Elizabeth I: volume 205, October 1599

October 1599

October 2. York House.

190. Thomas Egerton, the Lord Keeper, to the Lord High Treasurer [Buckhurst], the Lord High Admiral [Nottingham], and the Principal Secretary [Sir Robert Cecil]. "I send you hereinclosed [wanting] the Earl of Essex's answer to the points contained in your Lordships' last letters, which I received sithence dinner, [and] which he dispatched presently upon understanding Her Majesty's pleasure therein."—York House, October 2. Endorsed by Sir Robert Cecil, " 2 8bris 99. The Lord Keeper to ye Lords, with the Earl of Essex his answers." Holograph. Seal. p. ½.

Oct. 3. York House.

191. Thomas Egerton, the Lord Keeper, to the Lord High Treasurer, the Lord High Admiral, and Sir Robert Cecil. "Immediately upon receipt of your Lordships' letter (which was at ten of the clock yesternight), I dealt with the Earl of Essex as your Lordships directed. He hath set down in writing his answer to those particular heads which you propounded, which I send to your Lordships hereinclosed [wanting]. For Captain Thomas Lee, the Earl saith that he gave him express commandment that he should repair to Sir Henry Lee, and to stay with him for dispatch of his private business, and not to resort to London or the Court. Notwithstanding, I will inquire for Lee, and, if he be found in London, will give him such charge as your Lordships direct. If he be not come hither, then I think it convenient that letters be presently dispatched to Sir Henry Lee to that effect which you write, submitting my opinion to your Lordships' grave consideration.

"The servants the Earl desireth may have access unto him for his private business are Ed. Reynolds and — Cuff. His disease continueth still, and besides he findeth the state of his body disposed to a fever, as he saith. In respect whereof he humbly desireth that Dr. Mounford, his physician, who attended him in Ireland, and knoweth best the state of his body, may also have access unto him for his health. This which he hath written he did write in his bed, and, by reason I called upon him hastily for speedy dispatch, he could not keep any copy of it, as he desired; and therefore his humble suit to your Lordships is that a copy may be sent unto him, which his suit he entreated me very earnestly to make known unto you."—York House, 1599, October 3. Endorsed by Sir Robert Cecil, "2 [error for 3] 8bris, 99. The Lord Keeper to the Lords." Holograph. Seal. pp. 1½.

October 3.

192. Paper endorsed by Sir Robert Cecil, "3 8bris 99. A memorial of certain points to which the Earl of Essex is to deliver his opinion. This was when he had been called before the Council."

What are the particular offers that Tyrone did make unto his Lordship ?

"Whether was it for himself, or whom did he include within his offers ?

"Whether had his Lordship any more offers made after Tyrone's return from O'Donnell, than he had at his first speaking with him ?

"What were they, and who was privy unto them, and what hath his Lordship in writing to prove the same ? And within how many days after his first speech with Tyrone was it that Tyrone returned ?

"Whether did he find by him that he would defer to conclude for himself (and those of Ulster and Connaught), till the Munster and Leinster men were also compounded withal, or no?

"What was it that he expected from the Queen in respect of his submission.

If his conditions were such as his Lordship would have advised the Queen to take (now upon his coming over), whether did he mean that when Her Majesty should have accepted them, she should have kept the army, or abated it ? And, if she should have abated it, to what number should she have reduced it, and to what places ?

"Whether doth his Lordship find by Tyrone that he resolved, if Her Majesty would pardon him, to make claim to those whom he still termeth his uriaghts, or to relinquish them?

"Whether will he be content to have any garrison in his country, as before time he was, and to admit the Queen's justice to be executed in any of those territories ?

"To these points Her Majesty's pleasure is to receive direct answer, because she may judge whether that overture which he cometh to make were fit to be accepted, considering that one of these things must follow:—

"If Her Majesty pardon Tyrone, as Tyrone desireth, and keep her forces there, then she reapeth no fruit by this conclusion.

"If she do dissolve her forces, and have not good surety by his yielding more safe conditions, then shall it be easy for the traitor, when he seeth his best opportunity, to prejudice her estate there.

"These things being duly considered, Her Majesty is pleased that his Lordship do set down what advice it was he meant to have given her at his coming hither, all which, being set down under his hand, will be more free from mistaking, than when Her Majesty hath it by report." Draft, pp. 2.

Oct. 3. Dublin.

193. The Lords Justices Loftus and Carey and the Council to the Earl of Essex. " Since your departure, we have dispatched Sir Samuel Bagenall, Sir Matthew Morgan, and Sir Charles Piercy, to their several places of charge, and have given them commissions of authority according their several limits prescribed by your Lordship. And now we are in hand to send the Marshal into Offally, who had been ready to march three or four days past, were it not for the backwardness of the country to bring in carts to carry victuals for the companies, and garrans for portage of lime to repair the Toughor, with munition to answer that service. For which purpose the Sheriffs had warrant upon Thursday last, being the 27th of the last month, to furnish these provisions, and have not as yet answered the full proportion, though we have given out second warrants, and employed a pursuivant to the Sheriffs for more expedition. We have likewise given order for assembling some of the principal gentlemen of the Pale, both to set down rates for the horse troops, such as may be indifferent, as well for the soldier as the country, and also to consider of some course to revive Her Majesty's composition within the Pale, which hath long run without any certain reckoning or account made to Her Majesty. For this cause we have prefixed several days for the appearance of the country here, according the distance of the several counties.

"We have not as yet heard anything of the pledges which the Viscount Mountgarrett and Lord of Cahir, with other submittees of Leinster, promised to put in before your Lordship and [the] Council long since; and for the Lord of Cahir, we have not seen him since your Lordship's departure, neither do we know in what sort he was dismissed; whether by license from your Lordship, or by his wilful absenting of himself. Neither have we heard anything from himself of the manner of his going away, which may make us the less confident towards him, if we thought your Lordship had not taken some good assurance of him. Only from the Viscount Mountgarrett we have received a letter directed to your Lordship, and, in your absence, to such others as should have charge here, wherein he desireth us to be a mean to your Lordship for restitution of his house of Ballyragget, alleging many inconveniences and outrages done by the soldiers. The like doth also James FitzPiers for his house of Woodstock. But, for that they are places stayed in Her Majesty's hands by your Lordship, it is not for us to make any alteration, but by direction from your Lordship. Only we make bold to put your Lordship in mind, that this failing to send in their pledges, and their pressing to have their castles redelivered, is no good sign of their conformity, and the continuance thereof; being men (as your Lordship knoweth) but newly recovered, in whom time hath not yet made proof of what hearts they are towards Her Majesty and her government." Will be glad to hear from Essex.—Dublin, 1599, October 3. Addressed to Essex at the Court. Endorsed, Received 20 October. Signed. pp. 2.

Oct. 4. Dublin.

194. Sir Geffrey Fenton to the Earl of Essex. "By the joint letter, your Lordship may see what hath passed in this State since your departure, so as there is no cause to trouble your Lordship further with the general proceedings; only, in particular, I make bold to put your Lordship in mind that, the time of the cessation being to expire about the last of the month, it is requisite to be enlarged further, which cannot be done but by your Lordship, or some others specially sent from you, authorised and instructed.

"Tyrone holdeth as yet good quarter for Ulster and borders of the North, insomuch as the passage between Dundalk and the Newry is now as free and safe as it was before the rebellion; which I understand by Mr. Ersfield and other gentlemen late come from the Newry, who passed single through the Moyerie without hurt, or any attempt made to impeach them. Magennis, likewise, and the woodmen towards Clandeboy, keep good peace, and begin to renew traffic and neighbourhood with the poor subjects inhabiting those borders.

"For O'Donnell, I hear nothing of his doings, other than that a composition is passed between him and O'Connor Sligo, but with what limitations and conditions is not known. Yet it is like that O'Connor, being under the tyranny of the other, will think any bargain good for him, if it bring assurance of life and recovery of his lands; though for such contract as he shall make with O'Donnell, he may think to use it but as provisional, till he may be otherwise countenanced and established by Her Majesty. The Countess his wife hath made suit to be licensed to go to him, under pretence to give him advice, and to hold him sound in heart to the State, howsoever the poverty of his case and the power of his adversary may draw him to dissemble outwardly. But, for some reasons of State, it is resolved not to give her leave; and yet, as well to comfort O Connor Sligo, as to consult with him, it is thought requisite to let slip the Bishop, his uncle, who hath been always fast to the State, and may do there good offices to his uncle [sic; ? nephew], and serve Her Majesty's turn by discovering O'Donnell and his doings, according such advice and instructions, as he shall receive here.

"Some of the rebels of Leinster, specially the O'Moores, O'Connors and O'Byrnes, take liberty by the cessation to come into the Pale, and exact meat and drink of the subjects, making their excuse that they have not as yet taken notice from Tyrone how far they were tied by the cessation; and forasmuch as they extend not their outrages further than the taking of victuals, the garrison have hitherto forborne to run upon them, expecting that by Commissioners, or some message from Tyrone, they will be kept in better terms, without hazarding of new stirs. I hear of no hurt done of late in Minister nor Connaught, whereby may be gathered that those two provinces have taken with the cessation, but I understand of no chief rebel there returned to obedience, nor of any inclined thereunto, which makes me think that they all await what will be the resolution of England for war or peace, wherein I pray God inspire Her Majesty's heart with the choice that at least may give some breathing time to this sore overpressed kingdom, until by a farther time it may receive a more thorough settling. The work is great; God prosper your Lordship in the solicitation."—Dublin, 1599, October 4.

[Postscript.] "Since the signing of this letter, Sir William Warren returned from Tyrone, and made his report of his proceedings with him. It will be hard to discern Tyrone's mind, touching the keeping or breaking of the cessation, till his next meeting with Sir William Warren, and then, if he be curious to enlarge the time further, it is long of O'Donnell, who ever hath seduced him from peace. But some special man sent to Tyrone from your Lordship will do much to work him to what you will in that point." Signed. Endorsed, Received 20 of the same. Addressed to Essex at the Court, pp. 2.

Oct. 4. Dublin.

195. The Lords Justices Loftus and Carey and the Council to the Earl of Essex. "Sir William Warren being returned yesterday from Tyrone, and delivering to us a report of his proceedings, we willed him to set it down in writing under his hand, to the end we might transmit it to your Lordship, which accordingly we have done herewith. Your Lordship may see by the declaration that there is an agreement of another meeting appointed near Dundalk within five or six days, at what time it seemeth Tyrone will be prepared to make a more thorough answer to the matters proposed to him by Sir William Warren by your Lordship's direction, having returned by this but doubtful and uncertain answers, such as in our conceits do carry evasions and dilatories (sic), and small ground of good meaning in him, to enlarge the cessation to a further time, as your Lordship did prescribe to Sir William Warren.

"And for that the time of their next meeting is so short, and that by his answers then we shall be able to judge better how he is affected, and particularly what he will do touching the cessation, we forbear in the mean while to write at large to your Lordship what we think of him in that point, leaving that matter till our next despatch, after the return of Sir William Warren, though we find cause by his present course and some speeches of Sir William Warren, that his mind is far from that conformity which is to be expected of one in his condition.

"We forbear by this despatch to write of these matters to the Lords of the Council, awaiting what will be the issue of this second meeting, humbly praying your Lordship, for our discharge, to impart to their Lordships these first proceedings of Warr[en, and], upon his next return from Tyrone, we will more amply advertise [their] Lordships according such matters as we shall find. We have also sent [your Lordship] herewith a declaration of a merchant of Wexford (wanting), lately arrived there [out of] Spain. But for Mallone, mentioned in the declaration, he is not as y[et] landed here, so as, till he come, we cannot send to your Lordship such further matter as he hath touching Spanish intelligences. The passage being ready to depart, we forbear to trouble your Lordship further at this time."—Dublin, 1599, October 4.

[Postscript.] "Sir William Warren hath now promised unto us to send to your Lordship Tyrone's own letter directed to your Lordship, as also a special letter to your Lordship from himself, but what he will further impart to your Lordship privately than he hath already done to us by his general declaration, we know not." Addressed to Essex at the Court. Signed, p. 1. Enclose,

195. I. "A declaration of the journey of Sir William Warren to Tyrone, viz.:—

"The said Sir William came to Armagh the last Friday, being the 28th of September. From thence he sent a messenger in the night to Tyrone to Dungannon, signifying his coming to Armagh as aforesaid, and that the next morning he would meet Tyrone at the fort of Blackwater, where accordingly the said Tyrone met with him, and the said Sir William dealt with him according to such instructions as he received from the Lord Lieutenant. The said Tyrone would not agree to any further time of cessation, until he had first spoken with O'Donnell, because, said he, that O'Donnell was very much offended with him for agreeing to the last cessation, until he had been made acquainted therewith.

"Tyrone hath appointed the said Sir William Warren to meet him on the borders by Dundalk, where he hath promised that then the said Sir William shall understand and receive his full resolution, as well concerning a further cessation, as also to such other instructions as the said Sir William had from the Lord Lieutenant to deal with him; and that their meeting is appointed to be within ten days after their last meeting, which was on Saturday last, the 29th of September. By way of conference with the said Tyrone, and the report of others, the said Sir William did conceive a disposition in Tyrone to draw up all the forces that he could make to the borders, as near Dundalk as he could, and all his creaghts to bring thither with him, which maketh the said Sir William to doubt of any good or conformity to be looked for at his hands.

"By further discourse the said Tyrone told to the said Sir William, and delivered it with an oath, that within these two months he should see the greatest alteration and the strangest that he, the said Sir William, could imagine, or ever saw in his life; but, what his meaning was thereby, neither did he declare the same to the said Sir William, nor could he understand it, more than that Tyrone did say that he hoped, before it were long, that he, the said Tyrone, would have a good share in England. These speeches of the alteration Tyrone reiterated two or three several times. Tyrone did tell to the said [Sir William]* that there [were Spaniards already landed in the Isle of Wight.] (fn. 1)

"The said Sir William did understand amongst them that they expected a Cardinal to come over presently, to settle religion amongst them in this country, and that they do daily expect the coming of the said Cardinal.

"Touching the building of the Togher Croghan, the said Tyrone stood upon it, alleging that it was in the hands of the Connors of Offally, and that they were in possession of it before the cessation was agreed upon; and did not yield his consent to the building thereof.

"The said Sir William doth further affirm that the said Tyrone told him that another cause why he deferred this second intended meeting of theirs for ten days, was for that he received notice from O'Donnell that McWilliam was besieged by Tibbott Ne Longe, and that the said O'Donnell was himself to go and remove that siege. Likewise the said Sir William doth affirm that, he having acquainted Tyrone with the disorders and spoils committed by the Connors in Offally since the cessation, Tyrone answered that he would write to them in those matters, and that if they did refuse to perform the conditions of the cessation, he said he would (if he might he licensed by the State) come into that country himself, with three thousand men, and compel them to make restitution to the least (sic) farthing; to which end he had written his letters to the Connors aforesaid, and also to the Moores in Leix to the like effect, and sent a messenger of his own with that letter in company with Sir William. But a secretary of Tyrone's, meeting the boy with the said letter, took the letter from him and tare the same, saying that it should not be delivered until he had spoken with his master Tyrone. He saith also that the said messenger had letters to the Moores in Leix, importing that they should suffer the fort there, and the castles, to be victualled ; but for furnishing them with wood, Tyrone said that the woods were in the possession of the rebels of that country before the cessation was agreed upon; and he saith that the said letters to that effect was permitted by the secretary aforesaid to be carried forward to them in Leix."—1599, October 3. Endorsed by Sir Robert Cecil," 3 Octobris. Sir W. Warren his relation what had passed between him and Tyrone. This came with the letter of the 4th." Signed, pp. 2½.

Oct. 5. Dublin.

196. Sir William Warren to the Earl of Essex. "I returned from the Earl of Tyrone the third of this instant October; and upon my coming to the Lord Justice Treasurer, he took me with him to the Lord Justice Chancellor, before whom jointly I delivered Tyrone's answers to my instructions signed by your honourable Lordship, and all other circumstances which passed between us by way of discourse, which their Lordships did put in writing, and caused me to set my hand thereunto. The copy whereof I send unto your Lordship hereinclosed [marginal note, by Sir Robert Cecil:—"This is the writing inclosed of the 3 of October "], together with a letter from Tyrone, who hath appointed me to be at Dundalk about the 12th of this instant, where I shall receive his full resolution. And although it will appear, by his letter to your honourable Lordship, that the day of meeting should not be in twenty days after, yet I assure your honourable Lordship that the day of meeting was mistaken by his secretary, and his letters being sealed, he understanding that Tibbott Ne Longe had besieged the supposed McWilliam, at which he was very much moved, and therefore unwilling to write again the said letter, yet afterwards his agreement and appointment was with me as aforesaid. Your honourable Lordship will conceive more by my declaration made to the Lords Justices, unto which I most humbly refer your honourable Lordship.

"As occasion shall be farther ministered, I will not fail but with all speediness advertise the same to your Lordship. If in these proceedings I have failed in any material points which your Lordship expected, I most humbly crave pardon that the same may be attributed to my lack of judgment, and not for want of any willingness, having devoted myself altogether to your Lordship's disposition. By your honourable Lordship's next letters, I shall understand your Lordship's farther pleasure, which I will observe as far as my life will extend."—Dublin, 1599, October 5. Signed. Endorsed by Sir Robert Cecil, "5to Octobris. Sir W. Warren to the Earl of Essex; with a declaration of his first parley after the Earl left Ireland." p. 1. Encloses,

196. 1. "A declaration of the journey of Sir William Warren to Tyrone." [Duplicate of No. 195 1.]—1599, October 3. Endorsed by Sir Robert Cecil, " This was sent from the Justices." Copy. pp. 2½.

196. II. Hugh, Earl of Tyrone, to the Earl of Essex. "My Lord, I understand by Sir William Warren that you are suddenly gone for England. I have appointed him to meet me within twenty days, and then shall he know my resolution. So I pray God have you in His keeping. From the Blackwater, this 9 October [September 29-October 9] 99." Signed, p. ½.

Oct. 5.

197. Memoranda by the Earl of Essex on the state of Ireland.

"That word 'ever' should have been 'usually;' which may be understood from the beginning of Her Majesty's reign till Sir William Fitzwilliams' time, who by his new exactions drave divers into rebellion. Those English which hold their castles shall not be impeached by the Irish. Those which have lost their castles by force, or by treachery of their servants, for anything I can find by Tyrone, shall not be sought to be disinherited of their lands, or the possession of them injuriously gotten to be stood upon. But for those which without cause, and for fear and cowardice, did run. away [and] abandon both lands and castles, he thinketh their states forfeited, and hopeth out of them Her Majesty will have gracious consideration of the Irish gentlemen; but all this is to be referred to [a] Commission.

"I did so insist in making one principal rebel an example, and did shew him how proudly and factiously James Fitz Thomas had written to Spain, making his person equal with Tyrone's, and his ability to do service to the cause greater, as I found in his heart he could be well content to let him run any fortune; and the rather, if Her Majesty would set up young Desmond in the Tower against James Fitz Thomas, by which means the followers of the house would be drawn away, and the Irish well satisfied.

"That Her Majesty will give me her princely word that, upon Tyrone's true penitency and dutiful endeavours to do service hereafter, she will forgive him in her heart, as well as in parchment and by an open pardon. And that Her Majesty will command or allow me to deliver it to him by my word and protestation as Her Majesty's faithful messenger; wherein it is to be understood that it is no assurance but Her Majesty's word which will be taken.

"I persuade myself he will stand more for matter than form; but he must, as he saith, shew to have care of them to the world, else he shall grow odious to his own party, and they will cut his throat, and set up a more malicious and dangerous head. Also, in the other treaties he did still protest that, though Her Majesty would have him speak but for himself, yet, if the rest were not agreed withal in like manner, he would never hold himself tied; which Sir Warham Sentleger and those which were employed in the former negotiation do confess.

"If Her Majesty will not in this sort, and with these conditions, compound the troubles of Ireland, I do humbly offer choice of these three ways; either to prosecute in Ulster this next spring, which will not be done with less than 20,000 foot and 1,400 horse; or else to prosecute in Munster, Leinster, and Connaught, leaving Ulster only frontiered with garrisons, which is to be done with 14,000 foot and 1,200 horse; or else only to keep the forts and towns, which will be with 10,000 foot and 1,000 horse." Endorsed by Sir Robert Cecil, "5 8bre. E[arl of] E[ssex]." Holograph, pp. 3½.

Oct. 6. Richmond.

198. Queen Elizabeth to the Lords Justices Loftus and Carey, the Earl of Ormonde, and the rest of the Council. "You shall understand that, upon the arrival of Essex from his charge, he hath delivered us particular relations of the state of our affairs. First, that he hath left the government of that kingdom to you two, as our Justices, and to you, our cousin of Ormonde, as Lieutenant of our army, of which distribution we do allow, and hereby do confirm the same in manner and form as he left it, by virtue of our commission. Secondly, he did impart unto us many particulars of the courses which our forces held, and of the ill success happened in his time to divers ill guided and conducted troops of ours; wherein we took occasion to expostulate with him [on] his long tergiversation in the northern action, whereby all opportunity was past, our army weakened, and the rebels grown strong and increased in their pride, and so our whole year's charge consumed to no purpose. He did plainly answer us, that, whatsoever he did in that point, he did it contrary to his own proposition and desire, rather choosing to assent to so general a contestation in all you of the Council who dissuaded it, than to venture to be taxed for a singularity in a matter whereof the success was doubtful. Lastly, he declared that, upon a meeting with Tyrone, he had found in him an internal desire to become a good subject, and that he had made divers offers and petitions, whereupon to be received to our grace and favour; which being examined by him, and appearing in many things unreasonable, he would no way conclude until our pleasure were first had; but suspended all final answer therein, and yielded to a cessation from six weeks to six weeks, if fourteen days' warning were not given; which in effect is but an abstinence for fourteen days. And therein also we do note, that it had been an argument of more duty in Tyrone, to have submitted that condition to a less equality, seeing he is to win our grace by lowly and humble conditions, and not by loftiness. Nevertheless, for that point of the cessation, our pleasure is that you do no way break it; for in whatsoever any word is passed from him that represents our person, we will have no pretext to warrant any violation of that which we have ever held so precious.

"And yet to you we cannot hide that we are displeased that our kingdom hath been so ill ordered, as that we must accept of such proceedings, before the rebel had tasted somewhat of our power. Neither could we like his judgment in coming over so suddenly to us in person, knowing well that, upon this abrupt departure, every ill spirit would fashion sinister conjectures; some, that the State was desperate; others, that himself, upon whose judgment it was likely that we would rely, would imagine it fit to have his offer taken in all points, or else that he would rather have written than come. In which consideration, to the intent that no man hereafter should leave such a charge so suddenly, without making any end one way or other, we could do no less than sequester him from our presence for some time, into the house of one of our Privy Council, as an argument of our mislike thereof. For, although it be known to us that the treaty set on foot between the King of Spain and us taketh away any doubt that he will now give any succour to those rebels, yet was it more than he knew, but that the remain of the forces at the Groyne, being frustrated of other attempts, might have been sent thither; which, if it should have happened during his absence, could not but have wrought confusion in that State. Of this, much we think fit that you be informed, lest it might be conceived that we misliked to hear of any submission, or that the Traitor might think we meant to reject him. And, therefore, we would have him understand from you, our cousin of Ormonde, that, although we mislike divers particulars in his offers, yet do we both allow of his desire to be forgiven, and are resolved (if the fault be not in himself) to restore him to our grace and favour. But forasmuch as his petitions consist of many considerable circumstances, wherein we must have regard to our honour above all things, we will defer our final answer for some few days, and then return to him our pleasure under our hand by some so confident personage, as, when he looketh down into the centre of his faults, and up to the height of our mercy, he shall find and feel that he is the creature of a gracious sovereign, that taketh more contentment to save than to destroy the work of our own hands. If you shall think good to choose our Secretary Fenton, with some assistant, to deliver them this much, and thereby to see how he stands affected, we shall well allow that election, or of any other that you shall think fit for our service, if sickness or any other sufficient cause do hinder his employment.

"It remaineth now that we command you, the Justices, to forbear making knights, granting of leases, wards, pardons, or pensions, and forthwith to advise us what is the state of our army and of our treasure, and what accidents have happened since Essex his return; and, whensoever you shall have heard anything from the Traitor, to certify that also to our Council here. And where we have heard that some of our Council there are desirous to come over for their own private business, our pleasure is that you do not license any of them, until you receive further order from us, or that we shall have, with some further time, settled a more certain course in that State."—The Court at Richmond, 1599, October 6. [Marginal note in Entry Book:—"This letter of Her Majesty's was sent by post to Holyhead, and, lest it should miscarry, the copy thereof was sent in this letter following, by the way of Chester."] Entry Book, No. 204, fos. 184-185 b. Copy. pp. 2½.

Oct. 7. Richmond.

199. The Lord Treasurer [Buckhurst], the Lord High Admiral [Nottingham], and Secretary [Sir Robert Cecil], to the Lords Justices Loftus and Carey, the Earl of Ormonde, and the Council. "You shall understand by this inclosed [copy of the preceding letter] of what importance it is that you may be acquainted timely with the substance of this despatch, whereupon dependeth the main points of such proceedings as you are to hold, to whom the trust of the kingdom is jointly committed. Her Majesty hath with her royal hand signed word by word the despatch, whereof this is the copy. That despatch was sent yesterday to Holyhead. This we have directed by the way of Chester to this purpose, that we may be sure, if the one miscarry, the other may yet be delivered. And therefore, as your Lordships know the cause of our sending, and now perceive the effect of Her Majesty's commandments, we do hereby deliver unto your Lordships and the rest precisely, that, if this copy do arrive before the original, you shall pursue all parts thereof, as if you had it signed under Her Majesty's own hand. Wherein, to give better credit to this, which is but a copy, we three do assure you the same to be in all points agreeable with the original; and, for testimony thereof, we have here set to our hands."—The Court at Richmond, 1599, October 7. Entry Book, No. 204, fo. 185b. Copy. p. ½.

Oct. 8. Athlone.

200. Sir Arthur Savage to the Earl of Essex. "Sithence your departure there is nothing happened more worthy to be advertised of than the report of O'Donnell's coming hither, which is so confirmed from all parts that it maketh our honestest neighbours to draw back and seek how to make their peace with him. John Burke's son with Tyrrell and some thousand of the Connaught rebels now in Munster are appointed to meet him in Clanricarde, which is the place they chiefly aim at. It falleth out very unfortunately for the relief of the Boyle; for, whereas I intended to put in victuals now in this time of cessation, for a good time, by defect of my Lord's horse, who can now not spare them, it is very likely to be lost; for without sufficient convoy I dare not undertake it, and we have no convoy sufficient, wanting horse. There were in it four pledges, which I presumed to have victualled it with upon an exigent, being of the best of that country, but they have newly made an escape, whether by wilfulness or negligence I know not, but I think rather wilfulness. The Constable sent one of the ward to advertise me of their wants, who was slain in his coming up; and so they have divers other, and committed many more outrages sithence this cessation than before.

"Your Lordship [was] pleased, by your letter at your going, to enjoin me to stay here to direct this business, till the coming of some other man to undertake it, when, it should seem, your Lordship intendeth to withdraw me, and in the mean time, as I am informed, have made grant of my company to be divided between one Trevor and another Captain. It is true, my Lord, that, for some private business of mine own, I do desire your Lordship's favourable leave for two months into England; but, if my condition must be so hard as to leave mine entertainments, I will rather with patience endure to remain here, how directed soever. But, in the mean time, your Lordship may please to remember that, to regain your Lordship's good opinion, I offered my service unto you, and left a company of 200 without any manner of satisfaction, and have meekly borne this heavy burden, almost insupportable, saving that I assure me, when your Lordship hath examined your own conscience, and the truth of that which may be imputed against me, your Lordship will be as ready to ease me, as I have been willing to bear that which by your Lordship only hath been laid upon me; and hold me an honest man unto you, howsoever by suggestion you have been laboured to withdraw your Lordship's favours from me, having never, either by word or deed, sithence my coming hither, done anything to detract from your Lordship; as I will be ready to prove, and to be ever unto your Lordship, so long as you shall please to accept of me, your Lordship's true servant"—Athlone, 1599, October 8. Signed. pp. 2½.

Oct. 9. Cork.

201. William Saxey, Chief Justice of Munster, to the Earl of Essex." From Youghal, with great convoy, I came to Cork the 24th of the last month. Since which time some chief gentlemen and freeholders of this country, upon most humble and absolute submission of life, lands, and goods, to Her Majesty's mercy, have been received in, and a great gaol for this county is delivered, and divers other businesses concerning the state of this province are performed according to your Lordship's instructions. In the due performance of which I could have done little, without the good help and assistance of this honourable knight [Sir Edward Denny], being an ancient Councillor of this province, whose travel from Youghal hither, for the better furtherance of Her Majesty's service, by me requested, was by him most readily yielded unto, whose wisdom and experience have effected many good offices, which, without his presence and assistance here, would have been yet to begin.

"Further it may please your Honour that, in this short time of my being here, I have, partly by observation, and partly by instruction from others of good credit and experience of this country, come to the knowledge of the causes of this rebellion, and means to suppress the same."

"First, the chief rebels of Munster were solicited by the Earl of Tyrone to raise war against Her Majesty; and, to make them forward in this action, Tyrone assured to James FitzThomas the Earldom of Desmond; to Donnell, base son to McCarthy More, the Earldom of Clancarty; to Dermond McOwen, the Lordship of Dualla; to Dermond McCarthy, the Lordship of Carberry; to David O'Mahowny and the rest of his sept, the lands of Kinalmeakie; and to divers others of meaner sort such lands as they would challenge, being either in the hands of Her Majesty or any of her loyal subjects. And, to manifest this his purpose, Tyrone sent Onie McRory, Tyrrell, and divers others with great forces to effect his intention, which did confirm in the hearts of these rebels such assurance of his assistance, as presently they joined with him, and entered into this rebellion.

"And albeit some of the Lords and chief gentlemen make shew of subjection, yet their tenants and freeholders (reputed and accounted of like loyalty) are worse than the rebels, for, under colour of subjection, they pass to and fro, furnishing the rebels with all intelligences and other means they can.

"And it is very apparent that divers of the Lords and chief gentlemen themselves are not so loyal as they pretend; for, in Barry's country, John Barry, brother to the Lord Barry, is kept out; in Carberry, Dermond McCarthy; and the said Dermody hath a yearly pension of 13s. 4d. out of every plough-land in Carberry, Ibawne, and Courcy's country. And, to prove that the whole province is infected with this rebellion, the rebels have free access through every country, and [are] there relieved and maintained. Neither can any of them that pretend greatest loyalty, vouch any service by any of them done since the beginning of this rebellion, but some small hurt upon Connaught men for private quarrel, and not for Her Majesty, as is informed.

"The inhabitants of the province are grown into such hatred of the English government, that no service can be done by any of Her Majesty's forces, unless they be able to fight as well against the pretended subjects as the open rebels; for, in that action against the English, either they shrink from Her Majesty's forces, and are lookers on, or join with the rebel.

"These mischiefs grow principally by the merchants of the port towns, for they with their moneys repair into England and other places, and bestow all they have, or can get upon credit, for swords, headpieces, muskets, powder and lead (no fit wares for merchants to deal in). And albeit the offence herein be very penal both in England and Ireland, yet the gain is so great, as the merchant, stopping the searcher's mouth, maketh treble gain by selling to subjects, and to the rebel, 6d. for a penny. For the reputed subjects of the country buy of the merchants, and sell to the rebels after these rates, viz., they have of the rebels six beeves for a sword, six beeves for a headpiece, six beeves for a culiver or musket, and one beef for a pound of powder, and so from time to time do furnish them, and by the pretended subject the kingdom is put to sale.

"Means to suppress this rebellion.

"First, a garrison of 200 foot and 25 horse to be placed at the bay of Bantry, which may be victualled by sea.

"A garrison of 300 foot and 25 horse in Kilcrea, which may be victualled from Cork.

"A garrison of 300 foot and 25 horse at Mallow, which may also be victualled from Cork,

"A garrison of 400 foot and 25 horse at Fermoy or Glannor.

"These four garrisons will master all the county of Cork, and suppress the rebels there.

Item, 800 foot and 50 horse to be sent to Kerry and Desmond, with a good commander, well knowing the country, and acquainted with the people, will suppress the rebels there. These may be victualled by sea.

"Item, 400 foot and 40 horse placed in Kilmallock, and 300 foot and 25 horse at Askeaton, and 300 foot and 25 horse at Limerick, will suppress all the rebels in the county of Limerick.

"These garrisons thus placed, and order taken that all such as make shew of subjection be forced to manifest the same by joining with Her Majesty's forces in doing service upon the rebels, or else to be prosecuted as the rebels; and strict course taken that no merchant, or other, bring unto this land any munition of war, to sell the same again, upon pain of death; and that all head officers of corporate towns put in security to Her Majesty's use; [and] that no rebels shall be relieved from out of the said cities or towns, or willingly be suffered to have access to the said cities and towns, will within short time suppress the rebellion.

"A great care must be had that the companies in garrisons be well paid, victualled, and apparelled, for therein standeth the service of the soldier, which hitherto hath been greatly weakened. For, although Her Majesty's allowance of pay, victual, and apparel, be very bountiful and gracious, yet the hard dealing or want of care in the officers of the companies, and the negligence or malice of the officers of towns, hath been such, as the poor soldiers, for want of their allowance, of diet, and apparel, and, instead of bedding, for want of litter or straw, are starved; which groweth to the advantage of the Captain by dead pay, and to the advantage of the rebel[s], who use this abuse as a reason to persuade to join with them; Her Majesty's treasure is consumed, and no service done, and her loyal subjects are slaughtered; and herein Her Majesty greatly abused, that, upon the days of muster, men are hired to fill up companies, but, upon occasion of service of a hundred, scant 60 or sometimes 50 ready for service. And where the poor soldier doth allow, out of his entertainment, 6l. by the year for his apparel, and yet wanteth clothes fit for him, forty shillings bestowed here upon this country['s] cloth would furnish him better. And if the soldier were paid by the poll, and not to the Captain in gross, it were a better course. If the composition were left, and the cess renewed, Her Majesty might well maintain two thousand within this province upon the charge of the country.

"And now may it please your Honour to call to memory the common calamity of this poor province, grown through the insolency and greedy humour of a sole Governor, and to consider of the likelihood of a better government by a Council, who, either led by a good conscience of their doings, or restrained by fear of reproach when every of them shall be free to look into another's dealing, will be more careful of their charge. I take it, under your honourable favour, it will give good hope of reformation of former abuses, both in civil and martial causes, if this government continue by Council, without a sole or principal Governor, according your Lordship's instructions to me delivered; whereby I will undertake to save unto Her Majesty yearly a thousand pounds, and [to] rectify many disorders. For it is manifest, by late experience, that a Presidency here hath been a needless charge to Her Majesty, a hindrance of justice, and an oppressing burden to the country."—Cork, 1599, October 9. Holograph. pp. 4.

Oct. 9. Cork.

202. William Saxey, Chief Justice of Munster, to Sir Robert Cecil. His coming to Cork. Divers submissions. Good service of Sir Edward Denny. Recommends the government of Munster by a Council, instead of by a sole or principal Governor.—Cork, 1599, October 9. Endorsed, By Sir Edward Denny. Holograph, p. 1.

Oct. 11. Dublin.

203. The Lords Justices Loftus and Carey, and the rest of the Council, to the Privy Council. "Before the Lord Lieutenant's departure into England, his Lordship had many conferences with the Council touching the extraordinaries, both how they increased daily in the government, by several urgent occasions, and how there was no money here to answer them, other than such as I, the Treasurer, by his Lordship's direction, and consent of the Council, did adventure to strain my credit to borrow, for payment of those extraordinaries. His Lordship and the Council here have written often to your Lordships hereof jointly, besides what his Lordship hath advertised by his private letters, and particularly in our two late general despatches of the 17th and 22nd of August, besides a third of the 27th of July before, in all which we were bold to put your Lordships in mind, how infinitely the service of this realm was, and would be, maimed by a limitation of all extraordinaries to 5,000l. per annum, and that, in such a stint, it was not possible to hold up the service, and prevent inconveniences, without some further enlargement therein. For, howsoever the allowance for extraordinaries is limited, yet the causes and occasions of extraordinary expenses are not limited, nor can be avoided, in such a garboyled state as this, except we shall suffer the magazines to lie still, and never be removed, and thereby give way to the victuals to run to waste and perishing, in the preservation whereof resteth a great part of good husbandry to Her Majesty. And, for an instance, we are driven at this present to hire ships for transportation of victuals and munition from Knockfergus to Tredagh and Dundalk, for the answering of the garrisons, which want those natures; likewise, from Galway to Limerick; and overland, for dry portage of victuals and munition to the two forts of Leix and Offally, with other castles and places of garrison, which cannot be furnished but by carriage-garrans in great numbers. Besides, the extraordinaries drink up no small sums in rewards for intelligences, for spial money, packet-money, reparation of Her Majesty's houses, and bridges for common passage, with such like; for which ready money most be paid, and the charge cannot be avoided, unless the whole service should languish and lie still. And lastly, the exportation of sick, impotent, and unserviceable soldiers, in great numbers, at every passage out of this realm into England, for which ships are hired of purpose, which draweth no small charge out of Her Majesty's purse, besides the common charity of the people. All these expenses, though they may differ in kind and nature, yet being extraordinary, and such as cannot be forborne but with great inconvenience to the whole service, when they are calculated into a reckoning, will rise to great sums, which we have no means to furnish, but by a dangerous hazard of me, the Treasurer, who, by the advice and consent of the Council, do adventure my credit to raise money, to answer that turn; otherwise, Her Majesty's weighty service would be in danger to fall to the ground. In which respect we humbly beseech your Lordships, as we have often done, to be means to Her Majesty that either the limitation of 5,000l. for extraordinaries may be set at liberty, or the proportion enlarged, answerable to the actions and occasions of the service; and, in the meanwhile, that it will please your Lordships to furnish us with all speed, with some good portion of money, to answer the present extraordinaries from the time of the beginning of this joint government, without which we know not how to supply the necessities of the service, but must be driven to leave it to hasard.

"It may please your Lordships likewise to remember that in one of your former letters, dated at Nonsuch, the 4th of August last, your Lordships advertised hither that Her Majesty had yielded to the erection of 2,000 foot of the Irish for a time, during the harvest, conditionally that so much should be abated of the 16,000 foot in. the months succeeding. In which letter also, your Lordships signified that Her Majesty commanded me, the Treasurer, to make payment of 18,000 foot for that time, for which I should have Her Majesty's warrant under her hand, to allow thereof in my accounts, by the next dispatch. We humbly beseech your Lordships to send away that warrant, for the better surety and discharge of me, the Treasurer, who have answered the pay of the said 2,000, only upon the ground of your Lordships' said letter. And for the abating of so many for the months succeeding, the Lord Lieutenant, before his repair into England, struck off 4,000, and hath reduced the main list to 14,000 foot; and so it continueth at this present. Moreover, the Lord Lieutenant, being to draw the army into the field against the Arch-traitor, about the end of August last, and having no means to answer the extraordinaries of that journey, it was resolved by his Lordship and Council, in a public act, that I, the Treasurer, should borrow 1,000l. to answer the extraordinaries of that service; otherwise, the journey could not have proceeded. Which was done, and the money delivered into the hands of a special paymaster, to see it issued according such direction, as his Lordship, with. such of the Council as were then with him in the field, should give. All which was signified to your Lordships in a joint letter from hence of the 22nd of August last. George Beverley was the special paymaster appointed for this issue, who hath now exhibited his account, which we send to your Lordships herewith (wanting), humbly beseeching you that warrant may be procured for that 1,000l., for the discharge of me, the Treasurer; and that from henceforth some settled course may be taken for the answering of all extraordinaries; otherwise, Her Majesty's service will be greatly hazarded and endangered, which we have no means to remedy here."—Dublin, 1599, October 11. Signed. Endorsed, Received the 23 of October by Mr. Fortescue. pp. 2.

Oct. 11. Dublin.

204. Sir Geffrey Fenton to Sir Robert Cecil. " I have adventured to write to you, though I can write nothing of the main cause now in question, and of most weight, namely, what will be the issue of the treaty with Tyrone; to whom Sir William Warren hath been now the second time employed, by direction from the Lord Lieutenant. At his first return he brought but uncertain and frivolous answers, such as gave no conjecture what was that traitor's mind to enlarge the time of the cessation, which, it seemed, he put off till the second meeting with Sir William Warren, who is now with him, and his return expected within two or three days. And, till he come, there can be no certain advertisement of the issue and resolution of his proceedings. But for my part, by former experience, I gather that Tyrone's deferring to deal plainly with Warren in this treaty is, to have time to confer with O'Donnell, without whose advice and consent he will conclude nothing. Tyrone holdeth as yet good quarter touching Ulster, by which the poor borderers of the Pale have a breathing time to get in their harvest, and sow their seed. But his limbs in Leinster do not so, for that they deny Her Majesty's soldiers of both the forts to cut wood, to have victuals brought to them out of the country, or to repair the Toughor of Offally, protesting in great pride against all these. Moreover, they fall by troops upon the subjects, exacting meat, drink, and money against their wills, besides making booty of their goods, as they can snatch them, all which is directly against the cessation. So as, howsoever Tyrone in his wonted wiliness doth dissemble a keeping of peace within his own country, yet he suffereth it to be broken abroad by his confederates, as greatly to the impoverishing of the subjects, as if it were open hostility. All these breaches are collected, and delivered in writing to Sir William Warren, to shew them to Tyrone, and to procure reason of them from him. At whose return, your Honour shall know what is done in these and other things handled in the treaty. In the meanwhile, here is great expectation what will be the resolution of England touching these rebellions; whether Her Majesty will be at the charge of another war, to take them down by force, or stay them for a time by pacification, a course which being not well carried, there is danger it may draw Her Majesty to increase the dishonour of a long war by yielding in the end to dishonourable conditions of peace. But in this point it is not safe for me to use freedom and plainness; only I wish that what the Lord Lieutenant hath wrought there were hasted hither with all speed; for that the time of the cessation being near expiring, this realm will lie open to new dangers in every part, if there should be a sudden breaking off, specially the Lord Lieutenant being not here to use opportunities, and give order to the best advantage for Her Majesty in so sudden an alteration."—Dublin, 1599, October 11.

[Postscript.] "It may please your Honour to return Birkinshawe with all speed to his charge, for the half-year's reckonings of the Captains being now to be made up, it is his particular office to see them passed to Her Majesty's most benefit for the checks; and, he being absent, I have no hope that Her Majesty's profit will be much respected therein." Signed. Seal. pp. 2.

Oct. 12. Cork.

205. The Commissioners of Munster to the Earl of Essex. Immediately upon their repair to Cork, they assembled such of the Council as were there, to consider the state of the province. First, having sworn the Lord Barry (as they mean to do the rest when they come), they began with Castlemaine, which was in great danger of being lost The extremity of the ward at that instant required present remedy, and the rather, because the traitors would not let it be victualled. Have sent a gentleman on horseback to know the answer of James FitzThomas, both for the holding of the cessation and suffering Castlemaine to be victualled. Have also adventured two barrels of salt and four beeves, to see whether the passage thereof will be impeached.

Recommend the service lately done by Captains Francis and George Kingsmill, whereof Essex had a letter the day of his embarking. Captain George has asked that his foot company may stand on his own charge, till Essex's pleasure be known. Have granted this.

Pray that such treasure as shall be assigned for Munster may come directly from Bristol to Cork, to prevent the great trouble and charge that grow by its coming from Dublin. The money and clothes sent by Sir Charles Wilmot are as yet at Waterford for want of wind, and the need of the soldiers is very great.

Can do nothing at Cork without allowance for extraordinaries, having at this instant at least 300 unserviceable men, discharged from their companies, and no means either for their transportation, or for the relieving of them till they go.

The paymaster refuses to pay Sir George Thornton the 6s. a day granted by concordatum to him as Governor of Kilmallock, and without which he cannot command there, as he has no other entertainment than 2s. a day as Provost-Marshal of Munster.

"There is something that may be disliked of by these townsmen of Limerick and Cork, which we refer to relation of Sir Edward Denny, to whom we have imparted some of those things.

"Lastly, we, Sir Warham Sentleger and Sir Henry Power, do signify to your Lordship that the Lords Justices, notwithstanding your Honour's direction, have refused to grant any more than 20 nobles a week for the diet, which is so small a proportion, as in no sort we can maintain a table with any grace to the place.

"Before the sealing hereof, we understood that my Lord of Ormonde hath cut off Richard Butler's company, who were (as is said) ranging up and down Power's country, spoiling and extorting upon the subjects."—Cork, 1599, October 12. Signed. Seal. Endorsed, Received by Sir Edward Denny the 30th, at London. pp. 1½.

Oct. 13. Dublin.

206. Lord Justice Carey to Sir Robert Cecil. Prays again that he may receive the warrant for the raising of 2,000 men over and above the former list of 16,000; also, the warrant for the 1,000l. for the extraordinaries of Essex's journey to the north. Further, that order may be given for the issuing of such other extraordinaries as the service daily requires; as the removal of victuals and the transportation of sick, hurt, and unserviceable soldiers, of whom there are at this instant above 700 or 800. Necessity for speed. In hope of Her Majesty's gracious favour, adventures daily to lay forth great sums of money for the furtherance of these services, " for miserable is that sparing which breedeth loss." His chief desire is to do true and faithful service, and to husband things as best he may. If he does not yearly gain Her Majesty more than his entertainment, he will never ask a penny from her; " and if every servitor do the like, it will do no hurt." Begs Sir Robert, who was no hinderer of his appointment as Treasurer at Wars in Ireland, that he may not, for want of Her Majesty's warrant, hazard all, though he adventure much. Will expend no more than is absolutely necessary for the service. Sends herewith (wanting) a catalogue of the names of all the sick and unserviceable soldiers sent from Dublin, besides those that have been sent from Drogheda, Galway, Munster, and other places, of whom he has not yet received any notice. " It is to be thought that these rebels do prepare themselves to break this cessation forthwith, for they have many meetings, and do gather their forces together. We do victual and man all Her Majesty's forts for four months, and then defend ourselves the best we can."—Dublin, 1599, October 13. Holograph. Seal. Endorsed, " Received at London the 23 of October, '99, by Mr. Fortescue." pp. 2½.

Oct. 13. Dublin.

207. Sir Geffrey Fenton to the Earl of Essex. " I thought not to have written to your Lordship by this passage, for, that, Sir William Warren is not as yet returned from his second meeting with Tyrone, so as, till it be seen what passeth between them in this assembly, there is no ground to make any advertisement, certain or conjectural. Only, at the writing of this letter, Sir William Warren wrote hither, that Tyrone and he were to meet yesterday near Dundalk. And, even at this instant, I was advertised from Weston, that the cause of Tyrone's deferring his meeting thus long was, for that he and O'Donnell had spent most part of the week before in conference at Omagh, between Strabane and Dungannon; but with what conclusions he cannot advertise, other than that Tyrone, after this meeting with Warren, meaneth to draw down to the borders of the Annaly, to hold a council with the traitors of Leinster. It is one note that Sir William Warren maketh in his letter, that he doubteth Tyrone will be naught; which he gathereth, chiefly, by his drawing of all his forces to a head, to be ready (as it seemeth) to take the advantage to do mischief immediately upon the expiring of the cessation. Sir William Warren's letter is sent to your Lordship now by the Lord Justice Carey, and Weston's letter I send herewith (wanting) humbly putting your Lordship in mind still, to dispatch away a gentleman of trust with all speed, to hold Tyrone in good terms, and, if it may be, to conclude with him a new enlargement of the cessation, which will do much to hold the balance even here, until your Lordship by a longer time may work means to sway them either to peace or war, as shall be found best commodious for Her Majesty. Only I wish that this dispatch may be sent away with all speed to prevent the rage of a new breaking out. And it is looked for that your Lordship, upon your first compact made with Tyrone, should be careful not to break with, him, either in time or matter, but to contain him by all good compliments and ceremonies you can, till you have wrought the time as much to your advantage, as he thinketh he hath it now at his.

"This day the Earl of Ormonde hath written hither of a reasonable good killing he hath had of a hundred and more loose men drawn into a head in the county of Waterford, part Connaughtmen and part Ulster men, and all pretending to be of the cashiered company of Captain Richard Butler, son to the Viscount Mountgarrett, whose colours and drum they used in the field against the Earl of Ormonde. The fort of Offally is victualled without any resistance, and now the State is in hand to put victuals into Maryborough, wherein I think the greatest impediment will be the want of this country['s] aids, carts and garrans. Nothing is yet come from Munster, from the two last Commissioners sent up by your Lordships: yet I hear from others that the storm rageth not there, as it hath done. But. as well in that province, as other parts of the realm, the hope of a thorough calm resteth in such resolutions as vour Lordship shall procure out of England, wherein the Lord of heaven and earth prosper you to your own honourable heart's desire."—Dublin, 1599, October 13. Signed. Addressed to Esses at the Court. pp. 1½.

Oct. 14.

208. " A brief of money issued for charges in transportation of unserviceable soldiers from Dublin to Chester, beginning in May, 1599." Total, 158l. 6s. 6d. Endorsed, 14 October, 1599. Draft. pp. 3.

Oct. 15. Cork.

209. Sir George Thornton to the Earl of Essex. According to his Lordship's direction, repaired to Cork, where having met with the Commissioners and the rest of the Council, they advertised Essex of the occurrents happened in Munster since his departure from Ireland. Otherwise Sir George would have written. Has been licensed to return to his garrison, where he hopes to do better service than he can at Cork.

Although Essex, by word, signified to Sir Warham Sentleger and Sir Henry Power that Sir George was to have the first vacant company in Munster, yet they required a written authority. Begs for the same. The paymaster will not pay him the 6s. a day, assigned to him as Governor of Kilmallock, affirming that he has been commanded not to pay any concordatums. Is, therefore, in no sort able either to command at Kilmallock, or to maintain the post. Has no other pay but his 2s. per diem as Provost-Marshal. Desires Essex to signify his pleasure to the Lords Justices and Treasurer that he may receive his payment.

"Lastly, I have made humbly bold to advertise your Lordship of my opinion for the holding of the cessation, which, I fear me, will have no long continuance between us and James Fitz Thomas, both for that he hath given public proclamation that the garrison of Kilmallock shall have no wood, either in their woods or in the woods of the subject, alleging that all are under their command; and also, for that he utterly refuseth to suffer Castlemaine to be victualled. Nevertheless, in performance of your Lordship's pleasure, I will use all the best offices of pacification and tolerance that Her Majesty's honour may permit, until I shall have further direction from your Lordship or the Commissioners here." Has sent herewith a note of such bonnaughts as are departed, and of such as remain since the cessation.—Cork, 1599, October 15. Signed. Seal. p. 1. Encloses,

209. I. "A note of such bonnaughts as are in Munster, and of those that keep them." Total, 1,500. Also, a note of those that are gone out of the province since Essex's departure. Total, 1,500.—[1599, October 14.] Draft. p. 1.

Oct. 16.

210. Memorandum by the Earl of Essex.

"Upon perusal of the despatch, wherein account is given of Sir William Warren's journey to Tyrone, I do acknowledge that the answer he brought back carrieth at the first apprehension show of contradiction to that conformity which I reported to Her Majesty that I found in him. But in truth, if circumstances be weighed, the causes of alteration will appear, and his mind may yet be conformable, though his tongue be vain.

"First, because in my absence I did, and could, look for no better answer from him than that he would inviolably keep the cessation for six weeks, he having protested that he would never have nothing to do with those that are now there chief ministers for Her Majesty, or with any person in that kingdom. [On margin:—"My absence, as I intended it, could not have been prejudicial, for I had three weeks' cessation and one day after my arrival at the Court, in which time I might have returned, or have given Tyrone such hope by letter, if so it had pleased Her Majesty, as he would not [have] broken out in a some (sic) reasonable time after."]

"Secondly, because I assure myself he could not speak with Warren, but in the hearing of Owen, that is an instrument for Spain, or of Friar Nangle or Chamberlain, that are employed from Rome; before any of which he dare not give the least show of conformity to Her Majesty's obedience.

"Thirdly, I know him to be so advised and cunning in his own courses, as, till the very instant that he hath assurance of his reconciliation to Her Majesty's mercy, he will never give his followers any suspicion of relenting, but will set on a face of the greatest obstinacy and insolency that can be; else his own people would cut his throat, and set up a new head.

" But my hopes did not absolutely depend upon his conformity, for I made account, as long as I was favoured and any way enabled by Her Majesty, I had a faction of his own countrymen that would plague him more than all the English armies Her Majesty can send, for they will tread the wood and bog as well as his men. And in this point, as well as in the former, I fear my disgrace and ruin may hinder Her Majesty's service, which doth grieve my very soul more than all that can happen to myself. For it is contentment to me to suffer, in hope that my penance hath procured absolution; and my pains and infirmities, which have made me an old man in 12 days, are my comforts, first because both God and the world knows I took the beginnings of them in Her Majesty's service, and now find this extraordinary and incredible increase of them to make Her Majesty see that as animus agit in corpus, so she only on earth is able agere in animum Essexii." Endorsed, 16 October '99. Holograph. pp. 2½

Oct. 16. Dublin.

211. Lord Justice Carey to Sir Robert Cecil. " Herein enclosed I send unto your Honour such occurrents as I lately received, by which and by other circumstances I gather that this traitor Tyrone hath no intention to continue this cessation long, but of the sudden to take his best opportunity with his confederates to do all the mischief he and they can. And, therefore, we do what we may to put Her Majesty's forces in the best readiness that may be. Sir William Warren, being by my Lord Lieutenant appointed with instructions from his Lordship to go to Tyrone, returned with no resolution, but with an appointment of a further day to meet again, because, as Tyrone did allege, he would first confer with O'Donnell, before he would proceed any further. All which we, in our general letter, did advertise my Lord Lieutenant, and all which I think to be of Tyrone's part but treacherous delays. We have written to the Earl of Ormonde for his speedy repair hither; and we have willed Sir Arthur Champernoun, with a Commissary of the Musters, to go and certify the full strength of all the companies of horse and foot that are in this province of Leinster.

"As I was closing up these letters, I received Her Majesty's packets of letters, signifying therein Her Majesty's pleasure, which shall be in all dutiful regard obeyed, and by my will none as yet acquainted with the contents but the Chancellor, the Secretary, and myself, until the coming of the Lord of Ormonde, unto whom we will write again for his more speedy coming. For, if those traitors shall know that Her Majesty hath restrained his [Essex's] liberty, perhaps their insolency will be the greater, and break out of the more sudden.

"The cessation, I assure your Honour, hath been of Her Majesty's part kept inviolable hitherto, and so shall continue, except necessity enforce the contrary; though, the traitors do daily offer occasions of breach. We do daily expect the return of Sir William Warren from Tyrone, who lies a little beyond Dundalk. What the effect of his negotiation is, your Honour shall be advertised."—Dublin, 1599, October 16. Endorsed, Received at London the 23 of October, by Mr. Fortescue. Holograph. pp. 2. Encloses,

211. I. "A declaration of Captain Gerrott Fleming."

"Upon Saturday last, being the 12 of October, one Patrick McGuy came up unto me from Charles Halpenny, my Constable of Ballylagan, and told me that he and the said Charles being the Tuesday before at Con McCollo's house in Clancarroll, where Ever McCooley, Tirlogh McHenry, and Art Bradagh, Hagan's son, were drinking, they began to use some speeches of my Lord Lieutenant's departure, saying that his going with that expedition was not for their good, but to land forces beneath in Ulster upon them, because he saw he could do no good by going one way into Ulster, and that O'Neill would take his opportunity, and that he would be no longer cosened by the State. And further, Art Bradagh's son said unto the rest, ' You have warning already to provide a month's victual, and let it be done in haste, to meet O'Neill at the end of the truce.' Further, he saith that one Richard Halpenny, one of the said Gerrott's followers, who is most commonly with Tirlogh McHenry and Con McCollo, the next day after the said [Mc] Guy and Charles Halpenny returned to Ballylagan, followed them home, and willed them to be put upon their guard, and to send me, the said Gerrott, word, that O'Neill would very shortly invade the Pale with what forces he could every way, and that their resolution was, that their forces of foot should pass over these bridges of Slane and Kilcarn, and that O'Donnell with his forces would come over the bridge of the Grange, and that all their horse should for more expedition pass over the fords, if they were passable. All which speeches the said Richard Halpenny heard spoken by Tirlogh McHenry, and the better sort of them that were then present. This is as much as the said Patrick [Mc] Guy reported unto me, whereunto I called David Hetherington, being then in the house, to be a witness; and this I do declare upon my oath."—1599, October 14. Copy. pp.1½.

Oct. 17. Dundalk.

212. Sir William Warren to the Lords Justices Loftus and Carey. "Your Lordships shall understand that the Earl and I have met this day, and have concluded a further time of cessation for a fortnight more, and withal have altered his course for his market at Faugher, which he intended, whereupon he hath commanded all his people to come to the market of Dundalk, and hath given the townsmen liberty to bring wood, which hitherto they have been restrained of. He hath also written his letters to the Moores and Connors, and to Feagh McHugh his sons, both to observe the truce, and not to suffer their people to take any meat or drink from the subject in this time of cessation; and hath also proclaimed it in his camp; therefore I wish your Lordships send away upon sight to all the garrisons, giving them notice hereof.

I have been very earnest for a longer time of cessation, for which he hath deferred his answer till to-morrow morning, because of O'Donnell's coming, who will also meet me in the morning. There is a report here that the Earl of Ormonde hath killed seven or eight score of Tyrone's men, which is very ill taken, and hath bred me a great deal of trouble; the like I would not undertake to gain a great benefit, for I assure your Lordships he was not easy to be pacified. All which I thought good to acquaint your Lordships withal. The waters were so great here that Tyrone and I could not come together this last night"—Dundalk, 1599, October 17. Copy. p. 1.

Oct. 17. The Court.

213. Sir Henry Dockwra to Captain Fabian, at Drogheda." Cousin Fabian, I have promised Mr. Coones, one of Her Majesty's guard, to discharge his son, who is of my company. I pray you, therefore, so soon as you shall receive this letter, let his passport be made, and so sent away. You shall not do amiss to advertise Sir Ralph Lane thereof, that he may confirm the same, so that he find no impediment at Dublin for his passage; or, if there be shipping at Drogheda, you may presently send him away from thence."—The Court, 1599, October 17. Holograph. p. ½.

Oct. 18.

214. Notice by the Earl of Tyrone.

"Whereas Sir William Warren hath been employed to me by the Earl of Essex, Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Be it known to all men that I have agreed with him for a further cessation for six weeks more (to begin upon Sunday next, (fn. 2) being the last day of October, '99), according such articles as are in the former, which are signed by me. In witness whereof I have subscribed my name the 28th [i.e. 18-28] of October, 1599." Signed. Endorsed by Sir Robert Cecil, " This is the cessation which was made since the first of 14 days." Copy. p. ½.

Oct. 18.

215. Another copy of the preceding, p. ½.

Oct. 19. Dublin.

216. Lord Justice Carey to Sir Robert Cecil. "By Captain Fortescue, within these two days, I wrote unto your Honour. Little other news hath happened but such as by our general letters your Honour may perceive. I do verily persuade myself that this cessation will not hold. The rebel desires rather wars than peace, being' nusseld' and accustomed to robberies and spoils, and cannot otherwise maintain their rogues and followers. Their combination is general through the whole land, and they were at the first of a conceit that the Lord Lieutenant's departure was not for their good, but to procure greater forces. And therefore they will take their time; and now they are half persuaded he will come no more, which confirms their former purposes, and makes them the bolder. Our commanders here for the martial forces are very few. The most are in England. If they will or shall receive Her Majesty's pay, it is fit they should forthwith be commanded to their charge. Sir Samuel Bagenall hath been very extreme sick, as [? and] is not at this present without danger. Sir William Evers is lately fallen sick. Sir Charles Blunt is dead. It is meet that presently, upon the coming hither of the Earl of Ormonde, that (sic) the Secretary and some other, according to Her Majesty's directions, shall go to Tyrone. But this determination is not known unto any as yet, but to the Chancellor, Mr. Secretary, and myself. Within these four or five days your Honour shall hear further."—Dublin, 1599, October 19. Endorsed, Received at Richmond the 25th. Holograph. p. 1.

Oct. 21. Clonagh.

217. Captain John Lye to Sir Geffrey Fenton. "Upon my coming hither, had I known the danger that I was in [in] coming, and [there] is more like to befal me, I would not have ventured myself as I have done. Sorry news here is, for that all this country is in an uproar, and a bad beginning there is in killing the soldiers upon Thursday last; and now this day there passed from Carberry to the bridge of Johnstown about fifty of the soldiers, or rather more; at which bridge the most part of them were killed and drowned without any fight made by them, nor no stand made, but what the Lieutenant did, till his company forsook him. This country have been so grieved at the abuse of the soldiers, that they have determined not to suffer any soldiers to be among them, or to pass through them. To-morrow those of this country and the Connors do meet, and also to put bonnaughts upon this country, and who will not agree thereto, to camp about them, and to raze their castles that will not yield, and as I think will raze some of their own castles. The choice men that were in Carberry are lost, and those left very feeble. You must send strong companies thither in haste, and elsewhere, otherwise all will be ill; and so certify the Lords [Justices.].

"I beseech you to cause the Lords to give direction to any that comes, to forbear this my poor town of Clonagh, otherwise my ward, and the few poor people that I have here, will utterly forsake it, by reason of the grievous abuses done unto them by the army that went last to the fort."—Clonagh, 1599, October 21.

[Postscript.] "I do stay here for some three days, to procure my poor people to bring home some part of my corn, that lies in the fields rottening by means of the soldiers; and then to convey myself away; there be market to use near." Holograph. p. 1.

Oct. 23. Dublin.

218. The Lords Justices Loftus and Carey to the Privy Council. "Since the writing of our last, of the 19 of this instant, we have every day expected the coming of the Earl of Ormonde; and now this morning we received a letter from him, importing that by reason of a very dangerous sickness, wherewith the Countess his wife was visited, he cannot come hither before Thursday next at night, at which time, as his Lordship writeth, he will not fail to be here.

"And, although we cannot, before his Lordship's coming hither, proceed fully in the points of Her Majesty's most gracious letters, by us received the last passage, nor yet advertise your Lordship of the state and strength of Her Majesty's army and forces, the muster-masters whom we have sent forth to take the musters of them not being returned; yet, Sir William Warren being come back from his second treaty with Tyrone, and delivering unto us a declaration in writing of his proceeding therein, we have thought it our duty to send the copy thereof to your Lordships, because we would not omit any opportunity in advertising of matters concerning the service. Your Lordships shall also receive herewith the copy of a certificate brought by Warren from Tyrone, touching the agreement to a new cessation for six weeks. [There is no certificate annexed to this letter, but see No. 215, which may, perhaps, be the copy referred to in this passage.]

"Since the beginning of the first cessation, he hath taken to his confederacy a sept called the Bremichams in the county of Kildare, and intituled one of them, as chief and head of the rest, by the name of McOrish, as in time past they have been called. This Bremicham, called McOrish, is now followed by the most of all the rest of that sept, who have so infected that barony, called Bremicham's country, which hath always been one of the most civil and quiet places in the county of Kildare, as there are very few in it to be trusted (Captain Henry Colley, and a few others of English nation, excepted). This traitorly Bremicham, ranging in that barony on Sunday last, met with a company of foot under the leading of Captain Lawrence Esmonde, and, after some speeches and promises of safety passed between the Lieutenant of that company and those rebels, they set upon the said Lieutenant and such of his company as then were with him, taking an opportunity as they passed over a wooden bridge upon a river, and, at the first encounter at that advantage, drowned 18 of the soldiers, yet the residue of them, joining themselves again, set upon the rebels, entertained a fight with them, and slew seven of their men, though they trebled them in number, in which fight seven or eight more of the soldiers were slain, and the rest came off. We do not yet understand the ground of this broil, but, against our next despatch, we will examine the same, and advertise your Lordships further thereof.

"And although we must confess that Tyrone, for his own part, in the borders of the north, have kept the peace inviolable, saving for this matter of the Bremichams, yet Donnell Spainagh and that sept of the Kavanaghs, with the Moores, Connors, and others of his confederates in other parts, having no means to maintain their bonnaughts or men in pay, but by the spoil of the country, and therefore more inclined to continue their villainy than to conform themselves, they have come with great numbers, and extorted upon Her Majesty's poor subjects; but thereof we will have further consideration upon the coming hither of the Lord Lieutenant of the army; and, when his Lordship shall be here, we, and the rest of this Council, will use all the speed that possibly we may, to answer and accomplish, the several points of Her Majesty's most gracious letters, and acquainting your Lordships with the state and present condition of this kingdom."—Dublin, 1599, October 23. Signed, pp. 1½. Enclose,

218. I "A declaration of the journey of Sir William Warren to Tyrone."—1599, October 3. [Copy of No. 195. I. above.] pp. 2½.

218. II. "The declaration of Sir William Warren touching my second journey to Tyrone, since the departure of the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, according to his Lordship's former commission, viz."

"Upon Tuesday last, being the 16 of this instant, I met with Tyrone three miles below Dundalk, but, through the great rain, the waters were grown so high as we could not some so near as to speak or hear one the other.

"Wednesday, the 17, I met him again, and, the waters being fallen, we came together.

"I demanded of him what he purposed touching any further time of cessation, whereunto I found him very unwilling to proceed, both by reason that O'Donnell was not then come unto him, and also that he had been advertised that the Earl of Ormonde had slain seven or eight score of his men. But in the end he was content to yield to a fortnight's cessation, and would not conclude upon any further time, until O'Donnell were come unto him; and therefore appointed a meeting between us the next morning.

"The next day, being the 18, we met again according to that appointment, and spending some time in conference touching the cessation, I found him very unwilling to yield to any further time than the first fortnight agreed upon the day before; alleging this reason for his unwillingness, that it was now winter time, and our army weak, and therefore he being stronger than we, and able to keep the field, now was the time of his harvest, in which he made no doubt but to get the whole spoil of the country; alleging further that he knew very well the Lord Lieutenant's tarrying in England was but to procure a great army to come upon him on all sides the next spring, and. in the meantime, in times of cessation, to strengthen the army remaining here.

"In this time of conference, came unto us a messenger from O'Donnell, with a letter or message to Tyrone to this effect, that he should proceed himself in that negotiation, and that although O'Donnell could not then come unto him, yet whatsoever he should conclude in that treaty, O'Donnell would for his part stand unto and observe.

"Hereupon we entered into a further conference for a longer time of cessation, and (with a show of great unwillingness) he agreed to a month more, to be added to the former fortnight, making in the whole six weeks, to begin next after the day of the expiration of the first cessation agreed upon with the Lord Lieutenant himself. 1 then demanded whether his meaning were not, that the whole time of those six weeks should continue inviolable; and he answered it was, unless ourselves should give cause to the contrary.

"In this conference I perceived an intention in him to go within a short time to the river of Shannon or thereabouts, to meet and confer with the supposed Earl of Desmond, and others of his confederates in those parts, and then to understand from them how they were inclined to a peace, and, if they were desirous thereof, then what the conditions would be, that they would stand upon."—1599, October 20. Endorsed by Sir Robert Cecil, " This came also from the Justices in their letter of the 23, and is a known hand there."—Copy. pp. 2.

Oct 23. Cork.

219. William Saxey, Chief Justice of Monster, to the Privy Council. According to instructions delivered to him by Essex, he repaired into Munster, and came to Cork on September 24. Within five days after, divers dangerous rebels, and some of them chief gentlemen, came in to Sir Edward Denny and himself with most humble and absolute submission, as others did at Youghal. Hoped by a convenient course with the penitent rebel, and by due justice upon the greatest offenders, to have brought the country into better order. So gave warning of a general session of gaol delivery for the county of Cork, to be holden at Cork, and to begin on October 3. But the course of justice is so interrupted, and the Judges are so contemned, that, for avoiding of farther inconvenience, the session must be abruptly broken up, to the great disgrace of Her Highness's authority and the discontent of the country.

Sir Warham Sentleger, lately sent by Essex to Cork, with no greater authority than as a principal Councillor of Ireland, to join with the rest of the Council of Monster, came in time of full sessions of gaol delivery, and presumed to require Saxey to cut them presently off, as he [Sir Warham] was not in that commission, and termed it a disparagement to his place. Thus he stood "more upon terms of reputation than regard of service, which in truth is a disparagement to law and justice, when ignorant men, carried away with ambition, thrust themselves into offices wherein they are able to do no service, who by no better reason can intrude into places of justice, than a man of my profession may into the command of an army. Such would fly before they have wings, and the commonwealth hath just cause to fear their authority without judgment as a sword put into a madman's hand. If the government of Ireland ever prove prosperous, it must begin with imitation of the government of England, whose precedents do justly condemn this presumption; for there no President, no nobleman, no nor Privy Councillor, doth intromit himself in gaol delivery, but the business thereof is committed to the Judges, that can best manage that service." It is absurd that such authority should be committed to " meaner men, who have neither discretion to use it, nor judgment to discern." His delay in complying with Sir Warham Sentleger's unlawful demand, "but then, doubting that this insolent humour increasing might in this broken time have wrought some public jar, to the offence of Her Majesty's service and unquiet of the country, I adjourned the sessions, whereby the trial of divers traitors and murderers " was interrupted, and divers causes left undetermined. Thus law and justice are commanded to wait on the proud humour of ambition. Committed one for wilful escape of a murderer, and Sir Warham bailed him out, without Saxey's privity, or his own knowledge why the man was committed. Prays that law and justice may have free course, without check or crossing of such as cannot discern between right and wrong, and that the Lord Chancellor of Ireland to (sic, ? do) insert in the commissions for determining causes, civil or criminal, none but such as are able to give sufficient reason of their proceedings. Otherwise, prays that he may give over his place.

" If I live a beggar in England, yet I shall enjoy the treasure of a quiet mind, which I never hope for here, except there be more due regard of choice of Governors, Justices, and Councillors of State. For such is the state of this Council now, that a man well affected to the common good, either through insolent crossing may be discouraged to yield his opinion, or fear to speak where he is like to be betrayed, either by such as are suspected to be hollow friends to the State, or such as have intruded themselves into the Council of this State, being thereto neither lawfully allowed nor sworn, whereof I humbly pray further examination."

As to his own estate, it is by this service decayed more than two thousand pounds, which would have been gained by his practise in England; and his estate is "like to continue in declination,'' by reason of his charge surmounting his entertainment, and through the non-payment of 400l. due to him before the time of the new Treasurer, who refuses to pay the same, although it was plainly proved. Is three score years old, has a wife and seven children of man and woman's state, unprovided of such maintenance as the continuance of his former practise as a Councillor might have ministered unto them. This is now defalked by the exercise of a place of Justice. Begs for the payment of his arrears, and for some addition to his maintenance; or that, otherwise, " some other, who hath long time waited on his own gain, may be sent hither to supply my place, and that after these six years' service here to my undoing, I may be called home into England, and spend the residue of my aged years in some other such place of service there, as may please Her Highness to vouchsafe me."—Cork, 1599, October 23. Holograph. Seal. pp. 3.

Oct. 23. Cork.

220. William Saxey, Chief Justice of Munster, to Sir Robert Cecil. [Duplicate of preceding letter.] Holograph. pp. 3.

Oct. 26.

221. The Lord Keeper Egerton to Sir Robert Cecil. "Upon receipt of your letter about 8 yesternight, I shewed the papers to the E[arl], and withal declared unto him verbally the points concerning which Her Majesty's pleasure was he should set down his answer. He desired to have me set them down in writing, which I did, and thereupon he hath written with his own hand his answer, which, together with the six papers you sent, I return herewith unto you.

" For Warren, he saith that he knew how he was employed by Sir J. Norreys, and what credit he had with the rebel and his followers, and therefore thought him fit lor his employment, which was not to negotiate with the rebel, but only as a messenger to deliver that which was contained in instructions in writing, which were shewed to the Council there, and done by their advice, and after delivered open to Warren.

"This is all I have to write at this time, praying for a good end for Her Majesty's service, and that I may be speedily discharged of my unexpected charge and care."—"This Friday morning." Endorsed, 1599, October 26. Holograph. p. 1. Encloses,

221. I. Interrogatories for the Earl of Esses, and his answers thereto.

1. "To consider how many that had charge are come away from their charges, and to set down what all their entertainments are, and why so great entertainments should be continued there, and so many great officers, considering Her Majesty's army is in garrison.

2. "To set down who your Lordship thinketh are not willing to go back.

3. "Whether the sick soldiers were part of the 2,000 which are cassed, or no? And whether those companies, that are mentioned in the other schedule, were of the new 2,000 last increased?"

"To the first. I have no other direction to know who are come away but this certificate sent out of Ireland, in which I find some that were here before my coming, some that came with me, and others that I left there, of whose coming I can give no account. I have upon the list noted their names in these three hinds. Their entertainments will appear by the list and establishment, if they be compared; but I should hardly cast it, though my brains were in better ease than they are. I find never a public officer, but Sir H. Dockwra, who is not Governor of Connaught, till he have Her Majesty's royal assent, and Sir H. Davers, who is Lieutenant of the horse. I must submit the entertaining of officers to Her Majesty, but fear, till things be better settled, there will be few enough.

"To the second. I was assured by all that came with me that they meant to return again with me, how great speed soever I made; but how their minds are altered, or how others are disposed, since my imprisonment I have not known.

[To the third.] "Of what numbers the sick soldiers are, I know not, but I do rather think them to be of such of every company as daily prove unserviceable through infirmities. The 2,000 were of the last increase, or at least the most of them.

"I do humbly beseech gour Lordship to excuse my sudden answer, my head having had little respite of pain or ease by sleep these 48 hours." [These answers are in the handwriting of the Earl of Essex.] Endorsed, 1599, October 25. pp. 2.

Oct 26. Dublin Castle

222. The Earl of Ormonde to Hugh, Earl of Tyrone. " [Her] (fn. 3) Majesty having had conference with the Lord Lieutenant since his repair to [the] Court, touching matters passed between his Lordship and you in your [? last] parley, it hath pleased Her Highness thereupon to signify to me a [.........] for a gracious message to be sent to you, to your comfort and good, if [? your] self be not in the fault. Which message Her Majesty's pleasure is [shall] be delivered to you by Mr. Secretary Fenton, accompanied with another assistant, and for that cause they are to repair to some part of the borders, to meet with you in some convenient place near Dundalk or thereabouts, so soon as you shall signify to me the time and place of your meeting. Which I wish you to name out of hand, and to advertise it hither by this bearer, whom I have sent to you of purpose, to bring back your answer with all speed, for that Mr. Secretary, upon his return, will be ready to come up to answer the time and place of the meeting, whereof I wish you to have special care that there be no time delayed."—Dublin Castle, 1599, October 26. Copy. p. ½.

Oct. 26. Richmond.

223. Sir Robert Cecil to Lord Justice Carey. "I write this letter to you, rather to give you thanks, than that I can at this time yield you absolute satisfaction in your reasonable demands. I have received, once by Mr. Fortescue, and now by the running post, divers letters both to myself and to the Lords. I pray you take this for answer to your desire to receive warrant for that which is past, that it shall be sent you by the next; and for your further demands for extraordinaries, it is reason there be an allowance for it, although it seemeth strange to Her Majesty that so much money hath been issued under such titles as it appeareth hath been done. But we can never make judgment here, what can be sufficient, when as yet we have never a half-year book sent over. Besides, we do hear still of many Irish entertained, even whole companies, wherein we are ignorant how they are included within the list, or paid out of concordatums. Further, it seemeth strange to Her Majesty that when there was but 1,300 horse appointed only to prosecute Ulster, there is 1,200 maintained still, when, longer than the prosecution should have been, there should never have been above one thousand. There are, besides, many allowances by the day, which, being unusual, are also unnecessary, especially seeing the companies are disposed to garrisons. For all which things I find Her Majesty doth repose great trust in your fidelity and discretion, and doth expect that you, the Justices, shall send over some wise, discreet person, wellinformed of the state of things presently, to the intent that Her Majesty may know how things are ordered now since this change of government, for which no person is more proper than Francis Stafford, by whom the Queen would like very well to receive present relation. I pray you, Sir, let the Master of the Ordnance know she misliketh that she is no better informed of the issues of the munitions, whereof she would understand what proportion remaineth, seeing there was carried over (besides that which was in the kingdom before) one hundred lasts, with all things proportionable. In this and many other this State was never wont to be so long ignorant, and therefore. Sir, for the love I bear you, now that you have two powers in one body, lei not your remissness, either in directing or executing, make your friends less confident to mislike Her Majesty's election of you, amongst the which you shall find no man more ready than myself. Other news I have none at this time, only the Earl of Essex remaineth still prisoner at my Lord Keeper's. I pray you believe that these few lines are written rather to give yon thanks for your careful writing unto me, than for any matter that can bring you any perfect resolutions."—The Court at Richmond, 1599, October 26. Marginal note, "This letter was sent by the running post" Entry Book, No. 204, fos. 185 b-186b. Copy. pp. 1½.

Oct. 26. Cork.

224. Sir Warham Sentleger to the Earl of Essex. "Since my coming into this province, I have made two despatches to your Honour, one from us all by Sir Edward Denny, the other by Captain Kingsmill from myself. I find by all these fellows in the province that they do wholly depend upon Tyrone, and the most of them desire that they may hold the cessation. Only James FitzThomas, their pretended Earl, hath, ever since my coming hither, been in Kerry, with hope that Castlemaine would yield to him, which, by speech to the Earl of Thomond and the rest at Limerick, he doth refuse to have victualled, as also by his express letter to us, the copy whereof I send your Lordship hereinclosed. Sir Edward Denny, I doubt not, hath made known how far we have dealt about that, and now we have in a readiness by sea to take the first opportunity that God sendeth by wind; for by land, being utterly without means of victuals, we dare not attempt, without direction from the Lords at Dublin and the Lord Lieutenant of the forces, to whom we have addressed our letters some ten days since. In truth we find not any of this province willing to be wholly drawn from the general combination, so as in my opinion the best course will be to practise with James FitzThomas, whose example no doubt will end all. But the thing that is most dangerous here, no doubt, is the chief cities, as Waterford, Limerick, and this town. For some of the chiefest traitors, being in this town, told openly that there was a thousand gentlemen that had sworn never to submit themselves, till there might be had a general freedom of religion, and replied to him, 'Why, what trouble had you ever for your religion.' 'Nay,' said he, ' but our brethren of Cork and other such places have; which we will have remedied.' Besides, as formerly was made known to your Lordship, Limerick doth keep my Lord of Thomond out of their gates, if he come but with a dozen soldiers for his guard; and this town doth at this instant keep two of our companies out of their gates absolutely, protest[ing] that they will obey no directions for placing of soldiers but such as the Mayor shall be pleased with, and affirming that by charter they are to be commanded not by any but by him that hath the sword. To conclude that point, if it shall please you, there is no fitter course to bring them to conformity than a small citadel, that will not cost the Queen 20l., on any side of the water, which may continually be kept with fifty soldiers, and save the keeping of a strong garrison within the town; for, no doubt, upon the first arrival of Spaniards, for my life they will all revolt. We have written to the Lords Justices of their insolences, and have desired that the Mayor, and some three or four of the best of the townsmen, may be sent for to Dublin, to answer their vile insolences. Which course I thought fitter than in this time to breed a hurly-burly in the town, and I hope their Lordships will do something in it." Leaves his private matters to Essex's favour.—Cork, 1599, Ootober 26. Signed. pp. 3. Encloses,

224. I. James [FitzThomas], Earl of Desmond to Sir Warham Sentleger. Received his letter of October 9 on the 13th of the same. As to his not giving notice of his determination concerning the cessation to the Munster Council, states that he parleyed with the Earl of Thomond, and the chiefest, upon the articles of the cessation, and manifested his will unto them, especially as to the victualling of Castlemaine, and concluded that it neither could nor should be victualled, "without breach of the cessation of your part, my garrisons lying in the siege thereof these ten months and more, to my excessive charges, and may not be removed without violence." Will keep the cessation, according to O'Neill's direction, during the time limited. Does not see, nor may gather from the articles, that "such a prejudice should or could be agreed upon, not knowing my intent." If they think otherwise, they may take the advice of the rest of the Council, and he will send to O'Neill to know his determination. "Meantime, my meaning is, not to commit aught against the true meaning of the cessation, but, if violence be offered, constrained I must stand to my defence. And whereas you say, you mean to victual the fort howsoever, I intend to let all our associates to understand your determination, and, trusting in our Lord [and] the justice and goodness of the cause, will do my endeavour. And assure yourself that O'Neill and the rest of our associates will keep the cessation no longer than I will, as by his letters is manifestly declared. And therefore I think it expedient that you send me in writing what time the cessation began here, with sight of your authority to continue the same, from time to time, according the tenor of the articles. Dated at my house of Ilande," 1599, October 15. Signed. Copy. pp. 1½.

Oct. 27. Moghelly.

225. Henry Pyne to the Earl of Essex. "Albeit I purposed at your Lordship's departure to have remained at Dublin until your return, yet, understanding the next day after that the rebels, notwithstanding the cessation, had sought to surprise my house, and entrap my men, as they went to guard salt and other provisions sent by water from Yougnal, by an ambuscade which failed, and mine escaped with the loss only of a horse, I resolved to repair hither. By the ways I found a general discontentment and grief at your Lordship's so sudden departure in the subject (sic), as though your Lordship had abandonated (sic) all, and the rebels boldly giving out that they would never submit themselves except to the Earl of Essex. I comforted and assured both with your Lordship's present return, which although they hardly believed, yet it gave them contentment, and prayed that it might he with speed.

"Here I find Desmond keopeth the peace, standing, he and his, upon their guard, but voweth never to come in, except he may be Earl, and have all the lands that to the Earldom belongeth; and hath taken the oaths of his adherents to join with him therein, and all to stand upon that point and their religion, saying that Tyrone shall make no other agreement for them. How this may stand with Her Majesty's liking to grant, your Lordship best knoweth. Now, for that in my poor opinion (which I the more ground upon the promise Tyrone made unto your Lordship, that he would join with Her Majesty's forces against Desmond, if he would not accept of such conditions as your Lordship should think fit), we are liker here to have wars than peace, I must again put your Lordship in mind of the flat-bottom hoys, fit to be employed upon the river of Shannon, where (and the White Knight's country) all the rebels of Munster strength is (sic), and that one or two of those vessels might be sent to Youghal for the better and safer carrying of victuals and munition to the forces that may be employed against the White Knight, which would be those that lie in garrison at Waterford, Dungarvan, Cork, and Mallow. All these, in my opinion, are there to little purpose, except some fifty in Mallow, and it were fitter to place them in Dromany, Lisfinny, Tallow, Kilmacow, and Moghelly, from whence they may easily, in a winter's day be in Gibbon's country, and being so placed, with 1,000 Irish under the conduct of the Lord Barry, Lord Poer, Patrick Condon, and David Roche, all to be commanded by the Lord Barry, would in a short time, while cows be poor, either force the White Knight to come in, or waste his country in such sort as that he should be drawn to quit it. And these 1,000 Irish would be placed in Bally Roberts, Castlelyons, Rathcormock, the Lord Poer's three castles; Ballymacpatrick, Carghybrick, Sietrilin, Cloghlea, Gregg, Johnstown, and Glannor; all these places are now well kept by the Barrys, Poers, Condons, and Roches. And at the time that these forces should be so employed, if 15 or 30 flat-bottom hoys might be brought into the river of Shannon, and the rest of the English forces in Munster, with a thousand Irish more, under the conduct of the Earl of Thomond, Lord Burke, Lord of the Muskerry, the three O'Sullivans, and Brian Duff, all to be commanded by the Earl of Thomond, and put into those vessels, which would with great ease carry them and 150 horse, these forces would so spoil and waste Desmond, the Lord FitzMorrice, the two Knights of Kerry and Valley, O'Connor, Thomas Oge, and others, that have their chief strength and provisions upon and near unto the said river, as that they should not long be able to continue. There would be also two cannons shipped in the hoys to batter five or six castles that are upon the river, and not to be taken without ordnance, and armour for the most part of the 2,000 Irish, which should be erected, viz., culivers, swords, head-pieces, and pikes. But before this course should be taken, or these Irish employed, here would be your Lordship in person, or a Lord President fit [for] a change of the provincial Council or Magistrates, and a general pardon, as well for the subject as the rebels; for, if I be not much deceived, the one hath as much need as the other thereof, and without it they are not to be trusted.

"In this time of cessation, the Bishop Creagh, Archer, and other priests of that crew, do not cease daily to solicit and persuade those that are subjects or neutrals to take part with Desmond, by persuading and assuring them (now they are in some jealousy of Tyrone) of great matters and aid from the King of Spain and [the] Pope. And according to the old proverb of de presentibus gaudet ecelesia, they do as greedily take up all tithes and other duties belonging to the Church, both from subject and rebel, as ever did heretofore the unlearned Bishop of Cork, the Archbishop of Cashel, or their ministers.

"The bonnaughts, to the number of two thousand, are gone into Connaught, and John FitzThomas with them. They are bound, for a yearly hire, which Desmond promiseth them, at all times upon warning to return hither. I have secret intelligence that Desmond, notwithstanding the cessation, would not suffer Castlemaine nor Askeaton to be victualled. Whereupon I rode to Cork, and acquainted the Commissioners therewith. They seek to victual Castlemaine, whereof Desmond, having intelligence, is gone into Kerry with a 1,000 foot and some horse, to forbid them. Notwithstanding your Lordship's charge given to the Commissioners for the two castles by me, nothing is done, and where Lisfinny had heretofore thirty men, allowed by Sir Thomas Norreys, there is now but fifteen, and the other as yet can get none, which the rebels seeing seek to possess it, and I greatly fear will, if order be not taken presently. These two castles, I assure your Lordship, are of importance, and fit to be kept. John McRedmond, who now governeth for Desmond in these borders, hath made me great offers for Moghelly. I have so answered him, as I think he will make me no more. What shall here from time to time pass, your Lordship shall be advertised."—Moghelly, 1599, October 27. Holograph. pp. 3.

Oct. 28.

226. Notes drawn out of a letter written from the borders of the Brenny to Sir Geffrey Fenton, dated 28 October, 1599.

"Upon Thursday last Garrald Oge and Murrough Nycogg returned from Tyrone, who was at that time in the Brenny, making a tanist in the Brenny, and taking the pledges of all the O'Reillys to the use of the said tanist. [Marginal note, "The tanist which Tyrone did make is Tirlogh McShane, an open rebel against Her Majesty."]

"In the presence of Garrald Oge and Murrough Nycogg, there was delivered at that time to Tyrone a letter of which he read thus much, 'Your Honour shall understand that a great man in the Pale told me for certain that the Queen was dead. Your Lordship may make what use of it you will, &c.' [Marginal note, "They are full of these wicked rumours, forged of purpose to stir the realm."]

"The intelligencer demanded of Garrald Oge and Murrough Nycogg what Tyrone said to the news of Her Majesty's death. Their answer was, he uttered not a word, only at grace at supper they prayed for the Spanish King. Garrald Oge and Murrough Nycogg are of opinion that this letter was sent from some in the Pale.

"The cause why Garrald Oge went to Tyrone was to procure his letters in his favour, and he obtained two letters from Tyrone to the O'Connors, commanding them to favour Garrald Oge as a gentleman whom he did affect, and that they should suffer him to carry away his corn, without troubling him, as they tendered his favour. [Marginal note, "Garrald Oge is a Geraldine, a gentleman of good sort, and well reckoned of with the State. A dangerous example that such a one should run to the Archtraitor, to seek a safeguard for his corn by his greatness."]

"Murrough Nycogg brought from Tyrone a warrant in Irish directed to all the Connors, forbidding them to use any violence or wrong towards him or his. [Marginal note, "Murrough Nycogg is an ancient servitor, and hath Her Majesty's pay lor 12 kern, whose office is to take charge of the beeves in the army, when it is in camp."]

"Tyrone and O'Donnell did meet the Saturday after at Cloughar, considering between themselves that, if they get further certain news of Her Majesty, that (sic) then, they say, the cessation is ended, and therefore they will set upon the English Pale, and murder and spoil all that will not take their part.

"But, if they shall hear that Her Majesty liveth (as I hope she shall do long after their destruction) then they will take their course into Connaught, to settle O'Connor Sligo and McWilliam in their countries; and to see if they can allure the Earls of Clanrickarde and Thomond to their faction, and so to pass further to the parts of Limerick, there to meet the titulary Desmond, and other head rebels of Munster.

"In all this devilish progress they mean to take hostages of as many as dare venture to deliver them for fear of the State, and of the rest they will take their oaths.

"Tyrone hath sent up a priest to Donnell Spainagh, to recover him again from the State, but how he prevaileth therein I cannot advertise your worship, for that the priest is not yet returned.

"The Earl of Tyrone's wife was brought to bed of Thursday was sevennight, of a son, whose name is Shane O'Neill, and O'Connor Sligo is his godfather.

"I have great doubt that Tyrone meaneth not to keep the cessation, but will upon the sudden do some great mischief, and therefore your worship had need to call upon the State to strengthen the garrisons, and to make a good resistance." pp. 2.

Oct 29. Dungannon.

227. Hugh, Earl of Tyrone, to Sir William Warren. "I understand that the Connaught soldiers that were in Munster, thinking to come for their country, are molested by the Earls of Clanrickarde and Thomond from safe passing to Connaught. You may plainly see that this course is directly holden against the cessation; wherefore I do by these my letters forewarn you that, fourteen days from the date hereof, I will have no cessation, seeing it is so violated by them that hold with you."—Dungannon, 1599, November 8 [October 29-November 8.]. Copy, certified by Sir Geffrey Fenton. p. ½.

Oct. 29. Dublin.

228. The Lords Justices Loftus and Carey to the Privy Council. "The Earl of Ormonde, Lieutenant-General of Her Majesty's army, hath now made his repair hither, upon the receipt of such letters as we wrote to his Lordship for his coming. And, albeit we have joined with him and the rest of this Council in making answer to the letters lately received from Her most Excellent Majesty, as by the despatch which now we send will appear to your Lordships, yet in some things not particularly touched therein, we have thought it our humble duty, in these few lines from ourselves, to make some mention to your Lordships.

"And first, for Her Majesty's army, we hoped that we might now (as we promised to your Lordships in our two last despatches of the 19 and 23 of this instant), signify to your Lordships in what state and strength they are. But, for that Sir Arthur Champernowne and Captain Hayes, whom we appointed, as special men of trust, to take the view of the several companies here in Leinster, are not yet returned, by reason of the distance of the places, where the garrisons and other companies do lie, we cannot yet inform your Lordships of any more certainly in that point, than as by the list which in that letter of the 19 we have already done (sic). Howbeit, as we do daily expect their coming back from that service, so will we with all speed acquaint your Lordships with what they shall do therein.

"We do much doubt a general neglect of duty and corruption withal in every (or most) of the Commissaries of Musters; but to prevent that hereafter, which we foresee will otherwise grow to be very prejudicial to Her Majesty's service, we mean that every of those Commissaries shall be exactly sworn to the faithful execution of his place, for Her Majesty's most advantage, and likewise to the true and perfect return of the several books and certificates of his musters, and, whom we shall find falsehood, to punish and discharge him; by which course we hope we shall either compel the Captains to keep their full numbers in reasonable good state, or at least save unto Her Majesty a great sum of money by the year, whereof we think verily she is now merely deceived.

"Touching the several governments of Munster and Connaught, your Lordships may please to understand that, first for Munster, the Lord Lieutenant of the kingdom did, before his going hence, appoint Sir Warham Sentleger and Sir Henry Power to take the charge thereof, the one for the administration of civil justice, the other for the martial affairs there, allotting to each of them for his entertainment 20s. per diem, and twenty nobles by the week between them, to maintain a table for the diet of the rest of that provincial Council, and other officers who assist them in those employments.

"For Connaught, his Lordship did likewise commit the government thereof to Sir Henry Dockwra, who is now in England, and, in his absence, to the Baron of Dunkellin, who is likewise there, and Sir Arthur Savage, who still continueth in that province. And for that Galway, being a place of great importance, is so far remote from Athlone, and such other places, where they, who have the government of the province, must of necessity make their oftenest abode, we have sent to that town Sir Garrett Harvey, as well to take charge of the place, [as to] command the companies garrisoned there, and prevent inconveniences otherwise like to happen, through the disorder of the soldiers there; and, as we have not hitherto altered nor removed any officer left in place of charge here, or in those provinces, by his Lordship, so do we mean to let them continue even as they were left by his Lordship, until we shall be otherwise directed by your Lordships, as in your grave wisdom shall be thought meet.

"The Lord Lieutenant of the army is now ready to make his return again towards Kilkenny and those parts; and it is much to be feared that his being so far distant from this part of the Pale (being now even the heart, and chiefly to be regarded) may breed great danger and hindrance to Her Majesty's service, if these proud rebels shall take occasion to break out into some sudden mischief, whereunto we see them altogether inclined. Therefore we humbly beseech your Lordships to move Her Majesty to signify her command to his Lordship for his abode in this city and these parts adjoining, if any such accident shall be likely to happen; as well to answer all sudden attempts, and occasions of the service, as also to prevent such other dangers as may greatly peril the state of this realm.

"William Bathe, the second Justice of the Court of Common Pleas here, being sick and not able to come to that Court, we appointed Patrick Fitzgerald, the Recorder of this city, as third Justice, by letters patent during pleasure, and without fee, as in like cases hath been accustomed; for otherwise (Sir Nicholas Walsh, the Chief Justice, being absent), all the suits in that Court had fallen. Now, the said Bathe is deceased; and, albeit we are of opinion that we may by our authority dispose of that office, yet, for that we would not offend in bestowing any place of that nature, without your Lordships' privity, we make humbly bold to recommend unto your Lordships' honourable favour the said Fitzgerald, and Christopher Cheevers, of Wexford, two honest gentlemen, learned in the laws, good Protestants, and men ready at all times by their best endeavours to further Her Majesty's service, that it may please your Lordships to advance the one of them to that place, unless your Lordships shall think upon some other fitter for it"—Dublin, 1599, October 29.

[Postscript.] "We have already victualled the forts of Philipstown and Maryborough in Offally and Leix for five months, and have now given direction for the victualling of all the holds and places of importance kept for Her Majesty in the province of Connaught." Signed. Seal. Endorsed, "By Sir John Harrington." pp. 2.

Oct. 29. Athlone.

229. Sir Arthur Savage to the Lords Justices Loftus and Carey, and the rest of the Council. "I have received your Honours' letters of the 24th of this month, advertising me of the cessation lately taken with the Earl of Tyrone for six weeks longer, which you charge me to see duly kept and observed by the forces under my command. I will, God willing, take such order therein, as the same shall be accomplished of our parts, according your Lordships' pleasures. But I assure you, none of the Irish, either dwelling within the province, or which came lately over the Shannon, have any regard of it. For John Burke's sons, Dermond McDwaltagh O'Connor, and his two brethren, John O'Connor, son to O'Connor Roe, and Tomoltagh Morrey McDermott; with divers others which were in Munster with the supposed Earl of Desmond, came into the province within these few days with seven or eight hundred men, and are come as far as Curraghboy. The sons of Redmond Burke, who betrayed Sligo, and the sons of Hugh O'Kelly of the Clogher, came also out of Ulster, and lie in the barony of Athlone, not far from them, with their companies; and Dwaghdally O'Kelly, who dwelleth within seven miles of this house, and the rest of the O'Kellys betwixt Suck and Shannon, are about the pass's mouth with a great company. I take them to be in all about 1,000 men. They lie in wait to intercept the provision lately come from Galway to Ballinasloe, for victualling of the Boyle, and protest openly they will not suffer it pass. I have, therefore, caused the said provision to be laid up in the castle of Ballinasloe, under the guard of Sir Thomas Burke, and dismissed the soldiers, which were to convey it, to their garrison places, because the rebels were too strong for them, till some better opportunity may serve hereafter. McDermott and O'Connor Roe with their forces, accompanied with a number of O'Rourke's people, also lie about Elfyn' to stop the said victuals; so as, these things considered, I see not how the Boyle may be relieved, this cessation notwithstanding. And here at Athlone, the poor people dwelling of Connaught side dare not lie in their houses, nor turn any of their cattle to pasture beyond the hill of Beallagh; so as if some better course be not advised, this poor town is like to fall into a great misery. And of Westmeath side, many robberies are committed upon the inhabitants, and divers persons resorting to the market daily spoiled. One Christopher Magawle, who was a great doer herein, was apprehended, after committing of one robbery, at the committing of another. He is now prisoner within this castle. I beseech your Lordships, if any means be made unto you for his liberty, refer them to me; for in respect he hath been a shrewd fellow, and hath many friends abroad, the town will be much the safer to have him kept.

"I will write to these Irish gentlemen now in arms within the province, to know whether they will observe the cessation or not; and, as I shall receive their answer, I will proceed accordingly. But I have small trust in them; howbeit, if in doing any harm any of them were touched or taken, I am sure they will not be ashamed to crave the benefit of the cessation, and this hath been ever their order, neither do I expect or look to have any assistance out of the country in anything, if it be not in their own private quarrels, or wherein their commodity or profit may be touched; and in those causes they will put the whole burthen upon Her Majesty and the State; and therefore we must trust to nothing but what we have of ourselves.

"The companies here are in hard case for want of means. I beseech your Lordships to consider of it, and take order that they may be relieved out of hand; otherwise, I know not in the world what to do with them. You sent up 800l. of late, where there was 1,600l. due, and therefore stood them but to little purpose. We are driven here to this extremity, that myself and those which are employed abroad for Her Majesty, can scarce find any messengers to carry our letters under 20s. or 10s., sometimes more, and to procure friars and unknown persons to convey the same, notwithstanding the cessation."—Athlone, 1599, October 29. Copy, Certified by Sir Geffrey Fenton. pp. 2.

Oct. 30. Cork.

230. William Saxey, Chief Justice of Munster, to Sir Robert Cecil. His suit in England for payment of 234l, due to him for his diet money. Hearing of the same in Ireland. Refusal of the Treasurer to pay the sum, although proved due, because the debt was before his time. Before coming to Ireland, gained by his practise 500l. per annum. By his service in Ireland, his estate is decayed more than 2000l., and is like to "continue in declination." Is threescore years old, and has a wife and seven grown-up children. Prays for the payment of his arrears, and of his entertainment as it shall become due. Further, that, as he has served "in this place of Justice almost the term of an apprenticeship," and "with integrity, free from all just calumniation," his entertainment may be increased with some horsemen without check, or some other like allowance as other Justices have; or else that some other of his profession, who has not had such losses as himself, may be sent to supply his place, and himself be called home to England, to spend the residue of his aged years in such other service as Her Highness may vouchsafe him.—Cork, 1599, October 30. Holograph. pp. 1½.

Oct. 30. Dungannon.

231. Hugh, Earl of Tyrone, to the Earl of Ormonde. "Yours I received; by which I understand Her Majesty's direction to you to signify me some gracious message, the declaration of which you have committed to Mr. Secretary Fenton, wishing me out of hand to appoint a place convenient for the same. What favour Her Majesty hath pleased to proffer me, I never rejected, and am thankful to you for your good advice and counsel. I am sorry that I cannot at this present appoint a place to know Her Majesty's pleasure, because I am to take order for the safe passage of some Connaught soldiers that come from the Earl of Desmond to their country, and are letted by the Earls of Thomond and Clanrickarde; which is a thing most contrary to the articles of cessation. And, seeing I am so often broken withal, I have sent a letter to Sir William Warren, forewarning him (according my promise which I have maintained to the uttermost), after the expiration of fourteen days, I will, for God and my country, do the best I may against the enemies and tyrants of the same. Your excuse for the killing of my men, I must be content withal; but why, with what intention, or by whose direction, the same was done, 1 leave that to the judgment of the Almighty. Yet I doubt not but, if the Earl of Essex were here, I should have reason and right done me; as I have done these fourteen days past, being so long upon the borders for the same cause. From henceforth, if you write to me, I wish you [to] command your secretary to be more discreet, and to use the word traitor as seldom as he may. By chiding there is little gotten at my hands, and they that are joined with me fight for the Catholic religion and liberties of our country, the which I protest before God is my whole intention. At my town of Dungannon, this 9th of November [October 30-November 9], '99." Signed "O'Neill." Copy, certified and endorsed by Sir Geffrey Fenton. p. 1.

Oct. 31.

232. The Privy Council to the Lords Justices Loftus and Carey and the rest of the Council. "Although we cannot mislike the course of your Lordships and you the Treasurer, particularly to lay before us in time the want in that kingdom of such things as shall be requisite for the preservation thereof; yet, in respect we find you still to insist particularly upon continual demands for treasure; to the intent you may see that we do both consider and take care for the things which do concern that state, we have resolved to lay before you such a collection out of your general declarations, as shall make you see that we have cause to ground an opinion, that, if you did examine in particular, as narrowly, the course that should be held, both by yourselves and those inferior ministers, over whom you have a superintendency, as we do upon your continual chargeable demands observe what hath been and is daily issued, and to what purpose, you would either give over these strange complaints, or else take away the occasion of them. For which purpose you, Mr. Treasurer, must take this orderly way to deal with us, both to remember well with what receipts we can charge you, and with what just expenses you can discharge yourself.

"First, it is not unknown to you that we have issued by Her Majesty's commandment, out of the Exchequer, to you and your assigns, since March last, for full pay, the sum of 134,961l., which is the sum due for eight months, ending the 10th of this instant month of October, that can be required or expected, as well for eight months' pay of Her Majesty's army, according to the establishment, as for the entertainment of the officers of the kingdom, according to a schedule signed by us of the Council, limited to the sum of 15,000l. yearly; and, in like manner, upon the extraordinaries for warrants upon concordatums, which was limited by Her Majesty to five thousand pounds yearly.

"We are, further, to look for an account from you of the checks raised upon deficients, and for defalcations for victuals taken by the soldiers, for defalcation upon all manner of arms and munitions, with the receipts of the rents in Ireland, either upon Her Majesty's lands, compositions, or other casualties.

"These are the general heads in which your charge doth substantially consist, wherein that you may see we do as well look for the discharge, which you may remember, we will lay before you all such expenses as we can gather out of your letters, by which comparison you shall see what estimation we do make of the remain, to supply occasions of necessity, and to prevent any sudden or imminent lacks.

"First, your payments made to the army of horse and foot may amount to 134,232l. Secondly, you have spent in concordatums, with an addition of the augmentation of 1,000l., taken up for the northern journey, the sum of 6,000l. Thirdly, we do consider the increase of charge by new supplies of 2,000 footmen. Fourthly, the wages due to divers officers of Courts in Ireland (whereof you estimate the value of the whole year to amount to five thousand pounds, over and above the sum of 15,000l. yearly, agreed on in the schedule). The sum total of all this, amounting to 146,712l., being compared with the sum issued from hence far the pay of the army, which amounteth to 154,232l. (sic), and all that added wherewith you are further to be charged as followeth, must needs make it clear to you, the Treasurer, that neither your former wants could be so great, as to be driven to borrow 1,000l., nor that you need now expect to fall into such extremity of lack, as your last letters did represent.

"For, first, you cannot deny but you, having treasure to pay the forces from the first of March, have made no payment to all that part of the army which was unarrived until the 14th of April There is also, a good while since confessed by yourself, the sum of 9,000l., defalked for victual. You have likewise had order, a good while since, to stay in your hands towards the answering of the checks weekly, forty shillings of the lendings of the band of 100 soldiers, and so proportionably of greater numbers. You have also been directed, over and besides such money to be stayed in your hands, to deliver unto the soldiers only their half lendings in money, so as the other half might be delivered to them in victuals. In which respect, if it be remembered that the last treasure sent over agreeth with the proportion of 16,000 foot and 1,300 horse, we doubt not, if there be any such sincerity used to check the deficients daily, as it is evident that they do decrease, that no man can be so gross as not to see that the last portion of treasure, instituted by former order for one month for 16,000 foot and 1,300 horse, will easily serve for the supply now of those numbers, which can be conceived truly by this time to be in the kingdom, for a good season. And where you did certify lately a sum of money to be reserved for checks, when the army was not so apparently decayed, we cannot estimate a less sum to be now defalkable than seven or eight thousand pounds, considering that you have lately sent away (as we hear) the number of 1,100 soldiers sick. For the wages of the officers of forts, not mentioned in the schedule signed by us of Her Majesty's Council, and esteemed by you at 5,000l. yearly, we think it fit that you do remember that the revenue of the kingdom ought to have relation to that discharge; and therein, seeing the last half year answered 1,600l., it were strange to us that, after this half year's huge charge, this moiety should not rise to a greater proportion, the rather when it is not unknown, that the very impost money paid by Mr. Bronckerd for the wines amounteth to 2,000l. If you will speak of any reparations or buildings for magazines, you must also remember that you have received particular sums for those extraordinaries.

"This being now, for the point of the treasure, as much as we think fit to deliver unto you, we think good now by the way to note unto you divers things, wherein your obscure and seldom writings maketh us the less able to answer you directly. First, for the charge of 2,000 men new levied, we do not see it certainly expressed from what day they were put in charge, or how long they continued, and therefore we wish that point explained. You must also consider that we cannot expect that Her Majesty should be charged with any apparel for their short service, and therein we do ground our opinion, out of a clause of a letter of you, the Treasurer, directed to me, the Lord Treasurer [Buckhurst], bearing date the 9th of September. So as now that we have compared your demands with your receipts, and your wants arising with such surplusage as must be in your hands, if any order have been used for Her Majesty's profit (to the which your several duties and oaths do bind you), we must conclude that, if you do not better answer these charges, Her Majesty must send over such Commissioners as shall make it appear that there is either fault in yourselves, or in those whom you should overlook. And what an error is it in you, the Treasurer, that, since September, we cannot have the half-year's book, but are driven to pick out of your letters and loose papers such collections as may justify our daily importunities to Her Majesty for treasure out of her coffers. We must also let you know that, by letters out of Munster, it appeareth daily that you are not so careful at Dublin for that province as it were reason you should, considering that it is the flower of anything Her Majesty enjoyeth in that kingdom, if it were well reduced, and the likeliest place to be assailed by any foreign enemies. We do hear from thence that the town of Limerick is in great distaste of the Irish soldiers that are there garrisoned, especially those of the Earl of Thomond. We do therefore think it fit, and so it is Her Majesty's pleasure, that you do give order that the garrison there may be English, and not of those Irish countries that adjoin, which we know are never acceptable to the great towns. You shall also see by the letters of the Commissioners, which were appointed by the Earl of Essex, that, notwithstanding all these large allowances, their wants are no way satisfied. We pray you, therefore, in Her Majesty's name, to take some order that they may not be driven to have all their means the longest way about, but may receive the treasure directly out of England. And for the moneys spent in concordatums, we require you to look well on the former titles, and then will it appear that many expenses have been such as were not expected under any such allowances; as, specially, new companies erected, which is very strange, considering that, the new establishment and old list being filled, the 5,000l. for concordatums should have served other petty and more extraordinary occasions.

"Lastly, we have thought good hereby to let you know, that we have warned all such Captains and Commanders, as are now in Her Majesty's pay and absent from their charge, to return presently; but, because we know not how they may delay it, it is Her Majesty's pleasure that you do forbear to pay any man that is absent from his charge, and not to begin his reckoning from the time he left his charge until he return again, but to see him duly checked from the time he went from thence until the day of his return again unto his charge. In these matters, as we have written unto you particularly, so Her Majesty doth expect due account and satisfaction from you in the same, whereof we require you to have special regard."—1599, October 31. Entry Book, No. 204, fos. 186b-188b. Copy. pp. 5.

Oct. 31. Cork.

233. Sir George Thornton to the [Earl of Essex,] "Lord Lieutenant and Governor-General of Ireland." "Albeit in my late letters by Sir Edward Denny I have written to your Lordship concerning certain causes, yet, lest those letters might either miscarry, or that an answer would not be solicited with that diligence as I expect the bearer will do, I have made humbly bold eftsoons to be a suitor to your Lordship therein. That where it pleased your Lordship to give direction by word to Sir Warham Sentleger and Sir Henry Power that I should have the first company that would fall in this province, it may please your Lordship, of your wonted honourable favour, to vouchsafe your direction in writing for the performance of the same. For that Sir Henry, for want of such direction, hath, in accomplishment of your Lordship's special warrant in the behalf of Captain Keymis and Captain Digges, disposed of Sir Charles Blunt's company, that lately fell, to add fifty to each of their companies.

"It may please your Lordship to take knowledge of the miserable and distressed estate of the poor towns, especially Kilmallock, which, as your Lordship knoweth, is continually burthened with a garrison of 450 foot and 50 horse, who, since your Lordship's departure thence, have not received any leadings, but [have been] victualled by the poor town to their intolerable charge; insomuch as they are driven to that poverty and discontentment, as they were ready to depart their dwellings, and leave the same waste, had not myself (in regard of Her Majesty's honour, the relief of the soldier, and satisfaction of the subject) both strained my purse, and engaged my credit, to lay out in ready money 330l. 18s. 6d. sterling, as may appear by the several bills of the Captains and officers, which I have. For which I can neither receive payment, nor the town satisfaction for the remain due to them, nor yet any order taken for the relief of the garrison henceforth, which I have by my letters signified to my Lord Justice the Treasurer, and desired not only payment for the premisses, but also that a proportion of money might be sent thither for the garrisons there and at Limerick, without which (especially Kilmallock, by reason it is on all sides environed with the enemy, and the town so extreme poor), they are not able to victual them by any means.

"It may likewise please your Lordship to be advertised, that these towns are grown so peremptory, as they obstinately refuse either to lodge or victual any soldiers but at their pleasure, standing upon points of charter for their immunity; as lately the Mayor and brethren of this city did answer the Council, and refused, either upon their word or warrant, to lodge Captain Digges' company, but kept them out of the gates all night. We doubt, if we have any cause of service abroad, they will have no better regard of ourselves, if your Lordship do not in time take such order as they may be held in better subjection.

"For any other occurrents of this province, I refer to the report of this gentleman, Mr. Crosby, who in that, and generally for the whole kingdom, can give your Lordship very sufficient information, as I doubt not but your Lordship, upon conference with him, will find to be true."—Cork, 1599, October 31. Signed. Seal. p. 1.

Oct. 31.

234. "Advertisements drawn out of a letter written to Sir Geffrey Fenton from [the] Ranelagh, being Feagh McHugh's country, dated the last of October, 1599."

"First, the Earl of Tyrone the last week sent up a priest of his, being his confessor, to deal with Donnell Spainagh, to draw him back again from the Queen to the Earl. [Marginal note, " This agreeth with the Brenny news of the 28 of October, '99."]

"The priest hath wrought so much, that Donnell Spainagh is quite altered from the State, and sworn anew to the Earl, to do as he would have him, and thereupon he hath taken the sacrament.

"The priest was with Phelim McFeagh, and with Onie McRory [marginal note, "the one chief of the Byrnes, and the other chief of the O'Mores], and the Connors, willing them from the Earl to keep the cessation, until Tyrone might hear from the Earl of Essex.

"Nevertheless he willed them not to put away their hired men, but to keep them all, and not to lose a man; and, if they were not able to keep them within their own country, but that they should be driven to take relief from the subjects, it were no great matter, so they did it not openly, but by snatches [marginal note, "This is a sign that they mean not to keep the cessation, but to break it upon a sudden."]

"The priest willed them that, during the cessation, they should furnish themselves of all wants of arms and munition.

"They practise in every place to draw new friends to them, and, when they break, they will break upon a sudden, and take their advantage to give you some great blow; and therefore make your garrisons strong, and be upon your keeping, and let an army be in readiness to make head against them upon a sudden." Copy. p. 1.

[October.]

235. Memorandum respecting the losses of Sir Geffrey Fenton.

1. The parsonage of Dunboyne in lease for some years yet to come. Fenton had it in possession by force of Her Majesty's warrant under her hand [marginal note, 'the warrant is extant"], and was not to be dispossessed but by a similar warrant. This was never produced, and therefore he was the more wronged. The parsonage was assigned over to the Lord Deputy, and so much was to be defalked out of his entertainment, as the yearly profits of the parsonage came to. But no defalcations have been made hitherto, and therefore Her Majesty has not been eased in her charge.

2. Clontarf, which is in lease for more than 36 years to another, lies near Dublin. "It may be, if I had a further estate in it, that I might buy out the present interest."

3. A fee farm of 902. per annum of any of Her Majesty's lands, spiritual or temporal, either in possession or reversion, within Ireland. In respect of the trouble and wastes of the country, this cannot be so beneficial at this time as a lease of so much lands for 21 years would have been within these twenty years.

[These three paragraphs are bracketed together with this marginal note:—A fee farm of these, or a reversion for 80 years, in recompense of his 20 years' service; being yet never recompensed, neither there nor here. His yearly charge is great in keeping 10 or 12 horses, both winter and summer, to answer the service, and no allowance made to him, either of dead pays out of bands, or otherwise, nor of port-corn, beeves, or other helps towards his hospitality, as is allowed to divers others of the Council."]

4. Sir Geffrey having attended at Court three years and three months, by special commandment from Her Majesty and their Lordships, for Her Majesty's weighty services then in question ["Sir John Perrot" in the margin], he had no allowance for all that time of attendance, but did bear his own charges, which was never done before to any servitor in Ireland.

5. He was dispatched from thence upon a sudden by Her Majesty's special charge, and dealing with the Lord Treasurer for some allowance for his so long attendance, his Lordship willed him not to stay upon it then, but to haste into Ireland with all possible speed, his Lordship promising to Sir Geffrey that he would procure order for his allowance, and send it after him, which was not yet done, and therefore it may please Her Majesty to assign him some consideration now. His ordinary allowance at other times, when he was sent out of Ireland to the Court, was 20s. per diem.

Walter Grant, Sheriff of the county of Cork, is spoiled by the rebels of all that ever he had. Moneys due to him.

Sir Geffrey to be put into the commissions for demising of lands and wards, & and for getting in of the Queen's debts, as he hath been in former Deputies' times, saving in Essex's government.

The commission for escheated lands in Munster to be renewed, and supplied with other names in lieu of those that be dead, as Sir Valentine Browne, Sir Henry Wallop, and others, and Sir Geffrey to be put into that commission [marginal note:—"Sir Geffrey hath good means to do Her Majesty good service in that commission, by reason he hath many secret friends in Munster, who can give him knowledge of many frauds used against Her Majesty"].—[1599, October.] Draft. pp. 2.

[October.]

236. "Names of the knights dubbed in Ireland since the year 1584 to this year, 1599, 24 September.' —1599 [October]. Copy. pp. 2.

[October.]

237. "The names of the newest knights made in Ireland, so far as I can yet remember." The great majority of these were dubbed by Essex. Sir Robert Cecil has added a few names, and endorsed, "Knights." Another hand has erroneously put "1601."—[1599, October.] p. 1.

[October.]

238. Copy of preceding.—[1599, October.] p. 1.

[October.]

239. "Instructions for one to be sent into Ireland."

"You shall understand that by the coming over of our cousin of Essex, upon a cessation taken with Tyrone, we find great cause to send over some discreet person, well instructed from hence, to these two purposes.

"First, to acquaint the Council there with the causes of changing him from that Government, to the intent they may not be ignorant how to proceed upon the foundations which he hath laid, and that they may be able to prevent any fond opinions or apprehensions, which might give the Traitor suspicion of our mislike of his desire generally to be restored to our mercy; although we are displeased with the manner of his return, whom we had absolutely commanded by our letter not to leave that kingdom until he had new license from us, where contrariwise he hath not only offended in that point, but also shewed small discretion in not concluding with Tyrone, for which he had commission, but in returning hither without any certainty from him, what he doth desire at our hands; by which occasion seeing now he is come home, and that for our honour['s] sake we could do no less than in some measure to chastise him, we are not determined to use his service there any further.

"The other point for which we send you is to bring us relation of the state of that kingdom, to which is incident, amongst other things, the knowledge of these particulars.

"First, to understand the true estate of our army, the places where they are garrisoned, and the reasons why they are there seated.

"The forces of the rebels, and where their strength is greatest, to understand which, of them are likeliest to be drawn, and which desperate; and especially how the titulary Earl of Desmond may be had, whereon depends the good of Minister; and how the Moores and O'Connors in Leinster may also be taken in; both these being countries whereof we are seized by virtue of Act of Parliament, which hath confirmed the same to us, and whereof we have passed divers estates to our natural subjects of English birth.

"If Tyrone be drawn in, and O'Donnell, what forces are sufficient to overrun the other rebels, if they will not be included in Tyrone's submission, and O'Donnell's.

"If Tyrone prove desperate, and will not come in, what forces then will be sufficient to defend the frontiers of Ulster, and preserve that which we possess elsewhere, and to prosecute the rebels that do there seek to annoy us.

"And forasmuch as it will be of great consequence that Munster and Leinster were quieted (for whom it is very much to be doubted that the Traitor will capitulate), and that you may consider of all circumstances thereunto belonging, we have also set down a memorial of things that are remarkable, and fit to be effected, if the circumstances of the time can afford it; which is, how to grant such conditions, as, to deny, were to continue fruitless charge, and yet not so to yield mercy to the rebels, as thereby to destroy our own good and natural subjects.

"You shall declare to the Council that we have lately received by our cousin of Essex a relation of his proceedings since he had the sword; wherein, because it is to us of little contentment, nor to touch the particulars of our expense, our dishonour, or our disasters, during the time of his Lieutenancy (whereof we have already so particularly written), yet will we affirm this, that nothing went worse when our kingdom was managed by others; and therefore have we resolved to establish another government by authority from hence, which now is limited to the time of his absence only. And for any error or omission during his time, when we fell to examine the particulars, comparing the proceedings there with our directions, he doth plainly and directly excuse himself hereby, that in whatsoever he varied from the counsels set down before his going, and resolved by us, it was but to accord with the State there, and in most things of prosecution following the advice of our cousin of Ormonde; adding further, that, although he did still protest in many things against their opinions, especially for his going into the north, yet, finding such an unity of contestation in them all against him, he thought it more safe to use conformity, than to be taxed for singularity in opinion, from those to whose experience he did attribute more than to his own; a matter whereof at this time we make mention, to no other end than to stir them all up (if this have been all their doings) to new endeavours and better counsels, seeing worse cannot ensue to our dishonour or the prejudice of the state of that kingdom.

"You shall also understand that, when he had thus discharged himself with these and such like answers, he fell into another declaration, that be had many reasons to persuade himself that, if we would be pleased to resolve of a course of remission to those that had so highly offended us, Tyrone especially, and to do it in such sort as they might assure themselves that we would bury in oblivion their former crimes, and that we would make once again a trial of their great desires to deserve our favours, not only Tyrone himself, but most of the rest, might be made our loyal subjects.

"When we had heard all this, and did remember what an ample authority we had given him, not only to prosecute but to pardon, as he should find best for the good of our subjects, it seemed strange to us that he had not made some final end with them, even in that point of granting them or denying them our free grace and pardon (if they offered any conditions of honour or safety), but he would adventure so rashly to come over upon so many uncertainties, that we cannot tell what to build upon.

"He affirmeth that he hath concluded a cessation, whereof when we consider, we find it to be upon so equal terms, as, whensoever Tyrone should be disposed, within fourteen days he may take his opportunity, without breach of accord; than which what can be more unreasonable or more dishonourable?

"In consideration hereof our pleasure is, that our cousin of Ormonde procure with all speed a meeting with Tyrone, and there by himself, or such as he shall send, let him know that we do not reject of his general desire or resolution to become a good subject, for we have one hand of mercy and another for justice. And therefore let him deliver him his desires and offers freely, upon what conditions he seeketh our grace, and let him receive this full persuasion, that as no man's mediation shall be forcible with us, but that which is meritorious in itself, so nothing shall divert us from him (if once we find cause to receive him again unto our grace and favour) but a clear proof of his new disloyalties; and that our displeasure to our cousin of Essex is grounded upon this, that he would leave things so rawly, and bring over no certainty."—[1599, October.] Draft. pp. 9.

[October.]

240. Richard McGeoghan to Sir Edward Herbert. "Your worship shall understand that Hugh O'Coffie dealt very earnestly with me to make restitution of your house, which will not be, not only because I have entered farther in that matter than possibly I may safely return back, and also because O'Neill, to whom I am, and will be, obedient, hath chiefly entered into action for matters of religion; and this house, being a religious house, must be restored to the Church. But I mean to keep it yet unbroken, and, if Englishmen have the upper hand, to restore it to you, and also to give you what I am worth besides, in lieu of the good which you X (fn. 4) (sic) me. And if I hear that you make head against me, I will not leave one stone in all the house [to] stand upon another, and will disperse your stuff, and will keep your son William and your daughter Mary in pledge for the same. But I protest I will use them well; and assure yourself, if the house were not lost in this sort, it would he sold by James O'Lenten to others. And when I saw that I thought it better that I should have it myself, than any other. As for Hugh O'Coffie's threatenings for breaking the truce contracted by O'Neill and my Lord of Essex, I weigh it not, because I pertained not to O'Neill until now."—[1599, October.] Copy, p. 1.

[October.]

241. Proclamation by Queen Elizabeth, stating the offence taken at the indiscriminate bestowal of knighthood in Ireland; that she had instructed Essex, "late Lieutenant and Governor-General" of that kingdom, to forbear knighting any person that was not "of ancient blood, good livelihood, or had done some especial service"; that, notwithstanding, within two months and less after his arrival in Ireland, he had bestowed the dignity "beyond all moderation"; that, thereupon, she had sent him "an express letter, all written with her own hand," absolutely commanding him not to knight any man more, but to leave that reward to her; that, nevertheless, Essex had made a great number of knights in the months of August and September [the names underwritten are thirty-eight in number]; and declaring that their titles are null and void.—[1599, October.] Sign Manual. One sheet of parchment.

[October.]

242. Imperfect draft of a commission by Queen Elizabeth to the Earl of Ormonde.

"Forasmuch as upon revocation of our cousin the Earl of Essex, our late Lieutenant of that our realm of Ireland, we have thought good to alter the manner of government, which by our commission to him granted we had established, and have appointed two Justices to be our superior Governors of that our kingdom; and yet do think it necessary to have our martial services governed and commanded by some special person of trust, knowledge, and experience in the martial affairs of that our realm, we have, &c."—[1599, October.] Endorsed, "Commission E. Ormonde." p. ½.

[October.]

243. Commission by Queen Elisabeth to the Earl of Ormonde.

"Having understood that Tyrone and other[s] in actual rebellion have shewed with great humility and repentance their most earnest desires to be received into our grace and mercy, protesting deeply how faithful they will be found to us and our State for ever hereafter, if we will vouchsafe to deal graciously with them, whereby they may assure themselves that we have wiped his and their offences out of our heart; after much debate with ourself whether to put up [with] so heinous treasons meriting severe correction, which belongeth to our princely justice, or to deny the fruits of mercy to those that ask it, which is another property belonging to that kingly state, in which we are placed by God Almighty, a sovereign prince over kingdoms and people, we have at length resolved, for the commiseration we take of divers poor, ignorant, rude creatures, that, by lewd enchantments and dread of the tyranny of their superiors, are miscarried from their faith and obedience, and for the avoiding of effusion of Christian blood in general, besides the particular loss of many of our good subjects, whose lives must be ventured in [? this] quarrel, to grant our free and gracious pardon unto Tyrone and such other, as shall now without delay, in humble and penitent form, desire it, upon such terms and conditions as shall stand with our honour and the good of that State, whereof as we can be content to make you the judge in all particulars, knowing you to be a nobleman of birth and continuance, endued with wisdom and affection to our State and person, so do we hereby give you full power and authority to deal with him, either by yourself, or by any other whom you shall think fit to depute to hear his offers, and to examine the particulars of the same, and to take such order thereupon as shall seem good unto your discretion; of whom we promise ourselves this much, that if you find not in him a true remorse and conscience of his crimes, and an unfeigned resolution to become and continue a loyal subject, and so of any of the rest that you shall deal withal, for all which we give you full power as aforesaid, that in that case you will speedily break off all manner of speech, whereby these tokens of our merciful disposition may not be abused, and our lenity perverted to our dishonour. Wherein we must also declare that, as no other could have drawn us thus far but their own apparent signs and demonstrations of internal desire to appease our wrath, no bands being of so effectual power as the relative respects between a Prince and his natural subjects, if those strict obligations be not made nothing by [dis]loyalty, so, if we shall once, upon the submission and dutiful offers of offenders, pronounce our word of pardon and remission, it shall not be in the power of any living creature to make us change that course of grace and mercy, upon any suggestion or respect whatsoever, except the effects of new disloyalty break forth, to their own greater condemnation. This being therefore that resolution on which you must build your foundation, either of beginning or concluding this affair, we do hereby authorise you to proceed accordingly, and give you full power, as our immediate minister in this, to promise and perform whatsoever you shall agree to, with this declaration, that we will hold it our act, and so will have it reputed, by virtue of these our letters patent under our Great Seal of England."—1599 [October]. Copy, with several alterations in Sir Robert Cecil's hand. He has added to the word "Commission" on the dorse, the words, "to the Earl of Ormonde." pp. 4½.

[October.]

244. Queen Elizabeth to the Lords Justices Loftus and Carey and the Earl of Ormonde.

"Because we do not doubt but that divers reports, and different from the truth, will be carried thither, of the causes and manner of proceeding with Essex, upon his return from thence, we have thought it convenient to acquaint you (to whom he hath distributed the charge of our kingdom), as well with the resolution which we have taken for the matter which he hath brought us, as for the particular proceeding towards himself; not that in this case we would have written anything for that which concerneth himself alone, but because this accident, so immediately succeeding his employment in so great a charge, draweth after it some circumstances, which cannot be severed from public considerations, nor well understood, if the same be left to the vent of flying rumours, which never carry any truth, but are reported and believed according to men's fancies that speak and hear them.

"You shall therefore understand that, having sent him into that realm with greater forces and power every way than at any time we have had in our pay, and having authorised him with very liberal commission, as well for the employing of our said force, as for the extending of our mercy, where cause should be, we expected of both to have found some such success as might have been more answerable to our charge than yet it proveth, especially for any thing done by our army. We find that he had some ground ministered unto him, at his late being in the north, to make trial of that part of his commission which concerned the yielding of our mercy, Tyrone presenting unto him very vehement and inward protestations of his desire to return to his due subjection to us, with offers and petitions concerning the same, and offering an abstinence of arms, which Essex hath accepted according to the agreement set down, until our pleasure be first known. In which case we do hereby let you know, that it is our pleasure the same shall be duly observed on the part of our army, so long as you shall find it is kept by Tyrone (for which we command you to suffer no occasion to be offered of breach or violation), seeing our word is given for it by him who then represented our person in that kingdom. Next, we have thought good hereby to let you understand that, for the particular offers which passed from him to Essex, we would have him presently to be advertised from you, our cousin of Ormonde, that to the intent he may know he is not rejected, but that he may know clearly from us, what we like and what we mislike, we will by another present despatch let him know our full resolution; and that in such sort as he shall see, if he be resolved to ransom his faults by sincere repentance and constant duty hereafter, that he shall have cause to think he was born under a gracious and merciful Sovereign, whose heart is not hardened against true and unfeigned repentance. But of this subject our next despatch shall speak more plainly and freely. And for the present you shall further understand that, howsoever we might conceive of that which Essex brought or might have brought to us, vet, in the manner of his return, we have been forced, for example['s] sake, to demonstrate to the world that it hath no way pleased us. For, whether he made it known to you and that Council, or no, we know not; but so it is that, after he had long deferred his journey northward, which he wholly lays upon all your united counsels, protesting his own contrarious opinion; and when we saw neither use made of our power nor trial of our mercy, we did command him to go onward. as he did. and to advertise us presently to what terms he had reduced all things: and commanded him for divers respects, upon his allegiance, not to presume to return before he had our new direction, either for conclusion with Tyrone, when he should make us know his desire in craving our pardon, for continuing the prosecution by force as we should direct, or for leaving the charge to whom we should think fit. In which last point, though we do not mislike his choice of you three, but do hereby confirm it, yet we who in experience of long reign have found of how dangerous consequence it is for Princes to tolerate sovereign commandments to be contemned, and have often cause to employ in services of great weight persons of his quality, and others who might (in our easy digesting of this act of his) take ill example, and by like errors breed great inconvenience to our service, in satisfaction of our honour, and for the respects which to our princely commandments do belong, we have resolved to lay some public shadow of our displeasure upon him, to serve for his and others' instruction, which we have done by restraining him in the house of one of our Council. Of all which, we think it not inconvenient to let you know from our own mouth all the truth, both for your own satisfaction, and also that you may let Tyrone truly know upon what reason we have done it, without relation to anything that concerns him in that matter; and that he might know that if, either in respect of his indisposition of. body, or any other consideration for our service, he return not back again, we will let him know our mind by some other convenient means, and will be sufficient caution for our own word's observation (if we give it), without any necessity of any other mediate interposition. And thereof do we little doubt, but he that knows us what we are, will be sufficiently persuaded, whensoever that which comes from him shall give us cause to deliver that breath which was never yet falsified. Of all this we require you presently to let him be advertised by some discreet person; wherein, if you do use the service of Fenton and some other assistant, we shall allow, or some other of judgment and discretion, whom you shall think fit, by whom also we will expect with speed to hear in what mind he continueth; and, how all things have passed since the departure of our Lieutenant, we look daily and more frequently to be advertised from you than we have been, and especially from all those who should give us account of our treasure, and of our forces what they are."—1599 [October]. This letter has been first of all endorsed erroneously, " To the Earl of Essex," and then, in like error, "Lord Mount joy." Copy. pp. 2½.

[October.]

245. "Heads of matters for our cousin the Earl of Ormonde to urge to Tyrone at the meeting."—Endorsed, " 1599. Heads of sundry matters which the Earl of Ormonde was commanded to urge to Tyrone at the treaty with him in the year '97."—Probably a copy made for Ormonde's use in the present negotiation. Duplicate, without the notes, of No. 95 I. in Vol. CCI. pp. 2½.

[October.]

246. Speech by Sir Robert Cecil.

After alluding to the speeches of the Lord Keeper and of the Lords who had followed, he refers to his own position as a Privy Councillor and Principal Secretary. He then speaks of certain "libellous raiders and sons of devils," who had called the Queen's honour in question. "What other purpose have they herein, but to fill the ruder sort with lies, and stir up careless men unto contempt of State, and move the common sort unto sedition?" For his part he has no fear of "any man of worth, soldiers, lawyers, gentlemen, or those of the better sort of people." Compares the libellers to Jack Cade or Jack Straw, as having endangered the kingdom, and being most apt to stirs. The Queen's love for "soldiers in deed." The idle, drunken man, who has perhaps been once in the wars, is no more worthy of the name of soldier, "than an hedge priest, that can scarcely read an homily, to be made a bishop." In the late designs for Ireland, Sir Robert was both a deviser and adviser. "And if the direction had been followed, and an execution answerable to the counsels that were taken, Ireland had not been in state, as now it is come to. I know that, before this action was undertaken, it was said, Ireland was lost by dropping and sparing supplies; Her Majesty's treasure went but by handfuls; all was lost in that things were not royally performed. For the state of Ireland, I will say this; till within this five years Her Majesty held Ireland in as good terms as I would have desired, and as well as any her predecessors ever held it When Sir John Perrot left Ireland, the Queen had not a word out against her. For, I pray you, what would you have the Queen do ? Should she make a conquest of all Ireland again ? Then must she also utterly root out all the blood and race of that people, and plant it anew, for, so long as any of them were left living; they would never live in any other fashion. And do you think it had been easy for tike Queen of England to set the King of France in his kingdom, to protect all the Low Countries, to encounter the King of Spain and all his forces, and to have spent her men and treasure in conquering Ireland ? The revenue of that kingdom, was never above 13,000l. yearly to the Queen; the charge of it continually hath been as much more. Some men will speak, and tell of great revenues that the Crown of England hath had out of Ireland, and how Ulster hath yielded of itself 30,000l. yearly. But these are fables of old Malmesbury, and such other, fitter for legenda aurea than to be written in any store (sic; history). Therefore to speak of Ulster, and what loss it is to suffer Tyrone to have it, for my part I would he had it, so Her Majesty had the rest with as little charge as heretofore she held them. For this I dare speak of Her Majesty's charge, that, since '88, these wars of Ireland, France, and the Low Countries, and other services, have cost her four and twenty hundred thousand pounds. It is true there was granted to the Queen three subsidies the last Parliament. But two of them were spent within eight months following; and what in particular this last action in Ireland hath consumed, you have heard by my Lord Treasurer. This is what the Queen hath done. Why she did it, my Lords know; and, that nothing be imputed to me more than others, or suspected that private directions had crossed public counsels, though Her Majesty's special favour have used my service, and my advice hath been in these causes, yet nothing herein hath been spoken or done, but what my Lords all have been acquainted with. I have heard my Lord of Essex should say, if he had [had] men and money, Ireland had not been lost. I do not think he would say so. Yet Her Majesty is accused of want of wisdom, now that forty years hath approved it, to the wonder of all princes of the world. What hath been done in Ireland, in pursuit of the directions hence, you have heard. The end of the journey being to set upon the chief rebel, the traitor Tyrone, he was never attempted till the end of August, the landing in Ireland being [in] April. All this meanwhile the rebel sits in his chariot, seems not to stir. The armies have not been lost upon him, but the disasters that happened you see where they fell. A base kern, the son of a poor kern, 'Festmontcue Hughe' [Feagh McHugh], with a few Irish, put to flight our army at one time; 600 Irish give overthrow to 2,000 English. But, it may be excused, yet the Queen's army were never overthrown; but as good [as] overthrown by the enemy, as, full with his own weight, [it was] hurled up and down the country, spent in Munster, and scattered in Connaught, never taking service, nor led into the parts they were appointed. The Lords do all disclaim from the public counsel of his (sic); but, it may be, some private despatch might forbid, and command contrary to the general directions. But my Lord's own letters are to the contrary. For excuse of my Lord's returning, it may be said, my Lord had warrant by the Great Seal. It is true my Lord's commission was of great authority and liberty. Besides, my Lord had warrant, by letters under Her Majesty's hand, for some urgent cause and matter private, to have privilege to come over as himself should find cause; but this letter was nine weeks before his coming over. After which, also, Her Majesty directed special letters to him, signifying what a hazard it was to a kingdom to be without a Governor, or left into the hands of many. Wherefore, notwithstanding the privilege she had formerly given by her letters for power to return at his pleasure, yet now, upon allegiance, did she command him not to come, until by other order from hence one should be appointed to come, and take the place of government, which he should shortly be further advertised of. And, I protest before God, had not my Lord returned as he did, I think, within twenty days after, he had had Her Majesty's full leave to come over. Since my Lord's returning, what is become of that State, now more desperate than ever before ? The reason, perhaps, by some will be imputed to this intelligence, that presently was carried in[to] Ireland, of my Lord's entertainment here, and ill acceptations of the conditions of that peace. But how unlikely this is, judge hereby, though this be an objection which I think fit to anticipate with an answer. It was the 28th of September my Lord came at the Court. The 29th of September the Earl of Tyrone spoke with Warren, a man whom he more trusts than any Englishman. He tells Warren that he hoped ere long to be in England, [and] published then presently that his confederates disliked of the peace. He will have the name of O'Neill, the generation of a blacksmith, and a name forbidden by Act of Parliament [is] now set up again, pretends matter of religion, that he will have it free for all men, and objects, as the Papists do, that none in that kingdom should suffer for their conscience. Whereas in that kingdom, it is well known the laws are not for religion, as they are in England; to receive a priest or hear a mass in Ireland is no felony."

Has holden them the longer, that they might know how to rebuke those "libellers and liars." The Queen's care exceedeth all that they can say for her. "Thus hath this ill cause pressed this good occasion, which must have been, or we otherwise have suffered her to be scandalised, who, I hope, shall be canonised for the mirror of her virtue." Endorsed by Sir Joseph Williamson, temp. Car. II., "Sir Robert Cecil's speech (I take it) in Star Chamber." Copy. pp. 5½.