Page:History of England (Froude) Vol 10.djvu/641

 1584.] THE DESMOND REBELLION. 621 April. that course doubtful, through the affection of such as should be of the jury, or the interpretations of the lawyers, or the Statute of Treasons/ ' they might then take the shorter way ' which they had proposed. No further confession being expe.cted, the torture was not to be repeated ; ' for what was past her Majesty accepted in good part their careful travail, and greatly commended their doings.' 1 The Irish judges persisting in their opinion that there was no case for a trial, the second alternative was taken. Sir John Perrot had been appointed at last to ' succeed Grey as Yiceroy. He had arrived in Dublin, and was ready to begin his duties ; but Loftus and "Wallop were permitted to conclude the work which they had commenced, and finish with the Archbishop before they delivered up the sword. ' On the 1 9th of June,' they wrote, 'we gave warrant to the Knight Marshal to do execution upon him, which accordingly was performed, and thereby the realm rid of a most pestilent member/ 2 Thus with one more barbarity, of all the deeds connected with the suppression of the insurrection perhaps the least excusable, the chapter of execu- tions closed. The chain of English authority was once more riveted on Ireland, and the rule of the sword superseded by the rule of law. Sir John Perrot, in taking office, made a speech to the people in which he endeavoured to soothe their apprehensions, and give i Memorandum to the Lords Just- Loftus and Wallop to Waking- ices, April 28 : MSS. Ireland. ham, July 9 : MSS. Ibid.