leges and advantages." The condition of the inhabitants within the Pale at this period is thus described by a cotemporary writer: "What with the extortion of coyne and lyverye dayly, and wyth the wrongful exaction of osteing money, and of carryage and cartage dayly, and what with the Kinge's great subsydje yerely, and with the said trybute, and blak-rent to the Kinge's Iryshe enymyes, and other infynyt extortions, and dayly exactions, all the Englyshe folke of the countys of Dublyn, Kyldare, Meathe, and Uryell ben more oppressyd with than any other folke of this land, Englyshe or Iryshe, and of worsse condition be they athysside than in the marcheis." 216 O'Daly thus writes of Earl Maurice: "This man was subsequently far famed for his martial exploits. He augmented his power and possessions—for all his sympathies were English—and a furious scourge was he to the Irish, who never ceased to rebel against the crown of England. The bitterest enemy of the Geraldines he made his prisoner, to wit, MacCarthy Mor, Lord of Muskerry; and now having passed thirty years opulent, powerful, and dreaded, he died [1520] to the sorrow of his friends and the exultation of his enemies." He was buried at Tralee. His first wife was daughter of Lord Fermoy; his second, daughter of the White Knight. 52 147 147* 216
Desmond, James, 11th Earl, succeeded on his father's death in 1520. In 1529 he proffered fealty to the Emperor Charles V., and declared himself willing to enter into a league against England. The Emperor commissioned his chaplain to visit Ireland. The report of his mission to Dingle, of the resources of the country, of the demeanour of the Earl, and his reasons for hostility to England, as given by Mr. Froude in his History of England, are extremely interesting. The chaplain writes: "The Earl himself is from thirty to forty years old, and is rather above the middle height. He keeps better justice throughout his dominions than any other chief in Ireland. Robbers and homicides find no mercy, and are executed out of hand. His people are in high order and discipline. They are armed with short bows and swords. The Earl's guard are in a mail from neck to heel, and carry halberds. He has also a number of horse, some of whom know how to break a lance. They all ride admirably, without saddle or stirrup." A skirmish between him and Ormond was thus reported to Henry VIII. by the Lord-Lieutenant: "In the sayd conflyct were slayn of the said Erll of Desmonde's party xviii. banners of galoglas, which bee commonly in every baner Ixxx. men, and the substance of xxiv. baners of horsemen, which bee xx. under every banr at the leest, and under some xxx., xl., and 1.; and emonges others was slayne the said Erll is kinnesman. Sir John FitzGerot, and Sir John of Desmond takyn, and his son slayne, and Sir Gerald of Desmond, another of his uncles, sore woimded and tskyn; with many others whereof the certainte yet appereth not… His discomfyture and losse may bee right hurtfull; the moost part of theym that overthrew him bee Irishmen; and I feare it shall cause theyme to wex the more prowder, and also shall cause other Irishmen to take pride therin, setting the less by Englishmen."147 He died at Dingle, 18th June 1529, and was buried with his father at Tralee. He had but one legitimate child, Amy, who married, (1) 9th Earl of Ormond, (2) Sir Francis Bryan, Lord-Justice, (3) Gerald, 15th Earl of Desmond. 52 140 147 147* 216
Desmond, Sir Thomas, 12th Earl, uncle of preceding, brother of l0th Earl, born in 1454, succeeded on his nephew's death in 1529. He was known as "Sir Thomas the Bald," and "Thomas the Victorious." "Far-famed was he in feats of arms; in nine battles did he win the palm of victory… Another subject for congratulation had this Earl—the two Lords of Muskerry fell beneath his sword."147* He took up the intrigues of his predecessor. Lodge tells us that "the King without hesitation established him in the earldom, merely endeavouring with friendly phrases to induce him to send his grandson and heir to his Majesty's court; which, with phrases equally amiable, the Earl showed the impossibility of his doing." Eventually embarrassments attendant on the question of the succession obliged him to make every profession of loyalty to the King. He died at Rathkeale in 1534, aged 80, and was buried at Youghal. 52 147 147* 216
Desmond, Catherine, Old Countess, second wife of the 12th Earl, was a FitzGerald of Dromana in the County of Waterford. She was married to the Earl in 1529, but a few years before his death, and gave birth to a daughter, married to Philip Barry Oge. Her survival in 1590 is established by her name being mentioned in a deed of that date. Her jointure after the Earl's death was the manor of Inchiquin, five miles from Youghal, where she removed with her daughter; but in 1575 the 15th Earl persuaded her to make it over to him by a deed still in the Record Office, Dublin. Upon Raleigh's arrival in Ireland in 1589, he visited her; and
