Nowe I must touche what happened synce my last of our newes of Spain, and the examynacion of Desmonde and Florence.
For Desmonde I fynd him more dyscreet then I haue hard of hym, and for Florence the same which I ever expected, which is a malycious vayne ffoole. When he came to be examyned he pryncipally and absolutely denyed that he had don anything in the begynning, but that which he had warrant to doe from the Commissioners in Munster tyll he had recovered his countrye; and that for the combynacyon with Spanyards it should never be proved, especially that particular concerning his writing to the Pope, when Tyrone was in Munster, or at any tyme. In which poynt James Mc Thomas being confronted with him dyd not directly mayntayne it that he had seen his hande, but that he was privy to their consultatyons; and that O'Kegan, when he came for his hand, told him Florence shold joyne to; mayntayning it there resolutely that whether he wrytt or no, he was present at all the counsells, and gave his full consent. He likewise contesteth agaynst the report that anie message he should send by the White Knight's daughter; and for the dissuading of Thomas Oge, (to surrender the Castle of Castle Maing) pretendeth that you were not discontented with it, because you could have been content it should have ben his act.
To be short, he makes it verye merytorious to have delyvered Tyrone's packetts to you, and I perceaue will draw in all his crymes so farre within the reache of his pardon, as we must only make him a prysouer by discrecion, and prayse you for your dyscrecion to put it within our power. And so hathe the Queene willed me to wryte unto you. Of the Spaniards purposes I interrogated them; Desmonde affirmes that they meant to come for Lymericke; but Florence would needes have it that they intended rather for Callaway, wherein I assure you I join with hym, being a place nearer to receaue correspondency from the Rebells then to come into Munster, where their party was broken, and where the Northern Traytors are so farre removed from them, &c.
From the Court at Ahlermeston, Sir Humphrey Foster's House,