Written in 1600 from the perspective of an Irish-born Protestant, it is conceivable that this unsigned treatise, calendared in the State Papers, Ireland, was composed by Hugh Collier. Intended for Queen Elizabeth's guidance, this twenty-page document describes the many ills of Ireland, especially as they related to Leinster at the height of the Nine Years' War (1594–1603). In addition to reciting the crimes perpetrated by the Irish Catholic Confederacy and its less overt clerical and lay supporters, the author condemns the many corruptions and abuses committed by the crown army and administration in Ireland. In doing so, the author offers his suggestions for the remedy of these problems, insisting that both his experience and vested interest in Irish affairs render his advices honest and practical. Nevertheless, while proclaiming his own unswerving allegiance to the English crown, the author expresses deep reservations about the loyalties of many of his compatriots, particularly the Baron of Upper Ossory and Patrick Crossan, alias Crosby, whom he alleges were feigning loyalty while they bolstered the rebellion through various artifices. Addressing issues of religion, political policy, military service, and illegal trade, this treatise offers a great deal of insight into Irish affairs from the perspective of one who was of long experience in Ireland and well acquainted with both its natives and newcomers.
In transcribing the text below, I have been attentive to orthography and punctuation as it appears in the original document. The transcription has been checked by Hiram Morgan, and a more thorough analysis of both the text and the context from which it arose is intended in the near future.