THE EAIIL OF ESSEX. 297 



as there was no impediment or cause of interruption 

 from hence. 



This is proved by a letter from my lord of Essex 

 and the council of Ireland to the lords of the council 

 here, dated 9th May, which was some three weeks 

 after my lord had received the sword, by which time 

 he might well and thoroughly inform himself whe 

 ther promise were kept in all things or no, and the 

 words of the letter are these : 



&quot; As your lordships do very truly set forth, we 

 &quot; do very humbly acknowledge her majesty s charge- 

 &quot; able magnificence and royal preparations and 

 &quot; transportations of men, munition, apparel, moijey, 

 &quot; and victuals, for the recovery of this distressed 

 &quot; kingdom ;&quot; where note, the transportations ac 

 knowledged as well as the preparations. 



Next, it was set down for a second ground, that 

 there was no natural nor accidental impediment in 

 the estate of the affairs themselves, against the pro 

 secution upon Tyrone, but only culpable impedi 

 ments raised by the journey of Minister. 



This appeared by a letter from my lord and the 

 council of Ireland to the lords of the council here, 

 dated the 28th of April, whereby they advertise, 

 that the prosecution of Ulster, in regard of lack 

 of grass and forage, and the poorness of cattle 

 at that time of year, and such like difficulties of 

 the season, and not of the matter, will in better 

 time, and with better commodity for the army, be 

 fully executed about the middle of June or be- 



