Catalogue description The QUEEN to the LORDS JUSTICES (LOFTUS and GARDNER), LORD LIEUTENANT (ORMOND), and COUNCIL.

Although we have forborne to write many letters to you since these late dangerous alterations in Ireland, we have sent over great supplies, to our excessive charge; yet we receive naught else but news of fresh losses and calamities. Although you have the great number of 9,000 men, "we do not only see the northern traitor untouched at home, and range where else he pleased, but the provincial rebels in every province, by such as he can spare, enabled to give law to our provincial governors; besides that the Pale is not only wasted, but the walls of Dublin (where our State is seated) esteemed unsafe, and (as we hear) the suburbs thought a dangerous lodging for some of our principal counsellors."

We disdain to bear affronts from "a rabble of base kerne." In providing a remedy no expense shall be spared. Meanwhile we remind you of some causes of these losses and dangers.

(1.) "There hath never been any care taken by the captains to train such soldiers as newly come over, neither is there any uniformity of discipline through the whole kingdom."

(2.) The numbers certified are false, to the gain of the captains, soldiers being licensed to return to England immediately after their arrival on that side. If it be objected that owners of ships and masters do receive them by stealth, we must still blame you for not punishing the offenders.

(3.) Neither Munster nor Connaught have been supplied with men for their defence, though nothing is being done in other parts.

(4.) As consultations upon matters of importance have frequently been deferred in the absence of you our Lieutenant (Ormond), "without whose advice and direction nothing would be resolved for the wars," we command you to make your abode for the most part at Dublin, as Norreis and Clifford are resident in their provinces, and our Marshal Bingham may be used for the war of Leinster, and Bagnoll directed towards Ulster. You are to have the superintendence of them all.

(5.) Our army is not to "hazard any main prosecution until it may be better provided and strengthened." The greatest part of the forces to be drawn between Munster and Leinster, saving the garrisons in Ulster and Connaught. In Munster and Leinster labour chiefly to assure the walled towns.

(6.) Take good pledges of all lords and gentlemen whom you suspect.

(7.) All good means to be used "for conservation for victuals and garrons for the use of our army which shall arrive." Any victuals not likely to be kept from the traitor to be destroyed.

(8.) Make it known that we cannot free our subjects there from many omissions, "when we consider what defences in former times the noblemen of that kingdom and others have used against divers rebels." We will not suffer them any longer to be oppressed by those vile rebels, but send a sufficient force of horse and foot out of England, strengthened with old soldiers of the Low Countries. Send us "a more perfect declaration what are our numbers by poll, how many Irish, and how the army is sorted for their arms of all kinds."

The President of Munster's (Norris) company of 30 horse to be increased to 50, and to be paid in sterling money at 12d. per diem.

Whitehall, 1 December 1598.

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 287.