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as he represented them, and consequently beneficial to the other parties concerned in them, were entered into, not with undertakers of Browne's stamp, but with Sir Thomas Norreys, and others in authority in Ireland, and with gentlemen living, like himself, at the court. These transactions became the subject of litigation in after years; and we thus learn the names of many who, when the time of his second trouble came, strove to profit by his friendless position, to extort an interest almost as usurious as that of the Brownes; but even this resource began to fail him at last, and he fell into the inevitable misfortune of contracting heavy debts in London. These debts increased, for at this time his wife was living with him, and he had no longer Sir Owen Hopton and Sir Michael Blount to pay his monthly bills for "diette," "fewell," and other necessaries; his Munster remittances diminished, and the tone of his creditors ascended by the usual scale of hints, remonstrances, and threats.

Ever since his liberation from the Tower, Florence had been earnestly pressing his suit for permission to return to Ireland. He had fairly won the good opinion and friendly influence of Burghley, and of his son, Sir Robert Cecyl, the former of whom joined with Lady Ellen to solicit this grace from Elizabeth. The friendly endeavours of Burghley are made known to us by Florence's writing; but for the influence which prevailed with the Queen to render all solicitations in his favour vain for a considerable time longer, we must look elsewhere, and the search is neither long nor difficult. Every enemy of Florence in Ireland,-Barry, Fenton, Browne, the Bishop of Cork, Denny, and a host that was countless,-poured their insinuations, auguries, charges, and warnings into the ear of Sir Francis Walsyngham. The Attorney-General, Sir John Popham, defeated in his designs of carving signories for himself and his son-in-law, Rogers, out of Florence's lands in Carbry, corroborated every tale of his ambition and disloyalty; and thus was formed around the Privy Council and the Queen an united opposition, which effectually resisted the friendly exertions of Burghley, and the entreaties of Florence's wife, until delay had so greatly multiplied his pecuniary difficulties, that he was compelled to abandon his suit to return to his home, and in lieu of it to solicit for "relief and some "present means of living." The petition which he sent to Burghley at this time is, for many reasons, one of peculiar interest. So involved was he in difficulties with his creditors, that he was afraid to venture abroad, even to call on the minister, lest he should be arrested. His wife was now far advanced in pregnancy, unable to travel with him to Ireland, even had permission been granted to him to go, and he had no resources to leave with her for her support in England; hence he writes to Lord Burghley that he no longer desires his return; but prays that Her Majesty may be moved to allow to him and to his wife some maintenance, as long as it

shall please her to keep him in England. This letter is one of the most pleasing of the many extant in Florence's writing. It is valuable, not only as proving that Burghley's conduct to him was really friendly, but as showing that up to this time, at least, the fruits of his marriage were not wholly bitter.

Had Carewe not forced Florence to extremities, he might possibly in his great prudence have kept Carbry and Desmond from insurrection; and had the same unscrupulous man forborne to tamper with the vain weak mind of his wife, Florence's matrimonial life might have endured happily to the end. That his disposition was singularly forbearing and gentle, that he was averse to strife, even with his enemies, is sufficiently proved; and certainly not his bitterest enemy ever reproached him with any failing that could justly forfeit the confidence and affection of his wife :

"1592. June 17. MR. FLORENCE Mac CHARTIE TO MY LO. BURGHLEY.

"Right Hon. my most humble dutie remembered. Having heeretofore divers times entreated your Hon LoP to be a meane unto Her Ma' that I might have leve to go into my countrey seeing I have no meanes to maintain myself here, and perceevinge by Your LoP at my last being with your Honor that you moved Her Ma'tie therein whom your LoP found unwilling to grant it, I have thereupon caused my wife not to trouble Her Ma'tie any further for the same, and willed her to sue for some maintenance whereby myself and Shee might live until Her Ma'tie granted my libertie which she hath don still since my being with your Lo, all which time I could never acquaint your Lo' withal, because I dare not go before your Lo' or anywhere else abroad for fear of being arested for myne owne and my wyfes diet; and for as much as she doth now fynd Her Ma'tie well inclined thereunto, and that Her Highness doth daily promise to give order to your LoP for her, I am therefore most humblie to beseech your Hon. Lop to move Her Ma'tie now for me, and to be a mean that I may be partly releived with some maintenance whereby myself and my wife and folkes may live whyle Her Ma'tie shall think good to kepe me here, beseeching Your LoP not to move her Ma'tie for my libertie to go into Ireland, because I am not desirous to go thither, knowing Her Ma'tie to be unwilling, as also that I have no meanes to leave my wyfe any maintenance, who is great with child, and not able to go any where, thus beseeching your Lop to be myndful of me, herein I humbly take leave this 16th of June 1592.

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This petition, seconded by the influence of Lord Burghley, was graciously accepted by the Queen. Amongst Her Majesty's virtues, few were so conspicuous as her frugality; her royal grandsire himself had not more reluctantly parted with the smallest coin of the treasure of the commonwealth than she did. Florence's dis

tresses increased daily, and his urgent prayer was for prompt rescue from the pursuit of threatening creditors, and for money for his maintenance. Both suits were graciously acceded to; the one immediately, and the other without unreasonable delay. In the manner in which the Queen administered to his present relief there was an admirable simplicity. Florence obtained, not indeed a sum of money, but what was for the time of equal value to a receipt in full from every money-lender whose bailiffs were on his track; it was a warrant of protection against arrest for debt. The second portion of his suit required a little more deliberation; but we shall see in the sequel that in the means by which this also was accomplished, there was even greater proof of royal ingenuity than in the former. Florence had been married nearly three years, and was still childless; the circumstance of his wife's pregnancy, which he mentioned to Burghley, to show how urgent was his need of present assistance, it is no exaggeration to say, moved the hearts of men in Munster more than would the birth of a royal child have stirred the feelings of Englishmen. A male child would one day inherit Carbery from his father, Desmond from his mother, and save from extinction the time-honoured and historic designation of MacCarthy mor. It pleased Providence that a male child should be born, and as we should judge from Florence's last letter to Lord Burghley, in humble lodgings in London, and under circumstances of painful pecuniary privations; but no sooner was Lady Ellen restored to health, than she repaired with the young heir to Ireland; and how this child was there welcomed, the keen eyes of the Bishop of Cork were the first to perceive. A year earlier his Lordship had made a discovery somewhat akin to this, viz., that this babe's grandmother, the old Countess of Clan Carty, was with child. After thirteen months of patient gestation that venerable lady had not yet produced a male heir to mar the welcome of Florence's child; that welcome now scandalized the Bishop, who at once wrote to Sir Geoffry Fenton upon the matter, and Sir Geoffry Fenton, not less affected, passed the tidings on to the Lord Treasurer:

"1593. March 8th. The BISHOP of Cork and CLONE to SIR G. FENTON (enclosure in Fenton's letter of 15th March to WalsTM).

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My dewtie remembred to y' Worship. I thought yt my dutie to certifie you of such thinges as are of importance, and concerne the state. Heare is a yonge childe of Fynnynge McChartyes, who after this countrey manner is used amonge the people as a yonge Prince, caryed abowt the contrey wth three nurses, and six horssmen, when he removeth to anie place; and happie is he that can have him to foster for a moneth! and so from moneth to moneth, to the best of the contrey to be fostred, wth such songes of reioycinge in the praise of his father Fynnynge, and the yong Impe, that yt weare good his father at his cominge over shold be looked

unto, wch wilbe very shortlie, as his cossyn Donnell McChartye, wch came latelie owt of England told me; and delyvered unto me manie other matters, wch I cannot now sett downe because of the hast of the messenger; but at lardge you shall haue yt by the next that cometh. So humblie take my leaue.

"viij M'cij 1592.

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"Yo' Wo's at Comaundm*

"WILLIAM CORKE & CLONE."

"1593. March 15. SIR GEOFFRY FENTON to Burleigh.

My dutie used, uppon pclosinge of the joynt I now sent to your L. consistinge uppon manie ptes I receaved this adu'tisement inclosed from the Bushop of Corke wch I am bold to sende to yo' L. wth the privilige of the Ld Deputie whome I first acquainted wth the contents thereof. This outward pompe used towardes the childe, beinge far above the usage of the best and greatest psons in that province, maketh showe of an inward pretente to raise an extraordinarie greatnes to the parents, and to drawe a multytude of followers to be readie to serve a torne, when fytte oportunitye shold offer: wch beinge considered wth the father's former ambicon not unknowne to yo' L. mynistreth cause to dowbt further inconveniences by that famyly, and to pvent them. Fynnyn Mc Arty the father is as yet about London or the court, who though he be (as I heare) in some towardnes to retorne hither yet (wth y' L. favor) yt weare not amyss to have him still detyned there, either directlie by authoritie or by device, at least tyll this sommer be passed over, for yf any attempt be made in Mounster by the forreine enemye, there is none in all the province so likely to become the head of a faction, or to move or countenaunce a tumult, as he, whereof I make bold to adu'tise yo' L. onely, and so to leaue yt to yo' L. further will and pleasure. In grett haste.

"At Dublyn the 15 M 1592. G. FENTON."

An account, thus substantiated, might be very opportune to furnish the minister with a ready answer to Florence when he should next appear with the story of his pecuniary grievances; but it needed local jealousies, and enemies as bitter as Fenton and the Bishop, to put it forward as a fit reason for prolonging Florence's restraint. Donell Pipy had carried back from London to Munster tidings of the approaching birth of Florence's child. He had carried back also news of other matter more alarming. Florence was in favour at court! and especially protected by Burghley and Cecyl! the common enemy would assuredly be let loose! The amount of Florence's influence with those statesmen was greater than Donel reported, or his enemies would have readily believed.

(To be continued.)

A JOURNEY TO KILKENNY IN THE YEAR 1709. FROM THE MS. NOTES OF DR. THOMAS MOLYNEUX.

COMMUNICATED BY J. P. PRENDERGAST, ESQ.

EDITED BY THE REV. JAMES GRAVES, A. B., M. R. I. A.

[THE following Notes of a journey to Kilkenny, at the commencement of the eighteenth century, are preserved in a manuscript volume in the handwriting of Dr. Thomas Molyneux, at present to be found in the Library of Trinity College, Dublin (MSS., Class 1., Tab. i., Nos. 2 and 3). The volume contains several tours through Ireland, of which the "Journey to Connaught," undertaken in the April of the same year, has been printed by the Irish Archæological Society, in the first volume of their "Miscellany," pp. 161-178, under the editorial care of Aquilla Smith, Esq., M.D. From a note at page 161 of the publication just cited, we learn that Dr. Thomas Molyneux was the " younger brother of the celebrated William Molyneux, and Grandson of Daniel Molyneux, who was appointed Ulster King-of-Arms, by patent bearing date 28th June, 1597." Thomas Molyneux was born in Dublin in 1661, and educated in Trinity College; after having studied abroad, he became a Fellow of the College of Physicians in Ireland in 1711; he was elected Regius Professor of Physic in the Dublin University; in 1718 he became Physician-General of the Army in Ireland, and Physician to the State in 1725; on the 4th of July, 1730, he was created a Baronet, and died on the 19th of October, 1733. Sir Capel Molyneux, of Castle Dillon, county Armagh, is the present representative of the family.

The tour, in the course of which Dr. Molyneux visited Kilkenny, was commenced on Tuesday the 8th of November, 1709, on which day he left Dublin, and in five hours' time came to Naas, where he lay that night. He then passed through Blessinton, BallymoreEustace, Dunlavin, Timolin, and Kilkea, and so to Bealin, "a fine, improved seat of Mr. Stradford's;" about an hour from whence he crossed the Barrow, "at a very deep ford at Shroule,” and a half a mile from thence "to cousin Best's, at Knockbeg, in the Queen's County." From Knockbeg he made some excursions, and returning again, stayed there until the 19th. From this point the MS. shall speak for itself]: :

Saturday ye 19th, went to Kilkenny; two hours brought us thro' a noble fine open sheepwalk countrey,-[p. 90]-all along the Barrow, from Carlow to Loughlin Bridge, which is a pretty

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