1575.

or some other convenient port of the sea side, the sum of 20,000 pounds sterling yearly, to be paid quarterly to the Treasurer of Ireland beforehand the sum of 5,000l. at a time." With this sum our army shall be victualled without our further charges or burthen of the country. Therefore it shall be necessary for you to cause all the victuallers to deliver their remains of all manner of victuals and other provisions, and cease from continuance in any entertainment from that time. The remains are to be viewed and prised by the oaths of indifferent persons to the most commodity of us, and to be either delivered in a value to you, as a parcel of our assignation, or else to be there sold in Ireland to our most advantage. The vessels and utensils to be taken into your charge.

(7.) We hope that, by increase of our revenues, we shall, after a small time, be disburdened of some good part of the foresaid assignation of 20,000l. Therefore we desire to be quarterly, or at the least every half year, advertised of the numbers of our garrisons contained in ordinary wages, and in what places they serve. As you have offered, with this assignation, to cause the town of Knockfergus to be fortified and certain bridges to be made in sundry places for the better ruling and daunting of sundry rebels, you shall make certificate of the expenses every half year.

(8.) "Because we have ordered by our late letters to our Deputy and th' Earl of Essex that there should be a discharge of the excessive number of soldiers serving in Ulster specially, and also in other places, to the reducing of the whole garrison and numbers in pay not to exceed the number of 1,600; whereby it may be that sundry such captains may be discharged as shall have had imprest of larger sums of money than the time of their service until the time of their discharge shall amount unto for th' Earl of Essex causes. Therefore in the consideration of the army and garrison that shall now be in entertainment under you the said Sir Henry Sydney, we wish that you would continue such captains with their bands in entertainment rather than to take any new into wages, at the least until the time that their imprest may be expended, except you can otherwise provide how we may be duly answered of our imprest, which, if the numbers be duly mustered, it is thought that the said imprest ought not to be allowed; but the captains, having taken large[r] imprests and pays than than their numbers extend unto, ought to be compelled to repay the same."

(9.) Heretofore, when you were Deputy, you found sundry of the Irish lords and captains disposed to become obedient subjects, and to surrender their estates to us, with intention to receive the same of us by grant and letters patents, and to yield rents and services. We like very well of the said offers, and therefore we will you to treat with them.

1575.

Vol. 611, p. 323.

Aug. 6.

Vol. 628, p. 231a.

21.

(10.) "We will that you continue all such persons, as our counsellors for our estate there, as you shall find authorized thereunto; and that you admit also th' Earl of Essex to be one of the Lords of the Council there."

Contemp. copy. Pp. 7. Endorsed.

2. Another copy of the same instructions.
Pp. 6.

The QUEEN to the EARL OF ESSEX.

By your letter dated at Droghdaghe, 22nd July, we understand your painful travails in Ulster and good success. With as small effusion of blood as may be, you have brought Ulster into obedience and quiet.

We have appointed to send Sir Henry Sidney with all speed into Ireland as Deputy in the place of Sir William FitzWilliams, who has been long suitor to us for the recovery of his health to come into England.

Touching your petitions and requests, in former letters we have in part written our mind to you. "Where for the Ferney, besides the bonnaghe, we did reserve of you the yearly rent of 20 marks; we do not esteem the money so, but we can be content, in lieu of that rent, to have a chief horse or some such thing yearly to be presented to our Deputy for the time being, for an acknowledgment of sovereignty only. For the office and honour of the Earl Marshal, although we do not use willingly to grant any such office otherways than during pleasure, yet we are well content to give it you during life. For the rest of your requests we have willed the said Sir Henry Sidney to confer with you.'

Concerning Sarleboy for to enjoy those lands, the which he saith unto you was granted to him in the Lord Chamberlain's time,* when he was Deputy there, we do remember that there was such a communication at that time with him, but because neither my Lord Chamberlain nor Sir Henry Sidney be here at this present, we cannot upon the sudden give answer."

We pray you to give our right hearty thanks to Sir Peter Carew, the Lord Norrice's son, Nicholas Malbye, Edmond Barckley, and all the other captains and gentlemen who have so faithfully and painfully served us in this service done by you at this time.

We make here no mention of McGuise,† contained among your requests, but you shall understand our good disposition therein by our said Deputy.

Chartley, 6 August 1575.

1575.

Aug. 6.

Vol. 628, p. 291.

Aug. 12.

Vol. 628, p. 230a.

"This was written with the Queen's own hand :—If lines could value life, or thank might answer praise, I should esteem my pen's labour the best employed time that many years hath lent me. But to supply the want that both those carrieth, a right judgment of upright dealing shall lengthen the scarcity that either of the other wanted. Deem therefore, Cousin mine, that the search of your honour with the danger of your breath hath not been bestowed on so ungrateful a Prince that will not both consider the one and reward the other.

"Your most loving Cousin and Sovereign,-E.R."
Contemp. copy. Pp. 3. Headed: Essex.

22. The QUEEN to SIR PETER CAREW, the Sons of LORD NORRIS, CAPTAIN MALBIE, and CAPTAIN BARKLEYE.

23.

The Earl of Essex greatly commends your diligence and faithful service. We give you our right hearty thanks, especially considering that in all services and hard accidents. you have continued still with our said cousin when others have left him.

Chartley, 6 August 1575.

Contemp. copy. P. §.

Headed From the Queen, a letter of thanks, to Sir Peter Carew, &c.

[The QUEEN] to the EARL OF ESSEX.

By your letters of 31st July you advertise us of the taking of the island of the Raughlins, the common receipt and harbour of such Scots as do infest that realm of Ireland; and that your proceeding against Sarleboy has taken happy success. Give the young gentleman John Norrice, the executioner of your well devised enterprise, to understand that we will not be unmindful of his good services. You shall receive our resolution touching the keeping of the Raughlins at Sir Henry Sidney's hands, who means within eight days after the date hereof to be at the sea side, there to embark, whom, after his arrival and acceptation of the charge of government there, we have appointed immediately to repair into the North, there to confer with you for the stay of that province.

"In the meantime, we think it very convenient, according to your own opinion and allowance, that there be continued a ward of 30 soldiers in the fort lately taken in the said island; and if you shall see any necessary continuance for the entertaining of the frigates until you shall confer with our said servant and counsellor Henry Sydney, we can be content to allow thereof."

Dudley Castle, 12 August 1575, 17 Eliz.
Contemp. copy. Pp. 2. Headed: Essex.

1575. Aug. 12.

Vol. 605, p. 49.

Aug. 16.

Vol. 628, p. 178.

24. LORD DEPUTY

FITZWILLIAMS to ROBERT HARPOLL, Constable of Cathourleghe Castle.

Warrant to restore the kine and garranes, which he wrongfully levied upon Sir Peter Carewe and his tenants. Plattyn, 12 August 1575.

Contemp. copy. P. 1.

25. [The PRIVY COUNCIL] to the LORD DEPUTY (SIDNEY).

"The Earl of Desmond, by his letters unto us dated the 12th of June from Asketton, hath sent hither certain examinations taken touching the conveying away of James FitzMorrice by a French merchant, not without the privity, as may appear, of the Mayor of Limerick, being forewarned before by letters from the said Earl of Desmond to the said Mayor and the Bishop of the same town." We send you the said examinations, requiring you, at your coming into that realm, “to give order that the very truth of the matter may be bolted out and the offenders punished."

"Besides this, the said Earl hath requested three things:the one, to have his castles restored to him, which he saith be chargeable to her Majesty to keep, and no profit; the other, to have his hostages or pledges remitted also to him; and the third, to have licence to carry his son into Ireland, who is now in Bristol." You can best judge how these requests should be answered. Nevertheless, the Queen thinks that the Earl's doings "have been such of late, as that there is need to have further trial and proof of his obedience and good conformity, before so much be granted unto him; for it is not unknown what dalliance he made, and what charge he put her Majesty unto, before he would come in after his unautiful flying from Dublin; and even now, as it is informed, he will not suffer her Highness' sheriff to serve process, nor her writs to be current, nor her laws to be executed in the more part of his lands, as well such as by charter is made a liberty palatine, as in such which was never so made by any grant." We refer him "to be answered by you there as you shall, upon further inquiry of his good demeanours, see expedient for her Majesty's service."

"Whereas in his said letters unto us he hath confessed that he hath been heretofore enticed by the practices and ill counsels of the Baron of Lixenawe to commit such undutiful parts as he late did, and thereupon hath beseeched us to be suitors for her Majesty's favour towards him: we have signified unto the Earl that upon the good report of you, her Majesty's Deputy, of the said Baron's good and dutiful behaviour, we may hereafter be brought to deal for the recovery of her Highness' entire favour again, and therefore require your Lordship so to use the matter in that point as you shall see cause and he shall deserve."

Worcester, 16 August 1575.

Contemp. copy. Pp. 3. Headed: Deputy.

1575. Aug. 19.

Vol. 628, p. 179a.

26.

[The PRIVY COUNCIL] to the EARL OF DESMOND. We have received your letters of 12th June last from Asketton, and have been right glad to understand as well thereby as by others from the Lord Deputy, of your continuance in good behaviour and loyalty towards her Majesty. Having now found out the lewdness and falsehood of such persons as heretofore practised to divert you from your allegiance, we trust hereafter you will be the more circumspect in not giving credit to such bad counsellors. We have been informed of your dutiful and conformable behaviour since your late submission. If you continue the same, as her Majesty has remitted her displeasure, so will she also be willing to restore you to her entire favour again.

"For that it appeareth that the Baron of Lixenawe, and James Fitz Morrice have heretofore been the chief practisers that made you to mistrust the Lord Deputy and enter into those actions which you then did, like as we hope that this will be a sufficient warning unto you not to be led with such counsellors again, so, upon the motion of your letters, we are contented to suspend our judgment of him* until such time as, by the report of Sir Henry Sidney, appointed Lord Deputy of that realm, we shall be more particularly advertised of the qualities of the person and his dutiful and loyal behaviour there; which if we shall understand unfeignedly, then, according to your Lordship's request, upon so good a ground we will not fail to be a means to her Highness for her entire favour towards him, which there is no doubt he shall by this only means procure; and so may your Lordship put him in good comfort, and certify him in our names.

"Touching James Fitz Morris, who, by his former actions and late departure out of the realm and practices there, hath showed to have little deserved such favour as hath been granted unto him heretofore, we trust no cause shall move your Lordship to give any credit or assistance to any so notorious offender, but that you will employ yourself, as occasion shall require, to the uttermost to resist all attempts that may be made, and suppress all persons whatsoever as hef shall seek by any kind of ways to disturb the quietness and peace of that realm. And as concerning his departure over the seas, having seen a copy of your Lordship's letter sent beforehand to the mayor and officers of Lymericke for his stay, and also perused the other examinations taken by the Commissioners concerning that matter, we are perfectly satisfied for your Lordship's doings, and for your pains taken therein render unto you, in the Queen's Majesty's behalf, right hearty thanks, upon hope that you will continue in the same, and see in whom the default was why he was not

* Scilicet, the Baron of Lixenawe.
† Sic.