It may please your Lords The 24th of this instant I the President arryved heare, where since my cominge (havinge been employed with the councell for the most parte to understande in some perfect sort the state of this province) I do fynde that the confusion and distemper therof hath not bin greater then now yt is, since the first beginninge of theis trobles; neither may wee expect any suddin reformation therof, other then such as wee can worke by Her Majesty's forces against so stronge an enemy, who (by a generall computacion of the Lords of the countreys here, and of the vulgar sort) of Provinciall rebells and Bonnoughtes, are no less then 7,000 hable, weaponed men; and their annoyaunce to the poore subiects wilbe the greater, in regarde wee can neither looke, nor hope for any assistaunce from the Lords of the countreys, who are onely in personall shewes subiects, as the Lord Power, the Lord of Dunboyne, Lord Roche, the Lord of Cahir, Cormock Mc Dermot, chief of Muskery, McCharty Reough, chief of Carrebry, Garrald Fitz James chief of the Deasyes, Patrick Condon, O'Calloughan, and all others (except the Lord Barry, who of late hath don good service) being assured from the rest to recaive no ayde for Her Majestie with their forces, the most of them hauinge either their brothers, or next kinsmen in actuall rebellion.
Florence McCartie (if he contynue in this disloyall course, which he hath begonn, (wherof as yet we have no other hope) by his frends namely, both the O'Sulyvans, Mc Fynnen, the Carties of Desmond, O'Donnevan, O'Crowly, O'Mahon-Carbrey, O'Mahon-Fin, sundry of the Septes of the Carthys of Carbery, the Mc Swynes, most of the Carties of Muskery, all the Carties of Dowallo, O'Keefe, Mc Awlye, and many of the O'Callanghans, with his and their followers, and kinsmen, who before weare better disposed by their outward affections, wilbe the strongest, and of greatest force of any traytor in Mounster; insomuch as wee are of opinion (under reformation of yor Lordships more grave judgments) that 1,500 of Her Majesty's forces (a chardge heretofore not expected) must of necessitie be employed against him, which might otherwise have been disposed towardes the prosecution of James Fitz Thomas and his adherents, wherby the reducinge of the province is much more difficult then before; besides the preestes haue in their divellysh doctrine so much prevayled amongest the people in generall in this province, as for feare of excommunication very few dare serve against the rebells, or any way ayde Her Majesty: and this infection has so farr crept into the hartes of the inhabitants of the cities, and corporat townes, as the chief magistrates and maiors therof do now refuse to come to the church, which at no tyme heretofore hath bin seene, that yt is to be feared (yf the Spanierdes do make any invasion, which many of them, and the rebells do expect) the citties and townes are in daunger to be lost by revolt, &c. &c.
And lastly as wee have manifested to yor Lordships the staggering and uncertein rumours which the insolent traytors of this province are possessed with (being apt to forsake their dutie and obedience, upon any triflinge occasion) so, give us leave wee most humbly besech your Lordships, to recommend unto your favourable regarde the desertes of such as have constantly endeuored by all their meanes, to approve their affeccions in loyall sort to Her Majesty: of whome fynding the Lord Barry to be most forward, as a nobleman willing enough to contynue in welldoinge, but that his pouertie is now such, chiefly growen through the spoyles which the traytor Tyrone did upon him, by wasting his landes, that he is not hable to keepe his men together as heretofore he hath don, either to attend Her Majesty's, army into the field with any company, or to preserve his countrey from any further spoyle; and onless he may be releeved with some enterteynement of chardge from Her Highness, he wilbe of less liability to do service; which wee humbly leave to your Lordships graue wisdome to consider of. In which like respect; wee are moved to become sutors to yor Lordships for Charles McCarthy sonne to Sir Cormock McTeige, who being of the best blodde, and allyaunce in this countrey, and in his owne person valliaunt, hath don, and is willing to do, acceptable service to Her Majesty, weare yt not that the like povertie doth dishable him. Of the ennemy (yf he wold have bin wonne away from his obedience) he had lardge offers, and is dayly much importuned to partake o with thein; but the yonge genttlemen, of his naturall inclynation to remayne a subiect, and hoping to be considered of with a company of foote of his owne countrey birth, will not harken to their perswasions; but yf the Lord Barry and he be left to themselves unprovided for, and not some way comforted with releefe from Her Majesty, wee dare not promise a perseveraunce in them; which wee likewise refer to your honourable censures. And so do humbly take our leave.
At Corke
Your Lordships most humbley ever to be commaunded,
GEORGE CAREWE. Thomond; Wm. Cork & Ross &c. Henry Cuffe. Richd. Walshe.