Page:History of England (Froude) Vol 10.djvu/639

 1584.] THE DESMOND REBELLION, 619 Justices, Archbishop Loftus and Sir H. Wallop. He refused to give an account of himself, maintaining an obstinate silence on all points on which he was ex- amined. The Irish council wrote for instructions to London, and he was told that unless he would speak they must apply torture. There was no ' rack or other engine' in Dublin, and the justices, wishing perhaps to be rid of the responsibility, or doubting how far the rest of the council would support them, suggested that he should be sent to London. It was considered how- ever that a sharp example would produce a salutary effect in Ireland, and after a few months' delay, the intended Archbishop was brought again before Loftus. Proof had been obtained, he was told, that his I5 8 4. letters were for Desmond and Baltinglass, that they were in the hands of the Government, and that denials would be to no purpose ; if he would deal frankly aud discover all that he knew, her Majesty's mercy would be extended towards him. Walsingham must share with Loftus the responsi- bility for what ensued, for the substitute for the more regular engine was suggested by Walsingham himself. 'Not finding/ wrote Loftus to him, 'that easy method of examination to do any good, we made com- mission to Mr Waterhouse and Mr Secretary Fenton, to put him to the torture, such as your Honour advised us, which was to toast his feet against the fire with hot boots.' 1 Yielding to the agony he confessed something, Irish tradition says that melted rosin was poured into his boots.