Page:History of England (Froude) Vol 10.djvu/587

I579-] THE DESMOND REBELLION. 567 beth never moved till weeks or months had first been spent in cavils. Pelham complained that ' the detestable service of Ireland was the grave ot every English re- putation.' He was doing his best, 'but only to be misrepresented and blamed/ Wallop said plainly that if the Queen would not provide what was necessary, the country could not be held. The Irish were longing for a change, and the few English bands remaining were powerless. For each pound which she had just saved in cashiering the last instalment of troops she had to spend five in replacing them, and of course she held every one to blame except herself. Burghley had to encourage the English officers in Dublin as he could. He prayed Pelham to go on in God's name, and not be discouraged 'by the Queen's usage of him.' 'He himself, with others of the council, sustained undeservedly some re- prehension/ ' With the land on fire, and the Pope and his faction ready to bring coals,' they must all, he said, do what they could. The Queen would gradually become reasonable, and supplies would be sent. 1 After a month's wrangling she yielded grudgingly and angrily. Men, money, ammunition, all was dis- patched at last. A larger force was thrown into Ireland than had been assembled there for a century. Ormond was given supreme command as the Desmonds' here- ditary foe. He was directed to prosecute to the death the Earl, his brothers, the murderers of Davell, and especially 'the viper Sanders.' 'So now,' concluded Btirghley to Pelham, December 30, 1579; M.&S. Ireland.