Letter to O Connor Kerry out of Spaine, that hee is desirous to understand the State of Ireland; but so as if there bee any bad, it may bee concealed from the Spaniards: Captaine Harvie may in requitall of the Veadors curtesie towards him use this freedome (of a Gentleman) though an enemy, to let him see how much the King of Spaine is abused by the Rebels, who seeke to engage him upon false hopes, and conceale just causes of doubts, for which purpose hee shall send him Odonnels owne Letter, which hee cannot deny, and withall in any case (it being well overseene by you) make him a relation of the successes of her Majesties Army; now if it may bee said, that they will thinke this Letter is aposted, and take this to be a finesse in Harvie; the worst that can come, is, that this good may ensue: That under colour of sending that to him, there may some person goe in the ship, who may discover what preparations there is in that place; for the better colouring whereof, hee may reply, that where hee hath sent him a Passeport for the safe conduct of any person whatsoever, hee should send to negotiate in the matter (which passed betweene them in conference) that he looked rather to have received from him, who was the Propounder of the same (with so great affection,) some such overture from that side, as might have given him foundation to breake with the Deputy, or your selfe, to send over to her Majesty about it, for which purpose he may offer him, as good a Passeport for any of his Messengers, as he hath sent to himselfe, it being very great reason that

such a motion should proceed from that sile rather, which hath opened itselfe with greatest violence, then from any of her Majesties Ministers, who have instead of their malicious attempt, performed all offices of honour and humanity. And so much for answer of that poynt.

For your opinion concerning such places as are fit to bee fortified, her Majestie doeth very well approove the reasons whereupon the same is grounded, being such indeed as ought to sway her Maiesties Iudgements either one way or other; for as it is true, that charge is well forborne which draweth with it perill, so it is a double danger to spend in any place, where safetie followeth not such a charge: And therefore if you doe continue in the minde, that Baltimore is like to bee of greatest use to the Enemie, both in regard of the Haven it selfe, and of the Countrey adjoyning, and that some such Fortification may bee raysed as may commaund the Haven, without any great charge, her Maiestie is content that you doe proceed; Otherwise if you doe thinke that whensoever any forces shall descend, that the place so fortified cannot hold out for any time, then her Maiestie doeth like it better, both there and else where, that those Castles which you doe winne from the Irish, seated upon the Sea, bee utterly demolished, rather then to bee left for the Rebells to nestle in at their first arrivall, and easier to be furnished by them for their great advantage. In which poynt of Fortifications, because you may see the

temper of her Maiesties mind, that useth meane in all things, and knoweth when to spend, and when to spare, in both which never Prince was so little subiect to private humour, either one way or other, further then stood with the safetie of her state and people, over which her care is rather to bee admired then matched : Wee doe send you an extract of her owne Letter to the Lord Deputie, how hee should governe himselfe in that poynt, whereof wee feare you have not yet had notice, in respect that the distance betweene you and him, is well neere the longitude of Ireland. For the Artillery which you have taken, if you finde them necessarie for that Kingdome, shee is well pleased that they bee detayned, as well to serue for a scourge to them that brought them, (if againe they renew their attempt) as to prevent the inconveniencie and charge of their transportation hither: But if you finde them not necessary for that place, but that Iron may doe as good service, you may transport them in some of the Victuallers, when they doe returne from that Province; And so wee doe commit you to Gods protection. From the Court at Greenwich this eighteenth of Iuly, 1602.

At the same time also he received a gracious Letter written by her Majestie with her owne hands, which multiplied his comforts, thinking all his laborious endeavours to bee fully recompensed, in that they were so graciously accepted.

A Letter written by her Majesties owne hand
to the Lord President,

Your Soveraigne, E. R.

My Faithfull George, how joyed Wee are, that so good event hath followed so toylesome endeavors, laborious cares, and heedfull travells, you may guesse, but Wee can best witnesse; and doe protest, that your safetie hath equalled the most thereof: And so God ever blesse you in all your actions.

Not many dayes after the receit of this gracious Letter, the President in his next dispatch into England, wrote vnto her Majestie this Letter following.

A Letter from the Lord President to
her Majestie,

SACRED MAIESTIE,

IF I could sufficiently expresse the Ioy which my heart conceived, when I beheld a Letter written by your Royall hand, and directed unto mee, (who in

your service haue merited little, though in zeale, faith and loyaltie equall to any) your Maiestie would not in your more then abounding Charitie, mislike your paines, having thereby raysed the deiected spirit of a poore Creature, exiled from that blessing which others enioy in beholding your Royall Person, whose beautie adornes the world, and whose wisedome is the myracle of our age. Gracious Soveraigne, three yeares are now almost fully expired, since my imploiment (into this kingdome) tooke his beginning; during which time, rest in body and minde hath been a stranger unto mee; and overwearied in both, I doe most humbly beseech your Maiestie, (if this Realme bee not invaded from Spaine, whereof in a few dayes true Judgement may be made) to graunt mee leaue, but onely for two moneths this Winter to attend you in your Court; which small time of respiring, and at that time of the yeare, can bee no hinderance to the Service, and yet sufficient to releeue my minde, and enable my body, which now is not so strong (as I could wish) to doe your Maiestie that service I ought. Ireland is destitute of learned men of English birthe and with Irish Physicians (knowing the good will they beare mee) if they were learned I dare not adventure: The longer I am without remedy, the lesse, and the lesse time I shall bee able to serue you: But as I am your Majesties Creature, so I doe submit the consideration of my humble and just suit, to your Princely consideration, at whose Royall feete,