30To the first, wherein it is desyred that the enterprise (whereof you and I had conference) be keept from the Counsell of Ireland. You may be sure, that none shall know it but the Deputy himself, whom her Majesty hath putt in trust with her kingdome, and of whose secrecye and wisdome she hath approoued experience.
To the second. That the Governour of Carickefargus, be made party to it, it is all verie well liked, because he is a wise gentleman, and a commander of those places, which lye most convenient for retrayte after the enterprise. But because it may be uncertayne, to what place he shall first come for retrayt, he shall have a lettre dyrected to him, and others, her Majesty's comanders, captens and officers, whomsoever, to receaue the partye into their proteccion till advertisement be sent hether.
To the third. For her Majesty's lettre to be written to Mc Donnell before hand, she will in noe sort yeild to the same.
To the fowerth. For my writinge tohim, or assuraunce by bond to you, if you will send upp a draught of ether, I will signe them if I like their forme; if not, I will draw an other in such forme as I thinke convenient, whereuppon you may proceed if you like it.
Lastly (because we may each of us understand one and other, and that I may not discreditt my iudigment with the Queen, and my creditt with you that trust me,) I think it not amisse to toutch theise two poynts followinge:—
First, if your meaninge be, that Donnell Gorran must haue libertye to passe into Tyrone with any numbers, at which all those that know not the cause, will exclame and wonder, if then it should soe fall out, that he should not performe this, but that the least addition of strength or opinion of strength, should be conceaued to be added to the Traytor by this tolleration of his goinge ower to the Traytour (which but for this end should never be suffered) in such case untill the effect thereof shalbe shewed, itself, much advantage would be taken against my counsell all which beeinge in the hands of God, as it may lack success though he weare never soe well disposed, so will ye disgrace be much greater to me yt haue ben the adviser, if the Queen shold receaue yt scorn to let him go with any forces, and, he then tourn on thother sydes, or show yt he neuer went but to serve some other tourn. In which respect, because you did not perticuierly sett downe whether he meane to goe in, privately and do only desyre to have such an assuraunce, as if he shew it when he hath done, it may be sufficient to procure the proteccion of her Majesty's forces if he come for retrayct, or whether he meane to goe in with nombers (in shew, to serve the Traytor) thereby to amuse him, and yet because he feares her Majesty's forces, would troble him doth desire some lettre to her ministers to lett him passe with his nombers, I doe desyre to know his meaninge by your next certificate in this point. In these respects I think fitt to let you know that if he can goe in without her Majesty's dyrection to her Governours, for letting him passe (whereof there wilbe much varietye of censure, as I would not care though he went with neuer soe many.) But if he must needs carrye some, and cannot passe without her Majesty's tolleration, then had they need tobe verie feau he caries. As I shall therefore heare from you, you shall haue a lettre to the Gouvernour of Carickfargus, which beenige sent privately to him, by some trusty person, there may be some course taken, between them for his safetye, and yet noe shew made but that he doth come in agaynst his will. Thus much I thought good to lett you know, because the Governour must presently be acquaynted, with the reason, if he cannot passe without his tolleration. Where otherwise, noe man should need to know it in Ireland, till it had been done, and then he mought haue had about him such a lettre, as should haue been sufficient, to haue procured him a welcome, and a safe retrayct, when ye enterprise was past, and yet he should not haue doubted to be discouered, seeing no body cold tell it but myself. The other matter which I thinke fitt to lay before you, is this: that when the Proclamation was made, the Traytor was in his pryde, and then £3,000 had been well bestowed, to haue saued three hundred thousand; but now that his hart is broken, and he allmost a wood kerne, for me to ingage my word for more then was offered, weare lacke of discretion; for be you sure of this, that beeinge perswaded, as I am in my conscience, that it is not unlawfull to practise, the death of a declared, a proscribed Rebell, that whatsoever you shall receaue my hand for, I will see discharged, though I sould my shirt of my backe. And therefore, Sir, proceed in the matter, as you please; and for the Proclamation, doe not much buyld uppon it; for much tyme is past since it was divulged. But be you assured of this, that if by this draught, Tyrone be slayne or taken, there shalbe payed to your disposition 5,000 English Angells.31 And this is the substance of all my answeares, who, as I am desirous to do my country service herein, by sauing ye effusion of much Christian blood, whereof he will be ye aucthor whilst his lyfe lasteth, so I am jelous of ingadging you, or any man, uppon any promises which I will not performe to you as I will do these by God's fauor really.