[1] However, Sir Henry reached Dublin and was soon immersed in the troubles caused by the rebellion of Gerald FitzGerald, 15th Earl of Desmond, finding, in his own words, it was "easier to talk at home of Irish wars than to be in them".
They were responsible for the government of Ireland for the following two years and both took a leading part in the arrest, torture, and execution of Dermot O'Hurley, the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Cashel.
[1] Sir Henry continued to fill the office of vice-treasurer, and at Enniscorthy, where he had secured a lease of lands, he set up a colony of Englishmen and opened up a trade with Madeira.
Having returned to Ireland, he was sent to Dundalk to attempt to make peace with Hugh O'Neill, earl of Tyrone, but this proved a vain errand.
A member of parliament for nearly 40 years, and a supporter of the parliamentary party during the English Civil War, Robert was one of the judges of Charles I, although he did not sign the death warrant.