Distributed for University College Dublin Press
Sir Walter Ralegh in Ireland
Raleigh’s activities in Ireland, like the rest of his life, continue to fascinate. How incredible and unethical were his initial military exploits? What role did he play in planning and executing the Munster Plantation? How does his colonial activity in the New World compare with that in Ireland? How influential was he in shaping Queen Elizabeth I’s Irish policy?This fascinating but little-known work, written by a controversial Irish-born British colonial governor and first published in 1883, is especially valuable today for its extensive reproduction of original sources connected with Raleigh’s stay in Ireland, including many of his Irish letters. It is a useful place to begin exploring this multi-faceted character whom Pope Hennessy describes as ’one of the most daring and active of those eminent Englishmen who have done much to render British government permanently difficult - if not more than difficult - in Ireland’.
Table of Contents
Introduction by Thomas Herron SIR WALTER RALEGH IN IRELAND - Sir Walter’s study and the Geraldine College Ralegh and the Historians Arrives in Ireland The Slaughter at Smerwick Elizabeth’s Approval Ralegh’s Courage His Hardships The Queen and Ralegh The Success of his Bands Practises the Assassination of Irish Chiefs Elizabeth’s Complicity in Assassination Plots Burghley disapproves of Oppression Burghley’s Policy thwarted Irish Council and Judges oppose Burghley’s Policy Ralegh’s Agrarian Troubles His Queenstown Estate His Blackwater Estate His Educational Policy The National Cause and the Land Question ’This Loste Land’ Land Commission to Fix Rents Destruction of Irish Woods Burghley and Ralegh Anti-Papal The ’last National Archbishop of Cashel’ Ralegh opposes Meiler Magrath Ralegh’s Testimony in the Lords in 1882 Ralegh and Cromwell Ralegh and Ormond Irish Self-government Florence McCarthy His last Advice to the Queen The Emigration and Re-peopling Plans Dedication of the Irish Wars The National Traditions Spenser and Ralegh Introduces Tobacco and the Potato The Old Countess of Desmond The Two Widows Ralegh opposes Essex’s Irish Policy ’Destiney stronger than Councell’ On the Scaffold His Irish Residences Irish Portraits of Ralegh Retrospect of Raleigh’s Irish Policy Letters Of Sir Walter Ralegh From Ireland, Or Relating To Irish Affairs To Lord Burghley [Feb 22, 1580] To Sir Francis Walsingham [Feb 23, 1580] To Sir Francis Walsingham To Sir R. Cicill [July 1592] To Sir Robert Cecill [July 1592] To Sir Robert Cicill [May 10, 1593] To Lord Burghley [June 15, 1593] To Sir Robert Cecil [Aug 27, 1593] To Sir Robert Cecill [March 4, 1594] To Sir Robert Cecill [Nov 10, 1595] To Sir Roberte Cecill [May 3, 1596] To Sir Robert Cecil [Oct 1598] To Sir Robert Cecyll [1598?] To Sir Robert Cecyll [Sept 27, 1601] To Sir Robert Cecyll [Oct 13, 1601] To Sir Robert Cecyll [Oct 1601] Testamentary Note written by Sir Walter Ralegh on the night before his execution, November, 1618 Appendix I - Official Report of Proceedings at Smerwicke II Queen Elizabeth’s Letters about the Affair at Smerwick III Ralegh’s Reckonings IV - Ralegh’s Pay V - Ralegh’s Muster-Roll, 1587 VI - Lord Burghley’s Notes of Ralegh’s Opinions as to the Forces to be kept in Munster VII - Ralegh’s Lease of Cuil-na-clocfionna (’the Nook of the White Stone’). VIII - Royal Warrant, under the Sign Manual and Signet, pensioning the Countess of Desmond IX - Ralegh and Florence McCarthy in the Tower together X - Ralegh and the Eighteenth Earl of Desmond in the Tower Appendix 2(Not in original edition by Pope Hennessy) - Letter to Sir Robert Cecil [May 3, 1596] Appendix 3 (Not in original edition by Pope Hennessy) - Articles to be Considered Touching the Makinge and Transportinge of Pipestaves, etc. out of Irelande Index.