Catalogue description The QUEEN to the EARL OF ORMOND.

We have seen divers letters of yours since you received our commission of lieutenancy. Your proceedings show judgment and affection to our service. We can be content to receive the penitent and humble submission of those traitors that pretend to crave it. "You now represent our own person, and have to do with inferior people and base rebels, to whose submission if we in substance shall be content to condescend, we will look to have the same implored in such reverend form as becometh our vassals and such heinous offenders to use, with bended knees and hearts humbled; not as if one prince did treat with another upon even terms of honour or advantage, in using words of peace or war, but of rebellion in them and mercy in us; for rather than ever it shall appear to the world that in any such sort we will give way to any of their pride, we will cast off either sense or feeling of pity or compassion, and upon what price soever prosecute them to the last hour."

Examine their complaints against our ministers, but do not "suffer them so to abuse your ears with complaints as to justify all their treasons by such imputations."

Dispense with such conditions prescribed by us heretofore as you find likely to delay the conclusion of mercy and quietness. In the schedule enclosed we have noted the conditions which are to be insisted on.

We are informed by Connyers Clyfford "that some of those rebels in and near Connaught are desirous to be received to mercy, and that he thinketh no way more likely to effect it than by your hearkening to the capital rebels' offers." Give him directions.

"Where we do find that the offals left of Pheaghe McHugh (O'Birne) and other rebels near the Pale do daily infester good subjects and distract those forces which should be otherwise [employed], we are content, and do hereby give you authority and warrant, to take all such into our mercy, and to give them our pardon, whom you shall, with the advice of the Lords Justices, think fit to be received for our service; and so have we also in Connaught given Connyers Clyfford warrant to do the like."

"For the rest of the misgovernment of our kingdom, especially in distribution of our treasure, and in our being notoriously abused by false musters, we do write to all such our officers as it appertaineth, and doubt not but, in what properly appertaineth to you as General of our army, you will yield us an account answerable to the opinion and expectation we have of your fidelity and wisdom. And to the intent you may have some assistant to you in those matters of treaties, we do allow well of our Secretary's (Fenton) going with you, and do hereby authorise you to take him, and to communicate with him all such things as are appertaining to our service. And further, we do give you full power to receive and pardon any of the rest of the capital rebels, with such conditions as possibly you can procure, although they have followed the principal traitor (Tyrone), but in no sort to do it for his sake."

Whitehall, 29 December 1597.

II. "HEADS of MATTERS for our Cousin the EARL OF ORMOND to urge to TYRONE at the meeting."

(1.) That he make his personal submission to you in public.

(2.) That he renounce all confederacy with the Irishry.

(3.) That he renounce the name of O'Neale.

(4.) That he disperse all his forces, and send out of the realm all Scots and other hired strangers.

(5.) That he have nothing to do with any of our uriaghts.

(6.) That he deliver to you the sons of Shane O'Neale, to be sent to the castle of Dublin, from whence they escaped.

(7.) That he contribute to the rebuilding of the fort and bridge of Blackwater, that our garrison be continued there without danger, and that the country bring it victuals.

(8.) "That he tell you truly how far he hath proceeded with the Spaniards, or any other Prince," and that he renounce all such dealings.

(9.) That he suffer a sheriff in Tyrone.

(10.) That he put in his eldest son for a pledge, or some other chief man, and resort, "as other lords of Ireland use to do," to the Governor and Council at Dublin.

(11.) That he pay a fine of ---- pounds to us with[in] three years. "Let the fine be imposed for an honour to us, and afterwards we may be moved to remit either the whole or part of it."

(12.) That bodragges, stealths, and outrages done on both sides be referred to commissioners.

(13.) That if he yield to so many of these articles as shall appear necessary to give assurance of his loyalty, the rest may be forborne.

"Of all these thirteen articles, these are necessary to be urged and obtained, which are the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 7th, 8th, 9th, and 10th."

Memorandum by Sir Robert Cecil at the end.

Copy.

Calendar of the Carew Manuscripts preserved in the Archiepiscopal Library at Lambeth, ed. J. S. Brewer & W. Bullen (6 vols., 1867-73), vol. III, document 282.