Catalogue description INSTRUCTIONS for SIR JOHN PERROT, LORD DEPUTY.

Instructions sent to the Lord Deputy and Council in Ireland by Geoffrey Fenton, Esquire, her Majesty's Secretary in that realm.

(1.) As Ireland is in good terms, and there is no appearance of present alteration, the army there, consisting of 1,900 men besides the bands found by composition in Ulster, should be diminished of some hundreds.

(2.) Considering the expense and inconvenience of sending over victuals, the Council there are to consider how this may holpen, whether by additional pay to the soldiers to allow them to victual themselves, or by reducing the pay to the old Irish pay, and continuing the victualling as at present. As this formed an article of the Deputy's instructions, an answer was expected long ago. If the soldiers are to receive increased pay, fixed rates of provisions must be set up, to avoid exaction.

(3.) The composition of 2,100l. in lieu of cesse is to be revived in such counties as shall agree to it, as well for the army as all other duties heretofore imposed. The countries of Leix and Offally are not to be dispensed with. If they refuse, soldiers are to be laid upon them by the Deputy prorata.

(4.) Captain Thomas Norrys, brother of John Norrys, President of Munster, is to take his place as Vice-President during his brother's service in the Low Countries, taking his brother's pay, 20s. per diem, with the exception of a yearly fee of 200 marks sterling. All directions and instructions sent from hence are to be publicly read at the council table once a quarter at least by the Secretary, except in special cases.

(5.) All officers are to reside upon their places without favour or dispensation, except in the case of sickness or the like.

(6.) The courts and houses of law, now in the Castle of Dublin, and subject to many dangers by the powder house, and the prison called the Grate, occasioning much resort, are to be removed to some meet place in the city.

(7.) The Secretary of State to have in his keeping the Privy Signet, with all fees thereto belonging; to make bills and warrants requiring the signature of the Deputy, "and so to pass to the Great Seal, with all fees and duties appertaining, and he to keep a register book of the same, to remain of record, as our principal Secretary of England doth in like case," and to be shown from time to time to the Deputy.

(8.) As soon as the Parliament is finished, "which we wish to be done with convenient expedition," the north parts of the realm are to be settled in some quietness, and the Deputy is to repair into Munster for the better strengthening of the whole province, especially of the maritime towns and ports, as a precaution against the Spaniards and Portuguese. Suspicious persons in Munster, like to assist a foreign invasion, are to be restrained of their liberty. None of the inhabitants of port towns to have armour or weapons, except such as shall be thought faithful. None of the common people that did rebel to have any weapon on pain of death, and they are to continue in their dwellings quietly. On the news of any certainty of the Spaniards, "the bestialls of the country and other victual" to be removed, where such landing is likely. To prevent the Spanish navy, the Queen has resolved to keep a strong fleet on the seas.

Copy. Endorsed by Carew, "1585, in December."

Calendar of the Carew Manuscripts preserved in the Archiepiscopal Library at Lambeth, ed. J. S. Brewer & W. Bullen (6 vols., 1867-73), vol. II, document 587.