1601.

a matter it is to enforce a negative, and because I would in no sort have your word tainted, I dare not assume upon me to advise you for to conclude with him.

Concerning the reports of Spain, I cannot deny but there is a preparation at Lysbone, and of such a body of an army as may well proportion such an action, for they are some 5,000 men, with some 30 or 40 sail of small ships, merely to serve to transport. All which considerations being added to the circumstances we receive from all parts of Ireland, I cannot deny but make great presumptions that you shall have them in Ireland. To which I must still add this opinion, that Munster will be the place, and no other; for, besides the commodity which that province giveth (being full of good towns) for an army to live in, it doth wholly draw her Majesty's forces from the North parts and from the rest of the body of the kingdom, for no man doubts but all must repair towards them. Where contrariwise, if they should land in the North, in my understanding it could prove nothing but a conclusion of the war, though it would make a new model of things in that kingdom.

"You shall now therefore understand that I am credibly advertised that Jaques continually holdeth correspondency with Captain Bostocke, who (as my informer tells me) resideth still in Youghall. The carrier between them is a Frenchman, who they say doth ordinarily pass up and down. Because you do best understand the quality of the man, and can compare the circumstances of his actions with this information, I must refer much to your judgment herein, being for my own opinion thus persuaded, that if you could suddenly cause his papers to be seized and searched, and then his person to be seized and well examined, there will something be found in his papers, or something picked out by your examination, which may lay open the matter. All which, if it might be done upon some other ground, it were the better, though, rather than not to be done, let it be quacunque via.

"I pray you call your judgment to you, and see whether you could possibly find some sufficient person in that province that would remain in Spain, either at Lysbone or the Groyne for an intelligencer. The nation you know is wise, less suspected there than any, and may have many pretences. Besides, you know he may more often write into Ireland than into England. He must be able to judge when a fleet is gathering, to what action it tendeth; wherein it is very easy for all men almost of common sense not to be deceived. And, in my own opinion, I think a man may conclude that, whensoever there is any rendezvous at Lysbone or to the Northward, it cannot be but for some action of hostility; only for the trade of the East Indies some few carracks and wafters must every year be provided.

"To conclude: I do much desire you to use your best means therein for the choice of some person able and willing, and I

1601.

do principally wish that he fashion his abode in the Northern parts, because, if I do but know res gestas there, I shall easily make use of the same. I will give him three or four score crowns beforehand for an ajudo de costa, and I will allow him 300 or 400 crowns a year, as you shall direct it,* if you find parts

in him answerable.

"Since the writing of this letter I have spoken with Wood, whose purpose to go into Munster is deferred. I have told him of your good respect towards him in writing to me of his victual only, and not to others. He still insisteth that either none is bad, or, if it be, that it is never uttered. He desires to have a note of the several natures, and yet pretends that it may be Apsley's malice.

"I send you once again a draft of the Queen's letter, by which an authority is given the Lord Deputy to pass pardons. I protest to you I cannot conceive what it is that otherwise should be done, except you would have a pardon here passed which should not come by the Lord Deputy, and then you know he would take it an infinite disgrace. Let me see by the next how you or that Council will have it carried; but in the meantime the Lord Deputy hath this warrant, and it seems to me that some few persons, deputed for all the rest of the poor, may repair to him.

"Her Majesty did read your letter to her Council, which they did commend as much as she.

"Because you may see how the Lord Deputy disposeth himself, I send you an abstract of a letter written to Mr. Treasurer (Sir G. Cary) from the Camp.†

"Lastly, Sir, if I did not know that you do measure me by your own heart towards me, which is likewise the rule of mine towards all others, it might be a doubtfulness in me that the mutinies of those whom I do love and will (howsoever they do me) might create in you some belief that I were ingrateful towards them. But, Sir, for the better man, the second wholly sways him, and to what passions he is subject who is subject to his lady I leave to your judgment and experience. Only this I pray you-retain faith and confidence for me, and when you and I speak, you shall see my studies have been and are to make you the companion of my life in honour and comfort. I mean, by God's grace, in the winter to procure your return, but as if it were for a month to acquaint her Majesty with secrets, and indeed to deliver your opinion how we should replant all those things; for so is it necessary. It cannot be done before, and may not be talked of until the instant neither here nor there; but then will we settle your estate I doubt not, for things done for absent men come not so easily."

Signed.

* From this point to the end the letter is in Cecil's own hand.
† See 22 June 1601.

102.

P.S." This day hath inflamed their minds, for now Shrewsbury and Worcester are sworn Councillors and Sir John Stanhop Vice-Chamberlain, but the Presidentship will fall upon Souch.

"The Parliament will begin at Alholantide, and till then I think there will be no new creations. Credit me he shall never have my consent to be a Councillor without he surrender to you the Captainship of the Guard, to which we will easily add some matter of profit, that we may once live together some merry days. From Court, this St. Peter's Day."

Pp. 6. Addressed in Cecil's hand: Sr. G. C. Endorsed by Carew: From Mr. Secretary, about June 1601.

SIR GEORGE CAREW to LORD DEPUTY MOUNTJOY. "The 29th of the last, I received a letter from your Lordship and the Council now with you, and.. the copy of a letter from your Lordship and the rest unto the Lords in England, of your intentions touching the prosecution this summer, and

a letter of your Lordship's own hand. . that I should be careful forthwith to send 1,000 foot into Connaught and 50 horse unto your Lordship... I have chosen to obey your directions, although I fear that occasions will presently offer themselves rather to require far greater aids than any diminution; which is the assured coming of Spaniards daily expected in these parts,

"The towns fit to be named for defence to prevent any sudden attempt, and meet with force to be held in obedience (of every of them I am doubtful in regard of their affections to the Spaniards and their religion), are more than the whole list which is for Munster can conveniently supply; for there must no less care be had of Waterforde, Yoghall, Kinsale, and the inland town of Kyllmallocke (which by these home rebels is much sought at) than of Corke and Lymericke, and how with 1,350 foot (.. the remainder of my list, . . for the Earl of Thomond's company, though paid in Munster, is evermore residing in Thomond) I shall be able to guard them all against that enemy your Lordship may easily judge. But since .. it appears unto me that your Lordship's opinion is that Corke and Lymericke are specially to be strengthened, although I will not be negligent of the rest, yet I will precisely observe as your Lordship hath directed.

"The day after the receipt of your Lordship's letters I directed my warrants unto the several captains that are employed into Connaught presently to make their rendezvous at Lymericke, and am in good hope that by the day assigned

they shall be at Gallwey. . . The commandment of these troops I have committed to.. Sir Francis Barkeley, whose long service in Ireland, and particularly in Connaught, enables him the better in this employment... I have precisely required him, that at such time as I shall send unto him, that

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July 6.

Vol. 620, p. 68.

103.

he with the forces do immediately return hither, except your Lordship do expressly command him the contrary. This liberty I purpose not to use but either upon some unexpected accident of revolt within the province or upon the arrival of Spaniards." I have also sent Sir Richard Greames's troop.

I purpose to detain Florence McCarty until out of England I shall be otherwise directed, "whose apprehension together with James McThomas (if the report thereof do come in any good time into Spain) I do hope will work a diversion of their intentions; for unto one of them or both I am sure they be directed."

Cork, 5 July 1601.

Copy. Pp. 3.

SIR GEORGE CAREW to the PRIVY COUNCIL.

"Albeit I doubt not but by the way of Dublin you have been lately advertised of.. intelligences. . from Spain of the preparation intended there for the invasion of this kingdom, yet I may not. . but in like manner.. advertise. The third of this month, one Patrick Roche of Cork, merchant, arrived in this port, bringing with him from Bordeaux a letter from Richard Golborne of Dublin, merchant, directed to the Lord Chancellor of this realm, the copy whereof being sent by the said Golborne to Harold Kynesman, the paymaster here, I do send you herewith, humbly beseeching present relief, if we be invaded, for I have not. . . more than 1,300 foot and 200 horse in list; the rest (being 1,000 foot and 50 horse) are by the Lord Deputy's express commandment sent into Connaught to divert the rebels of that province from giving of aid to O'Donnell against Sir Henry Dockwray in his attempt upon Balyshanon, which (as his Lordship writes unto me) is already made known unto your Lordships.

"The places which the Lord Deputy doth most suspect to be attempted are the cities of Cork and Lymericke, in which opinion I do likewise concur, and therefore have drawn (the particular wards in castles excepted, which may not be left unguarded) all the force now remaining into these two towns, meaning with God's assistance to make good those two places until I be relieved either by the Lord Deputy or out of England. In the mean time I look for a general revolt throughout the province. Wherefore the country must for the present run at large, of whose future obedience I had good hope, and thereof do yet make no doubt (except upon the invasion aforesaid), which in all my letters to your Lordships I have cautioned.

66

"By Golborne's letter it appears that Cork is the first place they mean to attempt, the which is very probable, because Lymerick is so far within the land, as they have no reason to engage their shipping so high in the river, and Cork (by reason of the hills, which within a butt length on

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July 6.

Vol. 624, p. 79.

104.

either side doth overlook it) is in nature exceeding weak, and the people thereof no less affectioned to the Spaniards than the rest of the cities in this kingdom. Notwithstanding .. I purpose, . . if the province do wholly revolt, to put myself into it, and to yield your Lordships a good account of the same; otherwise I shall be more able to do service abroad by giving relief and helps to [the] commander thereof, for which I have made choice of Sir Charles Willmot, whose valour, discretion, faith, and sufficiency doth equal (if not exceed) any other colonel in Munster; nevertheless humbly beseeching you (as the Lord Deputy hath formerly written)

to send into the province, as soon as you shall hear the enemy is arrived, the 6,000 foot he wrote for, . . and with them, or speedily after them, some supplies of munition and victuals, for in this town the store will be answerable but for the garrisons as now they are, there being of munition not above three lasts of powder with lead and match; The five lasts of powder which were sent by Captain Gawen Harvy is before this late intelligence gone to Lymerick, in which there was no munition remaining, and where for the service as well of Connaught as Munster it is most fitly placed; whereof, if in the town we be besieged, we expect no supply neither by sea or land."

Cork, 6 July 1601.

P.S.-"It were very expedient. . that part of her Majesty's fleet were sent to the coast as well to distress the enemy's fleet as to keep their army on land from relief and succour."

"Sent by Walter Willson."
Copy. Pp. 2.

SIR GEORGE CAREW to the LORD DEPUTY and COUNCIL.

Before the coming of your late letter unto me I had sent abroad the proclamations for the new money, and caused them to be published in the several cities, towns, and many villages of this province, and besides gave of them unto the noblemen and many of the chief gentlemen. I have not heard that it is now refused of any, though yet I find not that any seek after it to the exchange, but I doubt not when the time is expired in the proclamation (the interim thereof having inured them with use) it will have a very current passage amongst them." The 10,000l. directed to Gallwaye I have sent by land to Lymericke, "guarded and conveyed with 250 foot and 75 horse, which I make no question will free it thither from any danger." From thence Sir Francis Barkeley shall convey it with the 1,000 foot to Gallwey.

"These companies are gone victualled for four days to carry them from Lymericke to Gallwaye, besides. . a fortnight's lendings; . . so as, though not able suddenly to send from hence the proportion of victual you required to Athlone, by