Who so knoweth this kingdome and the people will confesse that to conquer the same and them by the sword onlie is opus laboris, and almost may be said to be impossible, and I do verylie beleve that all the treasure of England, wilbe consumed in that worke, except other additions of help be ministred unto ytt. The fayre way that I am in towardes the finishinge of the heauye taske which I undergoe I am affrayd wil receyve some speedye and roughe impediment, unlesse my aduyse in sendinge of the yonge Desmond hether may be followed; the good which by his presence wilbe effected hath bene by me so often declared as I holde ytt needlesse to trouble yow with reiterations of the same: the danger that may ensue if he should proue a traitor (which I suppose tobe the motiue of his detention) is no more then the malice of a weake rebell, who can neuer be so great, by reason of his education, which hath bene in simplicitye unaccustoned to action, together with his religion, as this countrefaict Earle, nourished in uillanie and treasons, and the greatest piller (Tyrone excepted) that euer the Pope had in this kingdome, and farther, if this traytor were taken or slayne, yet the rebellion is not ended; for these Mounster rebells will establishe another Robin Hood in his roome, and so in sequence, as longe as there is a Geraldine in Ireland. As sone as the bruict was divulged that he shoulde be sent unto me, I found such an alacritye in his followers as an immediate sight of a present quiet did represent ytself unto me, [...] . Sir beleue me all the perswasions in the world will not preuayle to induce them to serue against James McThomas, much lesse to do anythinge upon his person, before they see his face.
If God be pleased, for the good of this country, to direct her Majesties counsayles to send him hether, I do humblye beseche yow to moue her that he may come (or not at al) as a free man, without any marke of a prisoner, and that he may enioy the name and tytle of an Earle. What land is most conuenient for him to have, and least dangerous if he should be ill disposed, I haue heretofore at large deliuered my opinion; and also how easie it is to prevent any harme he may do if he be enclined to do ill.