Sciatis quod profine vigniti solidorem Nicholai Hotot cherico hanaperio Cancellarie nostre Hibernie persoluto, concessimus Odnio O'Shee, Willelimo O'Shee, Johanni O'Shee, et Edmundo O'Shee pro Nobis et heredibus nostris quod ipsi et omnes exitus sui utriusque sexus, tani procreati quam procreandi, liberi fuit Status et conditionis, et ab omni servitute Hibernicali liberi fuit et quiete; et quod respondeant in quibuscunque Curiis Hibernie; et quod Ipsi gaudeant et utantur leges anglicane in omnibus et per omnia eodem mode quo Anglicii in terra nostra Hibernieca gaudent et utantur; et quod libere possuit adquirere sibi bona et catalla, terras et tenementa et uide disponere et in eis succedera tanquam Anglecii in terra nostaa predicta; et quod libere possuit habere et possidere quecumque beneficia ecclesiastica, condicionibus Hibernicis non obstantibus; deum tamen iidem Odonius, Willelimus, Johannes et Edmundus betiegii nostre non sint.

In cujus rei et Teste Edmundo de Mortuo Mari Conite Marcii et Ultoine locum Nostrum Tenente.

Apud Clonmell sexto die novembris anno quinto Richardi secundi, 1381-2.

Sciatis quad nos vilentes Ricardum Sheeth alias O'Shee de Hibernica natione existentem, favore prosequi generoso, gracia nostra speciali, de assensu dilecti et fidelis nostri Thome Fitz Morice Comitis Kildar, Deputati carissimi consanguinei nostri Ricardi Ducis Eboraci, locum nostrum tenentis terre nostre Hibernie, concessimus prefate Ricardo Sheeth quad ipse et omnes exitus sui procreati et procreandi, liberi sicut Status et libere condicionis, ac ab omni servitute Hibernicali liberi et quieti; et quod Ipsi legibus anglicanis in omnibus et per omnia uti passuit et gaudere, eodem modo quo homines anglici infra dictam terram eas habent et eis gaudent et utuntur. Quodque Ipsi respondeant et respondeantur in quibuscumque Curiis Hibernie, et quod Ipsi omni modo terras, tenementa redditus, servicia, officia,et alias possessiones quoscumque adquirere, ea habere, occupare et eis gaudere, sibi, heredibus et assignatis suis in perpetaum, ac in eisdem succedere et de eis hereditare valeant. Ac etiam ad quacumque beneficia ecclesiastica, tam dignitates quam alia beneficia ecclesiastica promaveri, et admitti, et ea habere, acceptare, occupare et eis gaudere possint, pro ut homines Anglici infra dictam terram nostram ea habent et eis gaudent, absque aliqua impeticione vel impedimento, perturbacione, sexe gravacionie Nostri, heredum, successorum, officiariorum vel ministrorum nostrosum quorumcumque, aliqua condicione Hibernicali aut aliquibus statutis, actis, ordinacionibus, provisionibus vel privilegiis, aut haec tempora inde in contrarium factis, non obstantibus. Dum tamen idem Ricardus Sheet et exitus sui predicti, ut fideles legi nostri ergo nos et heredes nostros ac fidelem populum nostrum se habeat et gerant ni futurum.

In cujus rei testimonium has litteras nostras fieri ferimus patentes, teste prefato Deputato.

A.D. 1458

Apud le Nass decimo octavo die novembris anno regni nostre tricesimo quinto ... Prendergast ... Perpeticionem per ipsum Deputatum indorsatum et privato sigillo suo consignatum, et per sex solidos etacto denarios salutos in hanaperio...

Anciently, from the beginning, the valiant and vertuous actes of excellent persons hath bene commended to the worlde and posterity with savry monuments and remembrances of their good deseartes: amongest the which the chiefest and most usual had bene the bearing of signes and tokens in shieldes called armes, being evident demonstrations and testimonies of prowesse and valour diversely distributed according to the qualities and desertes of the persons meritting the same, which order as it is prudently devised to stire up and enflame the heartes of men to the imitation of vertue; even so hath the same been continued from time to time, and yet it is continually observed in the intent that such as have done commendable service to their prince and country, either in warre or peace, may therefore received due honour in their lives, and also derive the same successively to their offspring and posteritie forever.

Amongst the which number Richard Shee of Kilkenny in Ireland, and the Gray's Inn in England, being one of the bearers of these tokens of honour, hath instantly requested me, the said Clarenciealx, to assigne, blaze, marshall and sett forth this ancient arms and crest, and by just descent he may lossfully beare them, and being blazed and sett forth to deliver the same unto him under my hand and seale of mine office. And to examplify and register the same within the regesters and recordes of the offices of armes, by the power and authoritie to my committed by letteres patentes under the greate seale of England, have ratified, confirmed, regestered and allowed unto the said Richard Shee esquire the armes and creast hereafter following, as the same doth lineally descend unto him from his ancestors viz: that is to say, the first for Shee the field azure and golde, per bend indented, two fleur de lies counterchanged, which was the arms of Odoneus Shee. And the second the field gules, three swordes per fesse silver, hilted and pommeled gold, and that was the armes of William Shee. The third the field sables, three broadarrow heades silver, which was the armes of John Shee. And the fourth the field gules, three swordes silver, hilted and pommeled golde, two of them in saltyr and the third in palle, which was the armes of Edmund Shee. The fifth the field silver, a chevern Erminey between three broadarrow heades sable, which was the armes of Archer. And the sixth golde and gules per pollenindented, which is the armes of Bermingham. The seventh the field is silver, three barres gules, over all a bend sables, which is the armes of de la Hyde. And the eighth is as the first.

And to the creast upon the helm upon a wreath gold and azure a Swan rousand sables, mantled gules, doubled silver, as more plainly appeareth depicted in the margent, which armes and creast, and every part and parcell thereof, I the said Clarenciealx King of armes by these presentes do ratify, confirme and allowe to the said Richard Shee esquire, and his posterity; and he and they the same to use, beare and sett forth in shield, coat armour or otherwise, at his and their liberty and pleasure, according to the ancient lawes of armes, without let or interruption from any person or persons.

In witness whereof I the said Clarencieulx King of armes, have signed these presentes with myne hand and set hereunto to the seale of my office, the seventh day of august anno Domini 1582, and in the XXIIIIth year of the reign of our most gracious Soveraigne Ladye Queene Elizabeth.

Robert Cook alias Clarenciealx

Entered in the office of I Richard St. George, Ulster King of Armes.