thankfully, and ware the same in Limerick and in all places where he went with me". By such conciliatory conduct St Leger, in the opinion of Justice Cusack, won over to obedience the whole province of Munster. In July 1541, Desmond was appointed chief executor of the "ordinances for the reformation of Ireland" in Munster. In token of the renunciation of the privilege claimed by his ancestors of not being obliged to attend the great councils of the realm, he took his seat in a parliament held at Dublin. In June 1542 he visited England, where he was graciously received by King Henry, his title acknowledged, and the king wrote to the Irish council "that the Earl of Desmond hath here submitted himself in so honest, lowly, and humble a sort towards us, as we have conceived a very great hope that he will prove a man of great honour, truth, and good service". Nor did he, during the rest of his life, fail to justify this opinion. On 9 July 1543, he obtained a grant of the crown lease of St. Mary's Abbey, Dublin, to give him a place where he could stay when attending parliament. Henry's son, Edward VI, named him Lord Treasurer of Ireland on the death of the Earl of Ormonde (patent 29 March 1547), and on 15 October 1547, when thanking him for his services in repressing disorders in Munster, King Henry offered to make a companion of his son. During the government of Edward Bellingham, he was accused of treason, and having refused a peremptory order to appear in Dublin, the deputy swooped down upon him unexpectedly in the dead of winter 1548, and carried him off a prisoner. He was soon released and continued in office by Queen Mary. Marriages and children FitzGerald married four times: First marriage FitzGerald's first marriage was to his grandniece Joan Roche, daughter of Maurice Roche, 6th Viscount Fermoy, and his wife Eleanor, the daughter of FitzGerald's younger brother Maurice. The marriage was annulled and their son Thomas Ruadh FitzGerald of Conna, who otherwise would have been heir apparent, was disinherited. FitzGerald's grandson by Thomas, James (Séamus) Fitzgerald, called "the Sugán Earl", would claim the earldom and lead a revolt. Second marriage and children Secondly he married More O'Carroll, daughter of Sir Maolrony McShane O'Carroll, Lord of Ely. James and More had three sons: Gerald ( – 1583)