[241] St. Leger to the King, Feb. 21, 1541. The submission was signed at Cahir, Jan. 16. For the names of the notaries and of the chief spectators, see Carew, vol. i. No. 153.
[242] St. Leger to the King, Feb. 21, 1541; list of those who attended Parliament, 1541, in S.P., vol. iii. p. 307; O’Brien to the King, vol. iii., No. 352.
[243] St. Leger to the King, Feb. 21, 1541; MacWilliam to the King, March 12, 1541; MacGillapatrick’s submission, &c., S.P., vol. iii., No. 336; the King to MacWilliam, May 1.
[244] St. Leger to the King, June 26, 1541; Lord Deputy and Council to the King, June 28; printed Statutes, 33 Henry VIII.; Lodge’s Parliamentary Register; Parliamentary lists in Tracts Relating to Ireland, No. 2.
[245] Alen to St. Leger in 1537, S.P., vol. ii., No. 182; Staples to St. Leger, June 17, 1538; Lord Deputy and Council to the King, Dec. 30, 1540. The proclamation of the King’s style is in Carew, vol. i., No. 158. The author of the Aphorismical Discovery, who wrote about 1650, says Henry ‘revolted from his obedience to the Holy See’ by assuming the royal title. There is an abstract of the King’s title to Ireland in Carew, vol. i., No. 156; Adrian’s grant is mentioned as one of seven titles, some fabulous, some historical. For the proceedings in Dublin, see St. Leger’s letters already cited, June 26 and 28, 1541; for the style itself, see the King’s letter in S.P., vol. iii., No. 361; for the Seal, see Lord Deputy and Council to the King, June 2, 1542, and Henry’s answer.
[246] See the ordinances in Carew, vol. i., No. 157.
CHAPTER XIV.
1541 TO THE CLOSE OF THE REIGN OF HENRY VIII.
The O’Carrolls.
The attendance of Irishmen during the session of Parliament was not altogether barren of immediate results. Fergananim O’Carroll, chief of Ely, having become blind, was murdered in Clonlisk Castle by Teige, the son of his old rival Donough, with the help of some of the Molloys. The claimants to the vacant succession voluntarily submitted to the arbitration of the Lord Deputy and Council, and a curious award was given. According to Irish law John O’Carroll, as the eldest, would have been the natural chief. He was set aside as unfit to rule, but received his lands rent free and forty cows annually out of the cattle-tribute payable to the chief. Fergananim’s son Teige was also pronounced incompetent, but was nevertheless established as ruler of half the country by way of propitiating Desmond, who was his uncle by marriage. Calvagh or Charles O’Carroll was made lord of the other half, and it was provided that if either procured the other’s death he should forfeit all to the sons of the deceased.[247]