William Piers (constable)
Encyclopedia
William Piers was an English constable
, who spent most of his life in Ireland
. He was the first mayor and practical founder of Carrickfergus
. He was noted in particular for his attempts to drive out the Scots
from Ulster
and the great lengths that he went to in attempting to enhance the power of local chiefs at the expense of the Scots. Granted Tristernagh Abbey
as a reward for his military services, he made it into his family home from the late 1560s until his death in 1603.
. He was the son of Richard Piers; his paternal grandfather was John Piers; his paternal great-grandfather was Gerald Piers. Nothing is known about his education.
He was described by a deposition in the high court of admiralty
, dated 27 November 1555, as ‘a tall burly man with a big, brown beard’ who was captain of a ship given to him by James Fitzgerald, 13th Earl of Desmond. Piers was recruited by the acting as governor of Ireland, Thomas Radcliffe, Lord Fitzwalter, to participate in a naval expedition against the Scots in the North Channel
and the Hebrides. He was also highly active as a fisherman. In the spring of 1558, Piers participated in a second maritime attack on the MacDonalds who were emigrating to Ulster
. In 1562, however, he developed diplomatic relations with James MacDonald
after travelling to Kintyre
to meet with him, but although he remained in contact with the MacDonalds for several years he would soon do all he could to limit the power of the Scots.
Noted for saving Princess Elizabeth
"from the rage and fury of her sister Queen Mary
by conveying her privately away", in the 1560s he earned her favour after she became Queen Elizabeth, received considerable military rank, and was selected by her to go to Ireland in 1566. For his services there, he was rewarded with a large land grant, including Tristernagh Abbey
, which he made his family home. He was appointed governor of Carrickfergus, Seneschal
of County Antrim
in 1568. In 1567, he received a reward of 1000 marks
for bringing the head of Shane Ó Neill, "pickled in a pipkin
", to Sir Henry Sidney
, to display on the gates of Dublin Castle
, although it has been reported that Piers dug up Ó Neill's body and decapitated him.
After the death of O'Neill, Piers proceeded to attempt to limit further Scottish incursions into the north-east and in the spring of 1569 suffered major defeat by 400 Scots in Clandeboye
. He soon became Seneschal of Clandeboye, acting as a the local representative of the crown and diplomatic intermediary between the central administration and local political leaders in the Irish community. He used his position to develop the commercial potential of Carrickfergus and from 1572–3 he served as its mayor, strongly supported by influential local chiefs, such as Brian mac Phelim O'Neill, lord of Clandeboye.
In 1574, he was arrested by Walter Devereux, 1st Earl of Essex
who accused him of passing military intelligence to Brian mac Phelim O'Neill. Essex ordered Piers's arrest and detention in Carrickfergus Castle in December but Piers was freed and was subsequently reappointed to the constableship of Carrickfergus in 1575. Brian mac Phelim O'Neill, on the contrary, was executed by Essex for treason.
and to create an incorporated company which would control the trade of the coast from Strangford
to Sligo
and gain control of the area by leasing the land to local chiefs, effectively banishing the Scots from Ulster. His commercial interests proved fruitless as well as his political attempts to make an agreement with Turlough Luineach
, with royal support from the queen and the privy council to banish the Scots from Ulster in summer of 1580. Piers met strong opposition from Arthur Grey, 14th Baron Grey de Wilton
who eventually prevented the proposals from being approved. Politically, this was a humiliating defeat for Piers and marked the decline of his power and status in Clandeboye. He retired to Tristernagh in 1582 and his health gradually declined, reported as losing the mobility of his legs in 1593. He did, however, return to England for a visit in 1591. Despite his withdrawal, he remained interested in the cause for the banishment of the Scots from Ulster and submitted proposals to weaken the power of Hugh O'Neill, 2nd Earl of Tyrone and attempting to increase the power of local chiefs lesser as barons, but again his proposals were rejected.
. He had one son, Henry, and daughters, Mary and Anne. His nephew, William Piers, was a subsequent mayor of Carrickfergus. One of his descendants, probably his grandson, Sir Henry Piers, 1st Baronet (c. 1628–1691), established the Piers Baronets
of Tristernagh Abbey in 1661. This lineage is still existent today.
Piers died in 1603 and was buried at Carrickfergus.
Constable
A constable is a person holding a particular office, most commonly in law enforcement. The office of constable can vary significantly in different jurisdictions.-Etymology:...
, who spent most of his life in Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
. He was the first mayor and practical founder of Carrickfergus
Carrickfergus
Carrickfergus , known locally and colloquially as "Carrick", is a large town in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. It is located on the north shore of Belfast Lough, from Belfast. The town had a population of 27,201 at the 2001 Census and takes its name from Fergus Mór mac Eirc, the 6th century king...
. He was noted in particular for his attempts to drive out the Scots
Scottish people
The Scottish people , or Scots, are a nation and ethnic group native to Scotland. Historically they emerged from an amalgamation of the Picts and Gaels, incorporating neighbouring Britons to the south as well as invading Germanic peoples such as the Anglo-Saxons and the Norse.In modern use,...
from Ulster
Ulster
Ulster is one of the four provinces of Ireland, located in the north of the island. In ancient Ireland, it was one of the fifths ruled by a "king of over-kings" . Following the Norman invasion of Ireland, the ancient kingdoms were shired into a number of counties for administrative and judicial...
and the great lengths that he went to in attempting to enhance the power of local chiefs at the expense of the Scots. Granted Tristernagh Abbey
Tristernagh Abbey
Tristernagh Abbey, also known as the Priory of Kilbixy, is a ruined Augustinian priory, situated on the shores of Lough Iron about north east of Ballynacargy in County Westmeath, Ireland. The abbey was founded in 1192 by Geoffrey de Constantine and was dedicated to Mary. It was ransacked by the...
as a reward for his military services, he made it into his family home from the late 1560s until his death in 1603.
Early years
He came from a family whose seat was in Piers Hall in the county of YorkYork
York is a walled city, situated at the confluence of the Rivers Ouse and Foss in North Yorkshire, England. The city has a rich heritage and has provided the backdrop to major political events throughout much of its two millennia of existence...
. He was the son of Richard Piers; his paternal grandfather was John Piers; his paternal great-grandfather was Gerald Piers. Nothing is known about his education.
He was described by a deposition in the high court of admiralty
Admiralty court
Admiralty courts, also known as maritime courts, are courts exercising jurisdiction over all maritime contracts, torts, injuries and offences.- Admiralty Courts in England and Wales :...
, dated 27 November 1555, as ‘a tall burly man with a big, brown beard’ who was captain of a ship given to him by James Fitzgerald, 13th Earl of Desmond. Piers was recruited by the acting as governor of Ireland, Thomas Radcliffe, Lord Fitzwalter, to participate in a naval expedition against the Scots in the North Channel
North Channel (Great Britain and Ireland)
The North Channel is the strait which separates eastern Northern Ireland from southwestern Scotland...
and the Hebrides. He was also highly active as a fisherman. In the spring of 1558, Piers participated in a second maritime attack on the MacDonalds who were emigrating to Ulster
Ulster
Ulster is one of the four provinces of Ireland, located in the north of the island. In ancient Ireland, it was one of the fifths ruled by a "king of over-kings" . Following the Norman invasion of Ireland, the ancient kingdoms were shired into a number of counties for administrative and judicial...
. In 1562, however, he developed diplomatic relations with James MacDonald
James MacDonald, 6th of Dunnyveg
James Mac Domhnaill or MacDonald in Scotland, 6th of Dunnyveg , a Scoto-Irish chieftain, who was the son of Alexander MacDonald, lord of Islay and Kintyre , and Catherine MacDonald, daughter of the Lord of Ardnamurchan....
after travelling to Kintyre
Kintyre
Kintyre is a peninsula in western Scotland, in the southwest of Argyll and Bute. The region stretches approximately 30 miles , from the Mull of Kintyre in the south, to East Loch Tarbert in the north...
to meet with him, but although he remained in contact with the MacDonalds for several years he would soon do all he could to limit the power of the Scots.
Governor of Carrickfergus
Elizabeth I of England
Elizabeth I was queen regnant of England and Ireland from 17 November 1558 until her death. Sometimes called The Virgin Queen, Gloriana, or Good Queen Bess, Elizabeth was the fifth and last monarch of the Tudor dynasty...
"from the rage and fury of her sister Queen Mary
Mary I of England
Mary I was queen regnant of England and Ireland from July 1553 until her death.She was the only surviving child born of the ill-fated marriage of Henry VIII and his first wife Catherine of Aragon. Her younger half-brother, Edward VI, succeeded Henry in 1547...
by conveying her privately away", in the 1560s he earned her favour after she became Queen Elizabeth, received considerable military rank, and was selected by her to go to Ireland in 1566. For his services there, he was rewarded with a large land grant, including Tristernagh Abbey
Tristernagh Abbey
Tristernagh Abbey, also known as the Priory of Kilbixy, is a ruined Augustinian priory, situated on the shores of Lough Iron about north east of Ballynacargy in County Westmeath, Ireland. The abbey was founded in 1192 by Geoffrey de Constantine and was dedicated to Mary. It was ransacked by the...
, which he made his family home. He was appointed governor of Carrickfergus, Seneschal
Seneschal
A seneschal was an officer in the houses of important nobles in the Middle Ages. In the French administrative system of the Middle Ages, the sénéchal was also a royal officer in charge of justice and control of the administration in southern provinces, equivalent to the northern French bailli...
of County Antrim
County Antrim
County Antrim is one of six counties that form Northern Ireland, situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland. Adjoined to the north-east shore of Lough Neagh, the county covers an area of 2,844 km², with a population of approximately 616,000...
in 1568. In 1567, he received a reward of 1000 marks
Mark (money)
Mark was a measure of weight mainly for gold and silver, commonly used throughout western Europe and often equivalent to 8 ounces. Considerable variations, however, occurred throughout the Middle Ages Mark (from a merging of three Teutonic/Germanic languages words, Latinized in 9th century...
for bringing the head of Shane Ó Neill, "pickled in a pipkin
Pipkin
A pipkin is an earthenware cooking pot used for cooking over direct heat from coals or a wood fire. It has a handle and three feet. Late medieval and postmedieval pipkins had a hollow handle in order to insert a stick in it for manipulation.- External links :...
", to Sir Henry Sidney
Henry Sidney
Sir Henry Sidney , Lord Deputy of Ireland was the eldest son of Sir William Sidney of Penshurst, a prominent politician and courtier during the reigns of Henry VIII and Edward VI, from both of whom he received extensive grants of land, including the manor of Penshurst in Kent, which became the...
, to display on the gates of Dublin Castle
Dublin Castle
Dublin Castle off Dame Street, Dublin, Ireland, was until 1922 the fortified seat of British rule in Ireland, and is now a major Irish government complex. Most of it dates from the 18th century, though a castle has stood on the site since the days of King John, the first Lord of Ireland...
, although it has been reported that Piers dug up Ó Neill's body and decapitated him.
After the death of O'Neill, Piers proceeded to attempt to limit further Scottish incursions into the north-east and in the spring of 1569 suffered major defeat by 400 Scots in Clandeboye
Clandeboye
Clandeboye is in modern times an area of Bangor, County Down, Northern Ireland. It is named after the Clandeboye family, a branch of the O'Neill dynasty. They settled in the 1330s after the death of the Earl of Ulster in what is now south Antrim and north Down, giving their name to the territory...
. He soon became Seneschal of Clandeboye, acting as a the local representative of the crown and diplomatic intermediary between the central administration and local political leaders in the Irish community. He used his position to develop the commercial potential of Carrickfergus and from 1572–3 he served as its mayor, strongly supported by influential local chiefs, such as Brian mac Phelim O'Neill, lord of Clandeboye.
Walter Devereux, 1st Earl of Essex
Walter Devereux, 1st Earl of Essex, KG , an English nobleman and general. From 1573 until his death he fought in Ireland in connection with the Plantation of Ulster, where he ordered the massacre of Rathlin Island...
who accused him of passing military intelligence to Brian mac Phelim O'Neill. Essex ordered Piers's arrest and detention in Carrickfergus Castle in December but Piers was freed and was subsequently reappointed to the constableship of Carrickfergus in 1575. Brian mac Phelim O'Neill, on the contrary, was executed by Essex for treason.
Decline
Piers developed an interest in plantation projects in the north-east in the 1570s. In 1578, he was documented as sending proposals to the central London government to exploit the Ards peninsulaArds Peninsula
The Ards Peninsula is a peninsula in County Down, Northern Ireland which separates Strangford Lough from the North Channel of the Irish Sea, on Ireland's northeast coast. A number of towns and villages are located on the peninsula, such as the seaside town of Donaghadee, with the surrounding area...
and to create an incorporated company which would control the trade of the coast from Strangford
Strangford
Strangford is a small village at the mouth of Strangford Lough in County Down, Northern Ireland. It had a population of 475 people at the 2001 Census.On the other side of the lough is Portaferry and there is a ferry service between the two villages...
to Sligo
Sligo
Sligo is the county town of County Sligo in Ireland. The town is a borough and has a charter and a town mayor. It is sometimes referred to as a city, and sometimes as a town, and is the second largest urban area in Connacht...
and gain control of the area by leasing the land to local chiefs, effectively banishing the Scots from Ulster. His commercial interests proved fruitless as well as his political attempts to make an agreement with Turlough Luineach
Turlough Luineach O'Neill
Toirdhealbhach Luineach Mac Néill Chonnalaigh Ó Néill , the earl of the Clan-Connell, was inaugurated as the King of Tyrone, upon Shane O’Neill’s death...
, with royal support from the queen and the privy council to banish the Scots from Ulster in summer of 1580. Piers met strong opposition from Arthur Grey, 14th Baron Grey de Wilton
Arthur Grey, 14th Baron Grey de Wilton
Arthur Grey, 14th Baron Grey de Wilton was a baron in the Peerage of England, remembered mainly for his memoir of his father, and for participating in the last defence of Calais.-Life:...
who eventually prevented the proposals from being approved. Politically, this was a humiliating defeat for Piers and marked the decline of his power and status in Clandeboye. He retired to Tristernagh in 1582 and his health gradually declined, reported as losing the mobility of his legs in 1593. He did, however, return to England for a visit in 1591. Despite his withdrawal, he remained interested in the cause for the banishment of the Scots from Ulster and submitted proposals to weaken the power of Hugh O'Neill, 2nd Earl of Tyrone and attempting to increase the power of local chiefs lesser as barons, but again his proposals were rejected.
Personal life
Piers married Ann Holt, of Holt Castle, County of ChesterCheshire
Cheshire is a ceremonial county in North West England. Cheshire's county town is the city of Chester, although its largest town is Warrington. Other major towns include Widnes, Congleton, Crewe, Ellesmere Port, Runcorn, Macclesfield, Winsford, Northwich, and Wilmslow...
. He had one son, Henry, and daughters, Mary and Anne. His nephew, William Piers, was a subsequent mayor of Carrickfergus. One of his descendants, probably his grandson, Sir Henry Piers, 1st Baronet (c. 1628–1691), established the Piers Baronets
Piers Baronets
There have been two Baronetcies created for persons with the surname Piers, one in the Baronetage of Nova Scotia and one in the Baronetage of Ireland. One creation is extant as of 2008 while the other is dormant....
of Tristernagh Abbey in 1661. This lineage is still existent today.
Piers died in 1603 and was buried at Carrickfergus.