THE DESPERATE STATE OF IRELAND
^rd December THE DESPERATE STATE or IRELAND
The revolt and defection of the Inshry doth daily increase in
every part, and of those who still seem to stand firm most are in
effect gone in heart, so that there is no hope either to stay these
dangers or preserve the Kingdom from losing unless new forces
be immediately sent over Rarely any week now passeth
wherein there are not received advertisements either of the
surprising of castles, burning of towns, or massacring the
subjects and havocking their goods Sir Thomas More, an
Englishman by birth, was lately betrayed in his own house by
the treachery of his watch, himself slam, and his wife and two
daughters carried away by the traitors, who leaving his wife
stripped in a bog she is dead since with the cold Captain
Gifford is slain in his own house, and his wife seeking to save
her husband by prostrating herself upon him was in many
places sore wounded
Moreover, such is the nakedness of the soldiers for want of
clothes, and then- poverty for lack of lendings to buy them food,
that many of them show like prisoners, half starved for want oi
cherishing, and like at any time to disband or break into some
great mutiny 3 and if any of the companies should break and
either run to the enemy or steal into England there would be
small hope of the Kingdom
PLAYS AT COURT
Of late the Lord Chamberlain's players played four times at
Court and the Earl of Nottingham's men twice, who played
The Downfall of Robin Hood, and for this they are rewarded at
the rate of .£10 a play
$tb December A LOAN IN THE CITY
Because of the great charges of providing this army in Ireland
her Majesty now seeketh a loan from the City, and lest it should
be denied upon any just colour she is pleased to bind her own
lands or give assignations of all customs This loan is to be for
six months at the rate of 10 in the 100 The strangers likewise
that dwell in this country are required to lend 200,000 French
crowns upon the same security
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