Catalogue description The QUEEN to the EARL OF ESSEX.

"By the letter and the journal which we have received from you we see a quick end made of a slow proceeding for anything which our forces shall undertake in those quarters which you pretended to visit, and therefore doubt not but before this time you have ended the charge of the last two thousand, which we yielded for other purposes, and of the 300 horse only destined for Ulster services.

"It remaineth therefore that we return you somewhat of our conceipts upon this late accident of your interview with the rebels. We never doubted but that Tyrone, whensoever he saw any force approach either himself or any of his principal partizans, would instantly offer a parley, specially with our supreme Governor of that kingdom, having often done it to those who had but subaltern authority, always seeking these cessations with like words, like protestations, and upon such contingents as we gather these will prove by your advertisement of his purpose to go consult with O'Donnell. Herein we must confess to you that we are doubtful lest the success will be suitable with your own opinion heretofore when the same rebels held like course with others that preceded you. ...

"It appeareth to us by your journal that you and the traitor spake together half an hour alone, and without anybody's hearing; wherein though we that trust you with our kingdom are far from mistrusting you with a traitor, yet, both for comeliness, example, and for your own discharge, we marvel you would carry it no better, especially when you have seemed in all things since your arrival to be so precise to have good testimony for your actions, as whensoever there was anything to be done to which our commandment tied you, it seemed sufficient warrant for you if your fellow councillors allowed better of other ways, though your own reason carried you to have pursued our directions against their opinions. To whose conduct if we had meant that Ireland (after all the calamities in which they have wrapt it) should still have been abandoned (to whose courses never any could take more exceptions than yourself), then was it very superfluous to have sent over such a personage as you are, who had deciphered so well the errors of their proceedings, being still at hand with us and of our secretest council; as (and ?) it had been one good rule for you, amongst others, in most things to have varied from their resolutions, especially when you had our opinion and your own to boot.

"Furthermore, we cannot but muse that you should recite that circumstance of his being some time uncovered, as if that were much in a rebel when our person is so represented, or that you can think that ever any parley (as you call it) was upon less terms of inequality than this, when you came unto him, and he kept the depth of the brook between him and you; in which sort he proceeded not with other of our ministers, for he came over to them. So as never could any man observe greater form of greatness than he hath done; then more to our dishonour that a traitor must be so far from submission as he must first have a cessation granted, because he may have time to advise whether he should go further or no with us.

"And thus much for the form; for you have dealt so sparingly with us in the substance, by advertising us only at first of the half-hour's conference alone, but not what passed on either side, by letting us also know you sent commissioners without showing what they had in charge, as we cannot tell but by divination what to think may be the issue of this proceeding. Only this we are sure (for we see it in effect), that you have prospered so ill for us by your warfare, as we cannot but be very jealous lest you should be as well overtaken by the treaty. For either they did not ill that had the like meetings before you, or you had done ill to keep them company in their errors; for no actions can more resemble others that have been before condemned than these proceedings of yours at this time with the rebels. For you must consider that as we sent you into Ireland an extraordinary person, with an army exceeding any that ever was paid there by any prince for so long time out of this realm, and that you ever supposed that we were forced to all this by the weak proceedings even in this point of the treaties and pacifications; so, if this parley shall not produce such a conclusion as this intolerable charge may receive present and large abatement, then hath the managing of our forces not only proved dishonorable and wasteful, but that which followeth is like to prove perilous and contemptible....

"To trust this traitor upon oath is to trust a devil upon his religion. To trust him upon pledges is a mere illusory; for what piety is there among them, that can tie them to rule of honesty for itself, who are only bound to their own sensualities, and respect only private utility? And therefore, whatsoever order you shall take with him of laying aside of arms, banishing of strangers, recognition of superiority to us, or renouncing of rule over our uriaghes, promising restitution of spoils, disclaiming from O'Neale-ship, or any other such like conditions which were tolerable [before] he was in his overgrown pride by his own success against our power, which of former times was terrible to him; yet unless he yield to have garrisons planted in his own country to master him, to deliver O'Nealle's sons, whereof the detaining is most dishonorable, and to come over to us personally here, we shall doubt you do but piece up a hollow peace, and so the end prove worse than the beginning.

"And therefore, as we well approve your own voluntary profession (wherein you assure us that you will conclude nothing till you have advertised us and heard our pleasure), so do we absolutely command you to continue and perform that resolution; allowing well that you hear him what he proffers, draw him as high as you can, and advertise us what conditions you would advise us to afford him, and what he is like to receive; yet not to pass your word for his pardon, nor make any absolute contract for his conditions, till you do particularly advertise us by writing and receive our pleasure."

We wrote to you and that Council on the 13th, and wish to receive their answers as well as yours.

Under the signet, Nonsuch, 17 September 1599, 41 Eliz.

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 316.