co. Wicklow, and the owner’s proved loyalty was certified by Devonshire. A fortnight after the date of Felim’s Patent, Devonshire died, but for some years O’Byrne was left in peace. Then came the Ulster Plantation and the dispersal of its Chiefs. When the North was crushed Chichester, in spite of Royal Letters and “offices,” authorised Graham to seize part of Cosha for himself. Knowing to what this must lead, O’Byrne petitioned the English Privy Council for justice. An Inquiry was ordered, and Graham thereat contended (in the teeth of English policy) that the clan-lands belonged to the kerns as freeholders, and not to the Chief. The Commissioners scouted this doctrine and reported in Felim’s favour. To hold otherwise would have knocked on the head the Tudor system of vesting the tribal territories in the Chiefs and then voiding their Patents so that escheats might be easily obtained. Sir Richard Graham, smarting under defeat, and doubtless primed by Chichester (although he had now ceased to be Deputy), sent his son to London to bribe Villiers, afterwards Duke of Buckingham, to influence his Majesty to disregard the Commissioners’ report. The Earl (afterwards Duke) of Richmond, another favourite, was procured to crave fair play for O’Byrne. The strife at the Council table between the courtiers grew so high that the King allowed them each to name two Commissioners to re-try the case. This was unjust to Felim, who had already proved his right twice. Still he had to take such mercy as he could buy. Mr. Hadsor and Sir Francis Annesley were on this Commission, and Hadsor spoke Gaelic.