In the
autumn of 1598 broke out another of these fearful
insurrections, of which the history of English rule in
Ireland is mainly composed.
In the September of that year Spenser was at the
zenith of his prosperity. In that month arrived the
letter recommending his appointment to be Sheriff of
Cork. It seems legitimate to connect this mark of
royal favour with the fact that at the beginning of the
preceding month Lord Burghley had deceased. The great
obstructor of the Queen's bounty was removed, and
Spenser might hope that now, at last, the hour of his
prosperity was come. So far as is known, his domestic
life was serene and happy. The joys of the husband had
been crowned with those of the father. Two sons, as
may be gathered from the names given to them--they were
christened Sylvanus and Peregrine--had been by this
time born to him; according to Sir William Betham, who
drew up a pedigree of Spenser's family, another son and
a daughter had been born between the birth of Sylvanus
and that of Peregrine. Then he was at this time the
recognised prince of living poets. The early autumn of
1598 saw him in the culminating enjoyment of all these
happinesses.
In October the insurgents burst roughly in upon
his peace. No doubt his occupation of the old castle
of Desmond had ever been regarded with fierce jealousy.
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