More on Sir Thomas

The following letter shows Sir Thomas as a Justice of the peace, it is in effect a recognition of his standing, in 1327 an Act had referred to "good and lawful men" to be appointed in every county in the land to "guard the peace"; such individuals were first referred to as conservators of the peace, or wardens of the peace. The title justice of the peace derives from 1361, in the reign of King Edward III. The "peace" to be guarded is the sovereign's, the maintenance of which is the duty of the Crown under the royal prerogative.

In the centuries from the Tudor period JPs constituted a major element of the English governmental system, which was for the major part of built on dominance of the land-owning gentry.

Being an unpaid office, undertaken voluntarily and sometimes more for the sake of renown or to confirm the justice's standing within the community, the justice was typically a member of the gentry.

 

 

 

From: SIR NICHOLAS WALSHE MAYOR OF WATERFORD, SIR THOMAS COLCLOUGH, SIR RICHARD AYLWARD, AND PATRICK WALSH, JUSTICES OF THE PEACE FOR THE COUNTIES OF WEXFORD AND WATERFORD.

To: THE LORD DEPUTY. DATED FROM WATERFORD, 12 MARCH, 1602-3

 

Our duties done to your Lordship. About some eight days past when I the Justice Walshe have bene at Killkeny to execute certain directions from some of the Lords of H.M.'s most Hon. Privy Council in England I received a letter from Sir Thos. Colclough wishing me to give credit to Mr. John Allene the bearer thereof in a matter of great moment, the managing whereof he wrote was more likely to be well performed by me then it would be otherwise. Mr. Allene told me how one Richard Dole, a soldier in Duncannon did write unto Sir Thomas as to one of the Justices of peace in the County of Wexford of a great treason committed in the fort of  Duncannon of coining of money in the likeness as well of Spanish as of the current coin of this land. In answer whereof I desired Sir Thos. to meet me at Waterford on Ash Wednesday ; at which time I gave charge to Doale and the Lieutenant of the Fort (because Sir John Brockett was departed before into England) to be at Waterford, and that they should bring with them at that time one Richard Meillin a prisoner there, who was the first informer of that matter, and who hath written a private letter thereof unto myself and another to Mr. John Itchingham with a charge to examine thereof with all earnestness.

On Ash Wednesday Doale came bringing with him the Lieut. and the prisoner Meillin. The day being stormy Sir Thos. Colclough was not able to come till toward nightfall. In the delivery of the matter (because I the Justice was loath in so high a cause to deal alone) I desired the assistance of the Mayor and of Sir Richard Ailward. And when Sir Thos. Colclough with Mr. Itchingham and Mr. John Allene came which was very late on Wednesday Sir Thos. and they were presently in the night sent by us to the fort to search for tools and other instruments fit for coining, who brought hither diverse for that purpose the substance whereof were found in Sir John Brockett's desk, the inventory whereof we send herewith, whereby and by the examinations it is apparent that there was some quantity both of Spanish and of our mixt monies counterfeited, and in one of the Crucibles there are two coined pieces in the  bigness (same size JC) of our three pence found fastened to the little pane which we commanded should not be dissevered.
Thomas Tricklye the chief contriver of this wicked practice is gone into England with Sir John Brockett with intent as Meillin said to bring over Stamps and other things necessary for that work. His name was here Thos. Tricklye, but his right name (as we hear) is Thos. Costall. There is a town over against Darkmouth (Dartmouth JC) called Kingsworth (Kingswear JC) and within 3 miles thereof another town called Bricksonne (Brixham JC) the parson whereof is his uncle and with whom Tricklye is most likely to remain if he be parted from Sir John Brockett.

(Coining was one of the crimes specially excluded from Royal pardon JC)

I have adjusted the language of the above letter but it is an emphasis of Sir Thomas as a pillar of South East Ireland establishment in a period of sea borne conflict between England and Spain, the value of the ports in the area were immeasurable to the Elizabethans.