[510] Sidney Papers, i. 29. Spenser descants on the lawless violence of the superior Irish; and imputes, I believe with much justice, a great part of their crimes to his own brethren, if they might claim so proud a title, the bards: "whomsoever they find to be most licentious of life, most bold and lawless in his doings, most dangerous and desperate in all parts of disobedience and rebellious disposition, him they set up and glorify in their rhymes, him they praise to the people, and to young men make an example to follow."—P. 394.
[511] Holingshed, 460.
[512] Leland, 287; Spenser's Account of Ireland, p. 430 (vol. viii. of Todd's edition, 1805). Grey is the Arthegal of the Faery Queen, the representative of the virtue of justice in that allegory, attended by Talus with his iron flail, which indeed was unsparingly employed to crush rebellion. Grey's severity was signalised in putting to death seven hundred Spaniards who had surrendered at discretion in the fort of Smerwick. Though this might be justified by the strict laws of war (Philip not being a declared enemy) it was one of those extremities which justly revolt the common feelings of mankind. The queen is said to have been much displeased at it. Leland, 283. Spenser undertakes the defence of his patron Grey. State of Ireland, p. 434.
[513] Leland, 247, 293. An act had passed (II Eliz. c. 9) for dividing the whole island into shire-ground, appointing sheriffs, justices of the peace, etc.; which, however, was not completed.
[514] Leland, 305. Their conduct provoked an insurrection both in Connaught and Ulster. Spenser, who shows always a bias towards the most rigorous policy, does injustice to Perrott." He did tread down and disgrace all the English, and set up and countenance the Irish all that he could."—P. 437. This has in all ages been the language, when they have been placed on an equality, or anything approaching to an equality, with their fellow subjects.
[515] Leland, 248.
[516] Holingshed's Chronicles of Ireland, 342. This part is written by Hooker himself. Leland, 240; Irish Statutes, 11 Eliz.
[517] Sidney Papers, i. 153.
[518] Id. 179.
[519] Sidney Papers, 84, 117, etc., to 236; Holingshed, 389; Leland, 261. Sidney was much disappointed at the queen's want of firmness; but it is plain by the correspondence that Walsingham also thought he had gone too far. P. 192. The sum required seems to have been reasonable, about £2000 a year from the five shires of the pale; and, if they had not been stubborn, he thought all Munster also, except the Desmond territories, would have submitted to the payment. P. 183. "I have great cause," he writes, "to mistrust the fidelity of the greatest number of the people of this country's birth of all degrees; they be papists, as I may well term them, body and soul. For not only in matter of religion they be Romish, but for government they will change, to be under a prince of their own superstition. Since your highness' reign the papists never showed such boldness as now they do."—P. 184. This, however, hardly tallies with what he says afterwards (p. 208): "I do believe, for far the greatest number of the inhabitants of the English pale, her highness hath as true and faithful subjects as any she hath subject to the Crown;" unless the former passage refer chiefly to those without the pale, who in fact were exclusively concerned in the rebellions of this reign.