[306] Essex to the Queen, July 22. [307] Sidney's Brief Relation, 1583, in _Carew_. Essex to the Queen, July 31; to Walsingham, same date. There is a tradition that one woman hid in a cave and escaped the massacre; Hill's _MacDonnells_, p. 186. Captain Drake's pay was 42_s._ a month. The Queen to Essex, Aug. 12, in _Carew_. [308] F. Lany to Sidney, Sept. 16; Essex to the Queen, July 31; Sidney to the Privy Council, November 15, in the _Sidney Papers_; Ralph Bagenal to Burghley, Nov. 24. [309] Sidney to the Privy Council, June 15, 1576, in _Sidney Papers_. [310] Sidney to the Privy Council, Nov. 15, 1575, in the _Sidney Papers_; Ralph Bagenal to Burghley, Nov. 24. [311] Sidney to the Privy Council, _ut supra_. CHAPTER XXXIII. ADMINISTRATION OF SIDNEY, 1575 TO 1577. [Sidenote: Sidney and the Butlers.] Fitzwilliam had always maintained that Ormonde's presence was the best guarantee for the peace of the South of Ireland, and most of the Dublin officials were of the same opinion. But Sidney disliked him, both as too powerful for a subject and as a professed enemy of Leicester. All those who hoped for favour from the latter, and all those who favoured the Geraldine faction, were willing enough to take advantage of these rivalries and jealousies. Even Sir Barnaby Fitzpatrick, 'which good knight was brought up to have known his duty better,' but who had many causes of quarrel with his great neighbour, took advantage of the fact that every rebellious and disorderly person wreaked his fury upon Ormonde's property, which was so much scattered as not to be easily protected. As between the Fitzpatricks and Butlers Fitzwilliam seems to have thought that there was not much to choose, and that both chiefs were loyal enough. But others spread reports against Sir Edmund Butler and his brother Piers, saying that they refused to go to the Deputy in spite of Ormonde's promise that they should go when sent for. It seems that Piers went at once, and that Edward, who did good service as Sheriff of Tipperary, was never sent for; but some of the English Council, acting apparently under Leicester's influence, obtained an order from the Queen that Edward should come in without any protection, which he immediately did. The letter, which gave great offence to Ormonde, was signed by Leicester, Knollys, Crofts, Smith, and Walsingham, but not by Burghley and Sussex, though they also were present at Kenilworth.[312] [Sidenote: Ormonde and his accusers.]