Catalogue description The QUEEN'S INSTRUCTIONS to the EARL OF ESSEX.

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Title: The QUEEN'S INSTRUCTIONS to the EARL OF ESSEX.
Description:

"Instructions for our Cousin and Councillor Robert Earl of Essex, Earl Marshal of England, &c., Lieutenant and Governor General of our kingdom of Ireland; given at Richmond, the 25th of March 1599."

 

We find it necessary, both in regard of our honour and the safety of Ireland, to end the rebellion there by a powerful force. We shall "spare no earthly thing of ours" in defence of that kingdom and people. Any person appointed to manage an affair of this nature "cannot but have a great sense and feeling which so great an honour and trust deserveth, and both resolve to undergo the charge with comfort, and study, by all efforts of diligence, faith, and wisdom, to yield us and our estate timely fruits of his endeavours."

 

Having cast our eyes upon all our servants, and compared the qualities and fitness of each, we have resolved on you before any other, out of former experience of your faith, valour, wisdom, and extraordinary merit. We have made you our Lieutenant and Governor General of Ireland, and "committed to your charge a royal army, paid, furnished, and provided in other sort than any king of this land hath done before."

 

Although it is not needful for us to instruct you, "to whom all particulars are better known (in respect of your inwardness in counsel and favour with us) than any other that hath gone before you," yet we think it not amiss to prescribe such things as are necessary for you to observe.

 

Upon your arrival in Ireland deliver our letters to the Lords Justices and Council, receive the sword, and take the oath. Then assemble the Council and require to be informed of the state of that kingdom, and of the strength of the rebels. Take pledges of suspected persons.

 

The army and people are to be "instructed and contained" in the true exercise and service of God. "This great infection of Popery is so spread over the kingdom, as it is most true that even in time of peace (and within the English Pale) multitudes of parishes have had neither incumbents nor teachers, and in the very good towns of assembly not only recusancy allowed, but massings and idolatry winked at and tolerated." Call the bishops and ecclesiastical ministers to account for it.

 

Of late years, with the increase of our charge, we have appointed certain learned men in the laws to be Chief Justices of our Benches, Master of the Rolls, and Chief Baron. Give them your assistance in the execution of justice. "We have appointed also certain councillors of estate, whose discretion and experience may much help you in matters of government of that kingdom; whom we do require you to hear and use with all respect."

 

False certificates have usually been sent over of the numbers serving in our pay, as you know; and our bands have been continually filled up with Irishry, "in such sort as commonly the third person in any one band hath not been English, and the Irish have run away with their arms to the traitor." The rebels have thus been enabled to withstand our forces, and even to besiege and take from us our castles and forts, a matter seldom seen before in that kingdom. Look into all such corruptions and abuses. We are pleased with the order already projected by you for reformation of them.

 

Inform yourself of the state and strength of our forces, and how they are provided with munitions and victuals; "and because we have, as you know, resolved within compass of what numbers we will have you contain our charge," and there have been continual levies and transportations in excess of those numbers, "send us a perfect declaration what numbers you have, how you have sorted them under captains, colonels, and superior officers, and what are the names of those commanders and captains."

 

We have of late sent over great masses of victuals, which are to be defalked out of the soldiers' pay. Direct the Treasurer at Wars to see due defalcation made, and "to have special care for the better preservation of our people in health, that the officers for the victuals may keep the same from waste or putrifaction." The soldiers to be ordered to take them from our victuallers in time convenient, and not to leave them upon our hands till it become unwholesome. If any merchants be licensed to bring over victuals, the sale of such victuals is not to be to the prejudice of ours.

 

The ordnance, powder, and munition is not to be wastefully expended, and defalcation to be made out of the pays of such as receive them. Cause the Treasurer at Wars and the Muster Master to inform you what persons in our pay "pretend to be exempted from being checked." All who have warrants for such exemptions are to be ordered to have ready such horse and foot as are allowed them.

 

You have authority to order payment of extraordinary sums "by way of concordatum, but we have caused to be made and signed with our hand an establishment of an army, consisting of divers principal officers, newly increased from our former lists, with an allowance to every of them of several entertainments, and likewise have set down in the said establishment the number of 1,300 horse in bands, with their captains and officers." They are to be paid accordingly.

 

Our Council here have signed another list of persons not contained in the establishment, being principal officers, governors of provinces, with their retinues, governors of castles, forts, and wards, pensioners, almsmen, and such like, amounting to 15,000l., which sum is not to be exceeded.

 

Great sums of money have been granted by our Deputies and Council by concordatums for very mean services and unnecessary causes. Be sparing of such concordatums, which are not to exceed the sum limited in the said establishment, and are to be enrolled in our Council books; certificates to be sent to us every month.

 

We have given you extraordinary power to grant pardons to all persons in rebellion.

 

In consideration of our infinite charges, endeavour to procure us "profits by way of fines or otherwise." The rebels are to be tied by the same tenures, rents, and services as formerly. "Give them their pardons with reservation of some beeves yearly payable to us, or else some competent rising-out of horse and foot. You shall also bind them to keep open the dangerous passages, to use English habit and language, to yield yearly some works to the maintenance of some several forts."

 

"We have given you liberty in Ulster to pass the lands of certain persons named in your commission," [The Earl of Tyrone, O'Donnell, O'Rowrk, McGuire, and McSurley Boy.] but you are not to pass away the lands of O'Dohortye or Sir Arthur O'Neale, as we have reason to believe their defection is rather of necessity than of disloyalty.

 

We have also given you liberty to let lands in fee-farm. Inform yourself of the plot devised for the Undertakers in Munster, and take the opinion of the Council.

 

Reduce the numbers of 16,000 foot and 1,300 horse, which we have granted, as soon as possible.

 

Confer knighthood upon none who do not deserve it by some notorious service, or who have not in possession or reversion sufficient living. That order has been hitherto granted without moderation.

 

It is not unlikely that the capital traitor, upon your arrival, will make some means to be received to our mercy, and profess, as formerly he did to our cousin of Ormonde and Norreys, that he desires to show himself a good subject. Let it at first appear "that you will not receive him upon any capitulations, but upon simple and single submission." If that seems to increase his despair, grant him our pardon only for his life, without any further favour. You know how weakly others dealt with him, after he had received our pardon. Therefore, after his pardon is granted, you are not to let him depart without good security that he do not return to his disloyalty.

 

As you would lose time by sending to us for instructions, in case he should refuse the above conditions, we give you further authority "to take him in upon such conditions as you shall find good and necessary for our honour and safety of that kingdom."

 

Copy.

Date: 25 March 1599
Held by: Lambeth Palace Library, not available at The National Archives
Former reference in its original department: MS 601, p. 166
Language: English
Physical description: 10 Pages.
Unpublished finding aids:

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 296.

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