The works of Francis Bacon, lord chancellor of England.

344 THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE EARL OF ESSEX.
ensued the consumption of her majesty's ral of a great enterprise, intended for the recovery
trmy, treasure, and provisions, and the and reduction of that kingdom, and not only
evident peril of that kingdom. or merely as a lieutenant or governor of Ireland.
11. The second was the dishonourable and dan- My lord, after that he had taken the charge
gerous treaty held, and cessation concluded upon him, fell straightways to make propositions
with the same arch-rebel, Tyrone. answerable to her majesty's ends, and answerable
III. The third was his contemptuous leaving his to his own former discourses and opinions; and
government, contrary to her majesty's abso- chiefly did setdown one full and distinct resolution,
lute mandate under her hand and signet, and that the design and action, which of all others was
in a time of so imminent and instant danger. most final and summary towards an end of those
For the first, it had two parts; that her majesty's troubles, and which was worthy her majesty's
resolution and direction was precise and absolute enterprise with great and puissant forces, was a
for the northern prosecution, and that the same prosecution to be made upon the arch-traitor Tyrone
direction was by my lord, in regard of the journey in his own strengths within the province of Ulster,
to Munster, wilfully and contemptuously broken. whereby both the inferior rebels which rely upon
It was therefore delivered, that her majesty, him, and the foreigner upon whom he relieth,
touched with a true and princely sense of the torn might be discouraged, and so to cut asunder both
and broken estate of that kingdom of Ireland, en- dependences: and for the proceeding with greater
tered into a most Christian and magnanimous reso- strength and policy in that action, that the main
lution to leave no faculty of her regal power or invasion and impression of her majesty's army
policy unemployed for the reduction of that people, should be accompanied and corresponded unto by
and for the suppressing and utter quenching of that the plantation of strong garrisons in the north, as
flame of rebellion, wherewith that country was well upon the river of Loghfoile as a postern
and is wasted: whereupon her majesty was of that province, as upon the hither frontiers, both
pleased to take knowledge of the general conceit, for the distracting and bridling of the rebels'
how the former making and managing of the forces during the action, axd again, for the keepactions there had been taxed, upon two excep- ing possession of thevictory, if God should send it.
tions; the one, that the proportions of forces which This proposition and project moving from my
had been there maintained and continued by sup- lord, was debated in many consultations. The
plies, were not sufficient to bring the prosecutions principal men of judgment and service in the wars,
to a period: the other, that the prosecutions as a council of war to assist a council of state,
had been also intermixed and interrupted with too were called at times unto it; and this opinion of
many temporizing treaties, whereby the rebel did my lord was by himself fortified and maintained
not only gather strength, but also find his strength against all contradiction and opposite argument;
more and more, so as ever such smothers broke and in the end,, ex unanimi consensu," it was
forth again into greater flames. Which kind of concluded and resolved that the axe should be put
discourses and objections, as they were enter- to the root of the tree: which resolution was
tained in a popular kind of observation, so were ratified and confirmed by the binding and royal
they ever chiefly patronised and apprehended by judgment of her sacred majesty, who vouchsafed
the earl, both upon former times and occasions, her kingly presence at most of those consultations.
and now last when this matter was in deliberation. According to a proposition and enterprise of
So as her majesty, to acquit her honour and regal this nature, were the proportions of forces and
function, and to give this satisfaction to herself provisions thereunto allotted. The first proporand others, that she had left no way untried, tion set down by my lord was the number of
resolved to undertake the action with a royal army 12,000 foot and 1,200 horse; which being agreed
and puissant forces, under the leading of some unto, upon some other accident out of Ireland, the
principal nobleman; in such sort, that, as far as earl propounded to have it made 14,000 foot, and
human discourse might discern, it might be hoped, 1,300 horse, which was likewise accorded; within
that by the expedition of a summer, things might a little while after the earl did newly insist to
be brought to that state, as both realms may feel have an augmentation of 2,000 more, using great
some ease and respiration; this from charge persuasions and confident significations of good
and levies, and that from troubles and perils. effect, if those numbers might be yielded to him,
Upon this ground her majesty made choice of my as which he also obtained before his departure;
Lord of Essex for that service, a principal peer and and besides the supplies of 2,000 arriving in July,
officer of her realm, a person honoured with the he had authority to raise 2,000 Irish more, which
trust of a privy counsellor, graced with the note he procured by his letters out of Ireland, with
of her majesty's special favour, infallibly betoken- pretence to further the northern service: so as;ng and redoubling his worth and value, enabled the army was raised in the conclusion and list to
with the experience and reputation of former ser- 16,000 foot, and 1,300 horse, supplied with 2,000
vices, and honourable charges in the wars; a man more at three months' end, and increased with
every way eminent, select, and qualified for a gene- 2,000 Irish upon this new demand; whereby her