28 April 1529
The Treaty of Dingle IV
James earl of Desmond and the Imperial ambassador, Gonçalo Fernández signed the treaty of Dingle in Caisleán na bFhiac. It was drafted as a supplicatio: that of a lesser magnate to a greater, and invoked Translatio Imperii, whereby Henry VIII's 'tyrranny' was deemed to have forfeited his overlordship of Desmond. James transferred his allegiance to Charles V under whose protection he 'placed his estates, vassals, relatives and adherents'. In return for military services, naval bases and commercial advantages, the emperor granted privileges to Desmond's people, of co-equality with his subjects in his realms. The treaty was witnessed by Denis MacDonell, Denis Cather 'a doctor of arts and of medicine', and Maurice Herly, dean of Ardfert, who were members of the earl's council. It was solemnised with a Te Deum in St James' church, and at the concluding banquet, Fernández presented Desmond with a golden loving cup, to symbolise the alliance.
