1533:

A proclamation was issued in England to destroy and suppress songs sung in the English language. Robert Cowley, a Collector of Customs in Ireland, tried to extend the proclamation to include songs sung in Irish too.

1537: Robert Cowley, a Collector of Customs in Ireland, wrote to Secretary Cromwell claiming that harpers and bards were active in extortions, robberies, and other abuses.

"The Colleys are likely like Cawleys/Cowleys to have originated from Denmark and came over with the Vikings in around 900AD. The Danish spelling is Kolli'. This would fit as the old Danelaw included the later English Midlands which is where the Colleys originally settled before the Irish adventure in the 16th century."