Florence McCartie I do no less dowte then heretofore; for I knowe he is sworne to James FitzThomas; and yet protests the contrary unto me. As soon as I came into Kerry I sent for him to come unto me, at that tyme he being not 10 myles from Carrigfoyle (where I then was) parleyinge with James FitzThomas. His answere is here enclosed; whereuppon I wrote the second tyme unto him, and according his desire (to leave him without excuse) sent him a safeguarde, the copie of which lettre with these, I present unto yor Lordships; wherein I appointted him a tyme, and place of meetinge, unto which as yet I never receaved answer. Yf he be a rebell, as otherwayes for anythinge I can judge, I cannot accompt of him, then are the services of this province more difficult then is supposed. For I do assure yor Lordships the Cartyes of Mounster, whome he hopes to drawe into his faction, together with their dependaunts, and followers, are of themselves hable to make above 3000 stronge, which, together with the remaynes of the other dispersed rebells yet in accion, do amount to no less then 7000, at the least. To strengthen this rebellion in a firmer combynacon, Florence McCarty (as I am credibly aduertised, and am constantly persuaded to be true) hath practised a mariadge betweene the sister of Cormock McDermot, Lord of the countrey of Muskery, and James FitzThomas; which I was advertised was consummated; but I fynd the contrary, and dowt not but to worke the meanes to frustrate the same. Yf his plott shold holde, then the cittie of Corke (untill by force I do dispse them) in this county wilbe my frontyer; for Muskerry adioins unto the walls of that cittie, and I assure myself that many that are now subiects, (yf this mariadge take effect,) will ronne into rebellion. The Carties countreys which are lardge and spacius, comprehendinge the countreys of Muskerry, Carebry, Dowallie, and Desmond (by reason of the multytude of huge mountaynes in the same) are in nature exceeding stronge, and yet full of come and cattle, hailing felt little of the warr, unto the which, for the present, all the other rebells of the counties of Corke, Limericke, and Kerry (whome I have beaten out of their countreys) do flie for refuge.
Florence of late had his messenger with Tyrone, (as he pretends) for the release of O'Sulyvan More his brother in law, who was carryed prisoner by Dermot O'Connor out of this Province; but my intelligencers assure me that it was onely to procure forces to support this rebellion, for the hartening whereof Tirone hath sent lettres of comfort to all his freinds, and confiderats in this countrey assuring them that before Michaelmas-day the Spanish forces will lande in Mounster; which is confidently beleeuved by James FitzThomas; for, notwithstanding his forces are verie weake yet he vauntes er that tyme, to be the greatest Erle of Desmond that euer was in Ireland. Within the Province ytself there is no man that can guide that service but Florence McCartie, who like a dark clowde hanges over my heade threateninge a storm to impeach our accoins; but yet (without forreiyne aydes) with the forces I haue, together with other meanes which I will procure, I dowt not but in a short tyme, to make him humble himself, and to sue for Her Majesty's mercye. Notwithstanding I know all that to be true, yet I think it meete, for a tyme, to hold that temporising course with him which hitherto I have don, being loathe to add so powerful a traitor unto the other traitors, till the rest be more depressed.