the Marshalsea. But he had powerful friends at court; and shortly after Perrot's return to Wales he was released, and letters were addressed to the judges of assize in South Wales, authorising them to reopen the case. Though suffering from the sweating sickness, Perrot at once obeyed the summons to attend the assizes at Haverfordwest. He successfully exculpated himself and obtained a verdict of a thousand marks damages against Wyriott.
He had acquired considerable reputation as president of Munster, and a plot or plan which he drew up at the command of the queen in 1581 ‘for the suppressing of rebellion and the well-governing of Ireland’ marked him out as a suitable successor to the lord deputy, Arthur Grey, fourteenth lord Grey de Wilton [q. v.], who was recalled in August 1582. Nevertheless, he was not appointed to the post till 17 Jan. 1584, and it was not till 21 June that he received the sword of state from the chancellor, Archbishop Adam Loftus [q. v.] From his acquaintance with the southern province he was deemed well qualified to supervise the great work of the plantation of Munster. His open instructions resembled those given to former viceroys; but among those privately added by the privy council was one directing him to consider how St. Patrick's Cathedral and the revenues belonging to it might be made to serve ‘as had been theretofore intended’ for the erection of a college in Dublin. His government began propitiously, and a remark of his expressive of his desire to see the name of husbandman or yeoman substituted for that of churl was, according to Fenton, widely and favourably commented upon. The day following his installation order was issued for a general hosting at the hill of Tara, on 10 Aug., for six weeks. In the interval Perrot prepared to make a tour of inspection through Connaught and Munster for the purpose of establishing Sir Richard Bingham [q. v.] and Sir John Norris (1547?–1597) [q. v.] in their respective governments. He had already received the submission of the chieftains of Connaught and Thomond, and was on his way from Limerick to Cork when the news reached him that a large body of Hebridean Scots had landed in O'Donnell's country. Norris was inclined to think that rumour had, as usual, exaggerated the number of the invaders; but Perrot, who probably enjoyed the prospect of fighting, determined to return at once to Dublin and, as security for the peace of Munster, to take with him all protectees and suspected persons.
On 26 Aug. he set out for Ulster, accompanied by the Earls of Ormonde and Thomond and Sir John Norris. At Newry he learned that the Scots had evaded the ships sent to intercept them at Lough Foyle and had returned whence they came. Half a mile outside the town Turlough Luineach O'Neill [q. v.] met him, and put in his only son as pledge of his loyalty, as did also Magennis, MacMahon, and O'Hanlon. But having come so far, Perrot determined to cut at the root, as he believed, of the Scoto-Irish difficulty, and to make a resolute effort to expel the MacDonnells from their settlements along the Antrim coast. An attempt, at which he apparently connived (State Papers, Irel. Eliz. cxii. 90, ii.), to assassinate Sorley Boy MacDonnell [q. v.] failed, and Perrot, resorting to more legitimate methods of warfare, divided his forces into two divisions. The one, under the command of the Earl of Ormonde and Sir John Norris, advanced along the left bank of the Bann and scoured the woods of Glenconkein; while himself, with the other, proceeded through Clandeboye and the Glinnes. On 14 Sept. he sat down before Dunluce Castle, which surrendered at discretion on the second or third day. Sorley Boy escaped to Scotland, but Perrot got possession of ‘holy Columbkille's cross, a god of great veneration with Sorley Boy and all Ulster,’ which he sent to Walsingham to present to Lady Walsingham or Lady Sidney. A mazer garnished with silver-gilt, with Sorley Boy's arms engraved on the bottom, he sent to Lord Burghley. An attempt to land on Rathlin Island was frustrated by stormy weather, and, feeling that the season was growing too advanced for further operations, Perrot returned to Dublin.
Meanwhile he had not been unmindful of his charge regarding St. Patrick's. On 21 Aug. he submitted a plan to Walsingham for converting the cathedral into a courthouse and the canons' houses into inns of court, and for applying the revenues to the erection of two colleges. When the project became known, as it speedily did, it was vehemently opposed by Archbishop Loftus [q. v.] On 3 Jan. 1585 Perrot was informed that there were grave objections to his scheme, and that it was desirable for him to consult with the archbishop. Perrot for a time refused to desist from his project, and never forgave Loftus for opposing him. There can be little doubt that his blundering hostility towards the archbishop was a principal cause of his downfall.
Another scheme of his for bridling the Irish by building seven towns, seven bridges, and seven fortified castles in different parts of the country fared equally unpropitiously. Given 50,000l. a year for three years, he promised to permanently subjugate Ireland,
