Yet Essex could be generous and knightly with his friends, kind and courtly, at least to his English dependents.  There are some curious accounts of his expenses while he was “Lord-General of Ulster,” in a State Paper, from which it will appear that he could be liberal, either from natural benevolence or from policy.  The entries of expenditure indicate a love of music, which he could easily gratify in Ireland, still famous for the skill of its bards.  He gave ten shillings to the singing men of Mellifont, then inhabited by Edward Moore, to whom it had been granted at the suppression of monasteries.  A harper at Sir John Bellew’s received three shillings; “Crues, my Lord of Ormonde’s harper,” received the large sum of forty shillings, but whether in compliment to the bard or the bard’s master is doubtful.  The Earl of Ormonde’s “musicians” also got twenty shillings.  But there are other disbursements, indicating that presents were gratefully received and vails expected.  “A boy that brought your lordship a pair of greyhounds” had a small donation; but “M’Genis, that brought your lordship two stags,” had 13s. 4_d_., a sum equivalent to L7 of our money.  Nor were the fair sex forgotten, for Mrs. Fagan, wife of the Lord Mayor of Dublin, was presented with a piece of taffeta “for good entertainment.”

Sir Henry Sidney returned to Ireland in 1575.  He tells us himself how he took on him, “the third time, that thanklesse charge; and so taking leave of her Majesty, kissed her sacred hands, with most gracious and comfortable wordes, departed from her at Dudley Castell, passed the seas, and arrived the xiii of September, 1575, as nere the city of Dublin as I could saufly; for at that tyme the city was greevously infested with the contagion of the pestilence."[438] He proceeded thence to Tredagh (Drogheda), where he received the sword of the then Deputy.  He next marched northward, and attacked Sorley Boy and the Scotch, who were besieging Carrickfergus; and after he had conquered them, he received the submission of Turlough O’Neill and other Ulster chieftains.  Turlough’s wife, the Lady Agnes O’Neill, nee M’Donnell, was aunt to the Earl of Argyle, and appears to have been very much in favour with the Lord Deputy.

In the “depe of wynter” he went to Cork, were he remained from Christmas to Candlemas.  He mentions his entertainment at Barry’s Court with evident zest, and says “there never was such a Christmas kept in the same.”  In February he visited Thomond, and subdued “a wicked generation, some of whom he killed, and some he hanged by order of law.”  A nice distinction, which could hardly have been appreciated by the victims.  The Earl of Clanrickarde caused his “two most bade and rebellious sonnes” to make submission, “whom I would to God I had then hanged.”  However, he kept them close prisoners, and “had a sermon made of them and their wickedness in the chief church in the town.”  John seems to have been the principal delinquent.  Some time after, when they had been set at liberty, they rebelled again; and he records the first “memorable act” which one of them had done, adding, “which I am sure was John."[439]