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1575. April 8.

Vol. 628, p. 217a.

3. [The QUEEN] to the DEPUTY and the EARL OF ESSEX.

"It did appear to us very strange that so suddenly th' enterprise of the reduction of Ulster to obedience, which hath been so costly to us, should be as it were clean overthrown without our knowledge, for we did never think that upon such a sudden either you our Deputy would have refused to take that charge with those numbers, or you the Earl have given over your government of Ulster. And therefore this is to will you both to continue in the same order which by our last letters we did appoint, until you shall have further knowledge of our pleasure, and to casse no more of such as be in our pay, but so that the numbers of 2,000 English soldiers, beside 200 kerne and 100 laborers, as we have appointed in the same letters, be retained still, according to such division as is there made.

"And where you our Deputy do make accompts as though you had but 150 soldiers as those which be in spare bands, we must needs think this a strange reckoning, that all your own bands of horsemen and footmen and all the rest of th' officers' bands should be reckoned for no soldiers and men of war, whom yet we do daily pay for such. Some reason there had been for the guards necessary of castles, which cannot well be removed, especially footmen, that they might have been accompted as not fit at all times to follow you, the Deputy, at any sudden attempt or occasion, the which we cannot reckon in the whole to be not past 100, or thereabouts, to which number we could be content further to charge ourself. Then is there yet 700 at all times and commandments to follow you, our Deputy. And seeing that the Earl of Essex shall chiefly use his forces in summer until he hath builded his forts and places of strength, which being once done and finished, in the winter, what time the English Pale is most disquieted with wood kerne, and such thieves and rebels, you may be by some of his spare bands helped, we do see no cause why, following our advices and designs in our last letters specified unto you, you our Deputy have any cause to complain, or to frustrate the honorable enterprise of our cousin, the Earl of Essex. And therefore this is to will and command you with all speed possible to set such order that the bruit of this sudden alteration and changing may do no hurt."

We will send you by Malby further instructions. In the meantime you our Deputy shall signify to such as you think should by these bruits either be too much encouraged to mischief or discouraged from service, that it was mistaken by you or by them who did sow such bruits. And you the Earl of Essex shall signify so much to O'Donell and others whom you have brought to our service.

At our manor of St. James, 8 April 1575, the 17th year of our reign.

Contemp. copy. Pp. 2. Headed: Deputy; Essex.

1575.

II. "INSTRUCTIONS for NICHOLAS MALBY, sent into Ireland, to be declared as followeth."

"Because you have been made acquainted with the consultations here had since your coming from the Earl of Essex concerning the enterprise of the said Earl, for reducing of the province of Ulster to the Queen's Majesty's obedience, according to a plot thereof propounded by the said Earl, there needeth not any recital to be made of the particular difficulties found in the same, whereby the resolutions were prolonged, but yet in sum you may report that the greatest difficulties rested upon these several points."

(1.) As almost two years and a great deal of treasure and victual had been spent, and a great number of men lost, without any apparent profit, her Majesty feared the continuance of such loss in time to come; but it was earnestly declared to her what were the causes of the former expenses and losses, and how the enterprise might now take place with great likelihood of good success.

(2.) "Her Majesty found herself and this her crown so burdened with unmeasurable charges and expenses of treasure for the government of the realm, adding thereunto the great debts there now claimed, as she could not readily assent to enter into such a new charge as was required for this enterprise, as well for fortifications, which are great, as for continuance of a great garrison during two years. And were it not that it is to be hoped that her Majesty may be eased of these charges by some benevolence by way of subsidy here in England, her Majesty could not hereunto have in the end

consented."

(3.) "Her Majesty had no small regard of th' adventure of the person of the Earl of Essex to prolong his continuance in those northern parts, having already borne forth the labours and dangers almost of two years, whereas there are few other that accompanied him thither being but of mean degree but they are returned, as misliking to continue, for danger of their healths, in the same. And likewise her Majesty had care to see the Earl, being so toward a nobleman, there left without any principal person meet to accompany him and to assist him in prosecution of this enterprise.'

و"

These matters have been the causes of her slow resolution. Therefore, considering how grievously the Earl takes the protracting thereof, as you have seen the proceedings herein, you shall declare to him the premises at more length.

The Earl shall do well to consider of these difficulties, "and take good regard how to ease as many of them as may lie his power; that is, first, when he shall now begin, not to lose any time and season of the year for anything to be done, and specially in all his doings to use good advice, and foresee how the soldiers may be kept in discipline, his bands kept full, and not by abuse of captains for gain to keep void rooms; likewise to have as few of the Irish in bands as may be; next to

1575.

cause regard to be had of the soldier's health, and to avoid the infected from the other. And for these and such like his Lordship must make good choice of his captains, officers, and ministers."

It is hoped that, when the fortifications are begun, he will obtain great help of the Irish people, to dig and carry and such like, either gratis or for small hire; and that towards the victualling of flesh for the soldiers and oats for the horses, he may, by preys of the enemies' cattle, and contribution of his Irish friends, help to ease the charge of the victualling.

For the Earl's comfort and reputation, and for advice and assistance, Sir Peter Caroo shall be commanded to repair to him, "as a person for his wisdom, discretion, reputation, and for his affection to the Earl, most meet."

"And to th' intent he may without his own charges there continue, it is thought meet that he shall occupy the place which is mentioned in the Earl's plot, that is, to be lieutenant to the Earl of the whole garrison, and to have the allowance of 10s. per diem, and 20 horsemen in wages, and also to have the charge of 100 other horsemen or footmen; for which purpose her Majesty hath written letters to the said Sir Peter.

And here it hath been also thought meet that when the Earl shall begin to attempt the fortifying of Blackwater, that the Lord Deputy, should in person, with an hosting of the English Pale, accompany the Earl, to th' intent that by help of garrons and carriages the victuals and other necessaries which are brought from the Newry, or thereabout, may be carried safely and speedily to the Blackwater; and that, whilst that is in doing, and the place intrenching, some exploit be made upon th' enemy to recover or destroy his cattle and other victuals, so as afterwards in the next winter the garrison that shall remain at Blackwater may be in more surety; and that also in the latter end of this summer there may be order taken and provision aforehand of ploughs for to till and sow some quantity of ground near the fort, to provide corn for the next summer, for sustentation of the garrison that shall remain in the fort. And as this is thought meet for Blackwater, so also the like is thought requisite for that which shall be placed in Colran."

"You shall also shew the Earl that toward the provisions of certain necessaries for the buildings to be made there and to the fortifications, and namely for certain frames of timber for houses of stowage, and of handmills, and a hoy and a frigate, and of iron, lead, and all manner of tools for works, with many other particular things whereof you can make recital, there is warrant made for 1,000l., to be distributed by me, the Treasurer of her Majesty's Household, whereof 500l. is already expended; and at this time you have also 4,000l. sterling delivered to your charge, to be carried into Ireland, and to be delivered to the Treasurer of Ireland, to beby him defrayed only by warrant of the Earl for the charges now hereafter to

1575.

Vol. 611, p. 361.

April 11.

Vol. 628, p. 221 a.

April 11.

Vol. 628, p. 222 a.

grow with this enterprise, as parcel of the sum that hath been demanded, whereof the rest, with this already delivered, being as much as shall serve for one half year, shall also be sent as soon as it may be heard from the Earl that he is entered into this action."

"All these instructions serve as though the Earl certainly shall have resumed that enterprise.

"It shall be good to remember that if he fortify at Colran, he must dam all fords and stop all passages over the Banne betwixt Colran and the lough; saving such places as he will keep open for his own passage, guarded by some wards, whereby Clandeboy shall be divided from Tirone."

Contemp. copy. Pp. 53.

2. Copy of the preceding. The last two paragraphs are omitted. Pp. 4.

4. [The QUEEN] to the LORD DEPUTY and the EARL OF ESSEX.

Of late we wrote to you our letters dated the 8th of this month, for you, the Earl, [to] resume again the enterprise of the reducing Ulster to due obedience. We have thought good to put you in mind that it must be done with one accord, amity, and agreement within yourselves. If "any mistrust or misliking be conceived of you, the Earl of Essex, against our Deputy upon th' interruption of your design or any other thing, or of you, our Deputy, against the said Earl, our will, pleasure, and commandment is that, either within yourselves, or by mediation of such of your friends as ye do both trust, the same be reformed and pacified without any delay."

You, the Deputy, must help, by hostings and garens for carriages and by all other means to set forward the Earl's enterprise, and specially this summer, until the fortifications be put in some strength and made guardable; and you, the Earl, if any stir should rise or any disorder in any other part of the realm, are to aid our Deputy.

We commend to you Captain Nicholas Maltbye, whom, for his painful and long service done there in Ireland, we have admitted and sworn into our service.

St. James's, 11 April 1575.

Contemp. copy. Pp. 2. Headed: Deputy; Essex.

5. [The QUEEN] to the EARL of Essex.

We have received your letter of the last of March, in which you lament the dissolution of the enterprise of Ulster. Although we think you might be fully satisfied by our last letters sent the 8th of April that it was a thing unlooked for of us, yet we have thought good to signify to you that by all your actions we have great cause to think you a rare treasure of our realm and a principal ornament of our nobility.

We are sorry that " you should be discouraged or have any suspicion that we should have any sinister interpretation of

1575.

April 12.

Vol. 628, p. 290 a.

April 22.

Vol. 628, p. 184 a.

April.

Vol. 616, p. 80.

your doings, which we confess to have been hitherto bold and
courageous, full of virtue and manliness, and for your years
and experience as wise and discreet as ever any nobleman
was, yet careful we be, and must always be, of you, and
fearful that any mishap should chance unto you, or that this
enterprise which you have begun, to reduce Ulster to obedience,
should not have that end and good success which we see well
you propound as your butt and mark to bring it unto."
St. James's, 11 April 1575.

Contemp. copy. P. 1.

Headed (incorrectly): Deputy; Essex.

6. [The QUEEN] to SIR PETER CAREW.

"Considering of the great zeal and noble courage of our cousin the Earl of Essex towards our service and the reducing of the province of Ulster to due obedience and good order, we find no greater lack than of such a friend and assistant unto him as you are." Therefore you shall make your repair to him with speed, and have the name and entertainment of his lieutenant, with 20 horsemen in pay, and further the charge of a band either of horsemen or footmen.

12 April (year omitted.)

Contemp. copy. P.

Headed To Sir Peter Carew.

7. [The QUEEN] to the EARL OF ORMOND.

For your advertisement of the departure of James Fitz Morris and the White Knight* into Spain, without leaye from us or our Deputy, we give you hearty thanks. We pray you still to have an eye to the behaviour of the Earl of Desmond, who cannot be thought altogether ignorant of their counsels and designs. We are in the same opinion of your good will as we were when you departed hence. "Yet one thing you seem to have forgotten, and wherefore we have some cause to be displeased with you, as though of anything that you write to ourself any person living should be made privy, but ourself alone." Of the matter which we gave you most in charge to write, you have not written one word.

St. James's, 22 April 1575, 17 Eliz.
Contemp. copy. P. 11.

Headed: To th' Earl of Ormond.

8. ULSTER.

"A brief note of the number of horsemen, galloglasses, and Scots and kernaghes entertained at this present by the Lords and chief men inhabiting within the province of

Ulster."

Ferney, adjoining the English Pale, 50 horsemen and 200 kernaghes. Phelim Ro O Neile's sons, Lords of the Fewes,

*Edmond Fitz (or Me) Gibbon.

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