Page:History of England (Froude) Vol 10.djvu/628

 608 REIGN OF ELIZABETH. [CH. 62. Desmond a more distinct promise. ' Her Majesty would not consent/ Some private communication had passed between herself and Ormond, and to Ormond she insisted that the decision should be ultimately referred. While St Leger was throwing out his bait of pardon to Des- mond, other means were being tried to kill him. ' I was told/ wrote Secretary Fenton to March. Walsingham, ' at my being with the Earl of Ormond, to remember him that in a war of this nature practice and subornation is as necessary as force ; and therefore as I knew there were in all places where Des- mond had his haunt many poor and needy gentlemen who could and would for money draw some assured draught upon him either for taking of his head or de- livering him prisoner to his lordship, so if his lordship could shorten the war by that means without dwelling upon the changeable and uncertain end by arms, I told him I thought it would be holden for right good service, not doubting but there will be found some who will un- dertake that service for the hire of a thousand pounds, with some farther small gratification of Desmond's lands/ 1 Either the attempt was not made or failed if it was tried, but neither Ormond nor any one would have been scrupulous on the lawfulness of such a deed in itself. ' Lord Ormond means well,' said St Leger, ' but he will make but a patched piece of business. He would end the war by receiving traitors to mercy, and granting them protection for life, lands, and goods/ 2 1 Fenton to Walsingham, March I 2 St Leger to the Queen, May 8 ; 17 : MSS. Ireland. I MSS. Ibid.