1 5 79-J THE DESMOND REBELLION. 557 the revenge of her father's fault, whose person she by nature represented, she left no heir of her own body behind her. If therefore you are resolved, me [sic'] dear cousin, to make an end of our noble house and blood in your days which God forbid then dissemble with God's honour a little, bear with them that pull down God's houses and destroy his monasteries, forsake the banner of Christ, and profess yourself the soldier of antichrist. But if as well the punishment to come as the present infamy of such an act ought to make your honourable heart to abhor all such counsel and advice, then resolve to be the first that shall stand for God's honour, for the health of our country, and for the re- storing of the Catholic faith. He that defendeth God's honour shall be defended and honoured of God. He that doth it first and chiefly shall have the first and chief reward for that his service. God forbid that any Geraldine should stand in the field against the cross of Christ, which is the ensign of our salvation. As we live now because our ancestors were builders up of God's house, so let not our lack of courage in restoring God's house hinder the seed that hereafter may spring out of our children. And indeed how can their seed flourish that will defend Elizabeth, a woman that is hated of all Christian princes for the great injuries which she has done them, hated of her own subjects as well for compelling them to forswear the Christian faith, as also for not publishing the heir-apparent to the crown ; a woman that leaveth no issue of her own body either to reward them that fight for her or revenge
