In 1584 Sir John Perrot, lord-deputy of Ireland, writes to Sir Francis
Walsingham, the secretary of state:
"For a token I have sent you holie Columkill's crosse, a god of great
veneration with Surleboy {303} (McDonnell) and all Ulster; for so great
was his grace, as happy he thought himself that could gett a kisse of
the said crosse. I send him unto you, that when you have made some
sacrifice to him, according to the disposition you beare to idolatrie,
you maie if you please bestowe him upon my good Lady Walsingham, or my
Lady Sidney, to weare as a jewell of weight and bignesse, and not of
price and goodness, upon some solempne feaste or triumphe daie at the
Courte."
Walsingham's daughter was married to the celebrated Sir Philip Sidney; and
afterwards to Robert Devereux, Earl of Essex; and, thirdly, to Richard De
Burgh, Earl of Clanricard, when she embraced the Roman Catholic religion,
that of her last husband, and may perhaps have regarded St. Columba's cross
with more veneration than did the rugged old Perrot.
It may be possible to trace out this ancient relique to its present
repository, if it be still in existence.