Corruption and crown government in late Elizabethan Ireland: the career and writings of Robert Legge

Corruption was often said to be endemic in Elizabethan Ireland. Yet, few studies have been conducted assess exactly what involved this 'corruption' and whether or not it egregious simply the species of profiteering from office which tolerated, many ways expected, early modern Europe. This paper explores issue by providing a case study one English official, Robert Legge, deputy remembrancer Irish exchequer late Ireland, who particularly troubled levels peculation he claimed encounter administration. Legge spent ten years Ireland mid-1580s until his disappearance official record 1593, during time composed treatises reports detailing alleged corruption lord deputy, Sir William Fitzwilliam, other officials country. In assessing writings, examines nature how contributed problems faced regime there on eve Nine Years War.