| Description | [Document damaged. Some text only legible under ultra violet light.] 'Ricardus Rex tercius' [Richard III] at beginning of document. The king has been informed that Ireland is in danger because his subjects with possessions in Ireland do not live there, but take the profits out of the country and allow their castles to fall into ruin. The Irish rebels are making great progress and the king's loyal subjects are unable to resist. Ireland will be lost unless the king supplies a remedy. The king orders those with property in Ireland to reside there and repair their castles before 24 Jun next. Anyone absent after that date is to supply men for the defence of the country as necessary, according to the quantity of their property. If they do not do this, two parts of their income are to be levied for the defence of the country. Only a third part of the income from benefices of those who are absent on the king's service, as students at the universities or for reasonable cause with the king's licence, is to be applied to the defence of Ireland. No date. [Date: Date of original.] Original dated 12 Mar 1485. |