Life
1513-1537; [‘Silken Thomas’, Tomás an tSioda]; 10th Earl of Kildare; early life
in England; appointed Lord Deputy of Ireland in absence of his father,
summoned to England, 1534; on hearing rumours of his father’s execution,
called council at St Mary’s Abbey, Dublin, and rode with 140 horsemen
(with 'silken fringes') to the Abbey to renounce allegiance to the King;
his men later seized and murder John Allen, Lord Chancellor and Archbishop of Dublin, abortive attack on Dublin Castle, July; his father died of illness in
London, and succeeded; Thomas retreated to Maynooth; his stronghold there taken
by William Skeffington while Thomas was gathering reinforcements; garrison
all executed (‘Maynooth Pardon’); Lord Grey arrives; seeks pardon;
sent to Tower; hanged, drawn and quartered with 5 uncles, Tyburn, 3 Feb.
1537. DIB DNB
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Princess Grace Irish Library (Monaco)