Elizabeth I--Privy Council | Warrant signed by six councillors, to Lord Burghley as Lord Treasurer, 29 June 1598

Elizabeth I--Privy Council

Letter signed by six councillors, addressed to Lord Burghley as Lord Treasurer

ordering the immediate payment of an additional £2000 to a group of merchants for victualling 4000 troops in Ireland for two months, signed by Sir Robert Cecil, George Lord Hunsdon, Sir William Knollys, Sir John Fortescue, Roger Lord North and Lord Buckhurst, with a subscription signed by Burghley ordering the payment to be made, 1 page, folio, integral address leaf, Greenwich, 29 June 1598

FUNDS FOR A NEW ENGLISH ARMY TO BE SENT TO IRELAND. 1598 saw a significant escalation of the war in Ireland as the rebel Earl of Tyrone laid siege to the English fort on the river Blackwater near Armagh. This letter provided funds for the supply of the 4000 troops who were being raised to relieve the garrison at Blackwater. On 14 August this army was attacked by Tyrone as it marched from Armagh to Blackwater under the command of Sir Henry Bagenal. The resulting battle of Yellow Ford was a complete victory for Tyrone: the English lost half their army, Blackwater was surrendered, the English retreated from Armagh, and other Irish lords came out in rebellion. This led to a heightening of the conflict, and at the end of the year the Queen's favourite, the Earl of Essex, was appointed as Lord Lieutenant with a much larger army.