1580. Feb. 16. Vol. 597, p. 250. 313. PELHAM to the COUNCIL in ENGLAND. Sent from Clonmell by Mr. Hungerford. On the 11th I received your letters of the 12th and 23rd of January, sent by Richard Colman and Argall. The Handmaid and The Achates were put to sea before the receipt of those letters, and appointed to ply to the western coasts. The victuallers at Bristoll may with this wind supply us with victuals from thence to Limerick. "But where your Lls. forewarn us of two Spanish barks laden with munition, and do wish the knowledge thereof to be kept from the people, I dare assure your Lls. there is no corporation, nor almost any kerne in Munster, that doth not look expressly for a navy of Spaniards to arrive shortly; and therefore the bruit cannot be suppressed, but is already dispersed throughout the whole realm; and such captains of countries as have not already entered into the confederacy have their friars and runagate priests ready to solicit for them at their landing. And I have (by means of a false brother) gotten the names of some of those priests, and will deal with them and their masters accordingly, if they come in my reach." Thanks for the care you have had of my petitions for victuals and munition. Touching the comparison between the soldier of Berwick and the soldiers of Ireland, alleging him of Berwick to serve in great toil, if I have any judgment, all the soldiers of Christendom must give place in that to the soldier of Ireland; and so much difference for ease, if Captain Cace, Pickeman, and Walker may be judges, as is between an alderman of London and a Berwick soldier. But these Irish soldiers lives under unhappy stars; and so I leave them, for the climate will yield no better." "I have left to visit the county of Cork, and am in my way to Limerick, and will, within three days (God willing), be encamped under Arlowe, where the forces of the county of Tipperary do assemble for defence of those parts, leaving that guard of my Lord of Ormond's kinsmen, friends, and followers under the leading of Sir Tibott Butler to keep those woods of Arlowe and to front the rebel, if he look into Tipperary. At Cashell I leave one band of footmen, both for the defence of the town and to answer aid unto Sir Tibott Butler. "I have also left Sir William Morgan to command all that be obedient in the county of Cork and Waterford; he hath 20 horsemen and 200 footmen at Youghall, as an apt place to answer to both counties of Waterford and Cork. There be also of holding kerne in the county of Waterford 200, at the commandment of Sir William Morgan, led by Patrick Sherlock and Anthony Powre. Sir Tibott Butler and Sir William Morgan be appointed their bounds, how one of them may answer another. The Lord Barrie, Lord Roache, and Sir Cormoke McTeige are appointed to answer the other partie of the county of Cork, if they may be trusted, but they three draw two ways, Roch and Sir Cormocke reasonably well affected, but Barrie 1580. Feb. 16. Vol. 597, p. 252. 314. extreme ill, and his son worse, if worse may be. I have left "The Earl of Ormond and I go together into Conneloughe, Sundry considerations to be had over this State. Letters I renew my former suit to be released from this charge. PELHAM to the LORD TREASURER (Burleigh). I have received a long letter from you of 30 December, full of good advice as well for the dealings with the North as with the present cause of Munster.. The Baron of Dungannon will not swerve in my absence. I have provided for the guard of the Pale. Some part, or all, of the great preparations in Spain is assigned to descend in these parts. If there land but 1,000 Spaniards, there is no doubt but the more part of the realm will revolt. The Earl of Ormond could not then trust his own followers in any service for her Majesty, though I suppose they will be careful of him for the guard of his own person. I depart tomorrow towards the traitors. Better it were we ventured, serving in the woods, and by continual action to diminish their forces before their aid come, than by lingering thus for victuals to hazard all. I was persuaded, when at Dublin, that her Majesty had nothing in staple here, but I have found so much that with 100%. I have victualled The Achates for 10 weeks, &c. And all this has been here until the beer is sour, the biscuit almost mouldy, and the beef old enough to be spent. I hear there is at Cork a great proportion of musty bread made at Dublin, and sent thither in the time of Sir William Drury's government. The victuallers here had made no certificate. Victuals should be sent to Limerick (rather than Cork or Waterford), in good and defensible vessels, to join with the two small ships here against the fleet of foreigners that are expected. Beef excepted, here is little to be had. I see that freights and wastes are as much as the provisions. It were better that merchants were treated with ་ 1580. Feb. 16. Vol. 597, p. 254. Feb. 16. Vol. 597, p. 255a. Feb. 16. Vol. 597, p. 257a. 315. 316. to bring us victuals at their own adventure. Of this sort is Richard Maie of Excester, Morris of Gloucester, and certain others of Bristol, that have made this offer here. 317. Foreign aid must have a quiet place to land in, a staple for their victuals, and many other circumstances, which the Dingle shall hardly yield them. I account either to make it more inapt by destroying it, or else to fortify there, and to possess it; but it is better to destroy it. If any foreign aid come, the force here is nothing. Clonmell, 16 February 1579. Signed. PELHAM to the EARL OF SUSSEX. I am beholden to you for repairing my credit with her Majesty. Account of the dealings with Desmond before his proclamation. I pray you stand good lord to this gentleman, Mr. Hungerford, your servant. Clonmell, 16 February 1579. Signed. PELHAM to the EARL OF LEICESTER. Your letter of the 26th of the last has satisfied me of the continuance of my credit with yourself. During my absence the soldiers in these parts were continually kept occupied either in journies into the county of Cork for pledges to be taken there of the Lords, or in sudden roads upon the enemy. Ormond was with them in continual action, but was driven to withdraw the garrisons to the corporate towns till victuals might be gotten. But now both he and I march into Conneloughe, and there will divide. "Since the advertisements of the foreign invasion every man here looketh about him, for. howsoever the world may delight in change upon promise of golden mountains, I suppose it is now considered that what foreign prince soever come, he will not allow to any freeholder more acres than he hath already, nor more free manner of life than they have under our Sovereign. And farther I am told that some of the traitors themselves begin to consider that the invader will put no great trust in those that do betray their natural prince and country." Strange letter from the Countess of Desmond. If she will show me a reason for her departure, I will talk more of the matter with her. Clonmell, 16 February 1579. Signed. Postscript.-I thank your Lo. for the care you have of Sir William Stanlie. He has me ready to friend him, Contemp. copy. Pp. 4. PELHAM to SECRETARY WALSINGHAM. I have received your five letters. Those parts that concern your restitution into favour with her Majesty, and your 1580. Feb. 16. Vol. 597, p. 260a. 318. report of the abatement of her Highness' displeasure towards me, are the matters that ought best to like me. If her Majesty's letters to Ormond were sent by Henry Shee, his servant, then are they not arrived. The Earl is in a journey. "Your Honour purgeth my Lo. Chancellor of Ireland of the information made to me of him, and his own letters saith also sufficiently amongst reasonable and honest men. But I assure you, Sir, it was written to me out of England that some of great calling, that both liked of the placing of the Earl of Ormond and the proclamation against Desmond, did, upon speech with him, suddenly alter their opinion into great misliking of both." If the boats be procured for the Shenen, the footmen may pass above 100 miles upon that water. The Clerk of the Check has been warned, upon his life, to look severely to his office. As your desire that Mr. Waterhouse should tend the casualties for and be spared from this journey, the State may not forbear him. I am noway assisted here but by Sir Lucas Dillon and him, and Challoner is departed into England. I think Mr. Geoffrey Fenton would serve, where I am employed, as secretary to the State. Mr. Dinglie was long since commended to me to be keeper of the whole store and provisions which shall come to Limerick, where we make our staple for the victuals. Vincent Finche has been removed to victual the garrison at Kilmallocke. The Countess of Desmond prays licence to repair into England. "Not long after her husband's falling into rebellion, I gave her protection to repair unto him and to return within certain days, to live in the Pale or with the Baron of Dunboine, her brother, and caused her to be secretly persuaded that grace would be showed unto her husband, if he would consent unto the delivery of Doctor Sanders and his brethren, whereof she seemed then well to like, yet have I never heard from her until now, and do also learn that there is not any amongst the conspirators that more encourageth the disloyalty of the Earl than she And therefore I believe her message is but colorable, either to get the goods which be in the hands of the Earl of Ormond, or else to give intelligence of our purposes; whereunto is also to be added that her letters bear date before the late barks that came from Spain were arrived; so as it is like she is now confirmed upon the service of her new master." I will do what I can for my cousin John Stafford. The treasure now arrived comes in good season, but there is a defalcation of 3,000l. for victuals. Clonmell, 16 February 1579. Signed. PELHAM to SECRETARY WILSON. I have received your four letters. "For the burial of Sir William Drurie, which you prescribe to be done with the ordinary garrison, and without farther expense to he 1580. Feb. 17. Vol. 597, p. 262a. 319. Majesty, if my Lady of Thame might have been so persuaded Clonmell, 16 February 1579. Signed. PELHAM to the LORD CHANCELLOR of IRELAND (GERRARD). I have received your three letters. I have written touching O'Relieghe and the northern borders. Not long after your departure a cause was followed at the Council Board against my Lord of Slane by Molroe Hussie and his friends, concerning a recovery from my Lord Keeper. It was clear in all men's opinions, that the rent was to remain to Mr. Fleming and the land to Mr. Hussie. The Lord of Howthe has been clearly delivered from prison without fine, but only to save the honour of your word. His wife's complaints were of late as grievous as heretofore. The marshal's office with the serjeantship at arms has been bestowed upon one Bennitt. "I thank your Lo. I have received certain collections to persuade the causes of the proclamation against the Earl of Desmond; they be good notes against that matter may come in question; and it hath not been remembered what the contrary wrought in displeasure unto Sir William FitzWilliams." I have left the varlet that robbed you, and his companion, to the law. I thank you most heartily for the report of the restitution of our friend to her Majesty's grace. I have not dealt with many concordatums since your departure, for I mortally hate them. The concordatum for the Archbishop [of Dublin] was one for which he showed many precedents. As to your letter of 27 January concerning altogether the terms of unkindness betwixt us, I will fully resolve you when we meet, as I am informed you are now at Chester. Mr. Secretary's letter confirmed me in a sound opinion of your friendship. I am on my way towards the rebels. Few here are sound subjects. Foreign aid is assuredly expected. I have with me neither tent nor carriages, but carry my victuals upon men's shoulders, and mind to be in camp within 3 days. Clonmell, 17 February 1579. Signed. Contemp. copy. Pp. 54. *This letter also treats of other matters, but adds nothing of importance to the information contained in previous letters. |
